Country star Dierks Bentley released his reflective new country album “Broken Branches” on Friday, June 13th. This marks his 11th career studio musical offering.
It opens with the mid-tempo drinking tune “Cold Beer Car,” where he joins forces with Stephen Wilson Jr. and it immediately breaks into the Christian song “Jesus Loves Me.”
The male narrator reflects on a failed relationship in “She Hates Me,” whose lyrics are relatable.
Equally noteworthy are the upbeat “Something Worth Fixing” and the liberating “Well Well Whiskey,” while Bentley really allows his rich, rumbling voice to shine on the stirring ballad “Standing in the Sun.”
Country Music Hall of Famer John Anderson and Riley Green join him on the title track song, the nonchalant “Broken Branches.” “Off The Map” is another earworm of a ballad on this record, which in many ways, is the male compliment to Miranda Lambert’s “Automatic.”
Speaking of country queen Miranda Lambert, she lends her mellifluous, crystalline voice on the duet “Never You.” This song deserves to be nominated for “Vocal Event of the Year” at a future ACM or CMA award ceremony.
After the harking ballad “For As Long As I Can Remember,” whose vivid lyrics are pure poetry, it closes with the mid-tempo yet unapologetic “Don’t Cry for Me,” which is a fitting sendoff for the fans.
“Broken Branches” is available on digital service providers by clicking here.
The Verdict
Overall, Dierks Bentley has released his most cohesive album to date with “Broken Branches.” Each song on this album has its own identity and it tells a story; there are no filler tracks on here. It showcases his growth and maturity as a musician and songwriter.
One of the most puzzling things about Dierks Bentley is that he has yet to win a Grammy Award despite multiple career Grammy nods.
Hopefully, “Broken Branches” will be the album that will help him achieve that feat that he rightfully deserves. This highly eclectic collection should have Grammy written all over it. “Broken Branches” garners 4.5 out of 5 stars. Bravo.
To learn more about country singer-songwriter Dierks Bentley, follow him on Instagram.
