Track Listing

1. Lot Of Leavin' Left To Do
2. Come A Little Closer
3. Cab Of My Truck
4. Settle For A Slowdown
5. Domestic, Light And Cold
6. Good Things Happen
7. Down On Easy Street
8. So So Long
9. Modern Day Drifter
10. Good Man Like Me (with the Del McCoury Band)
11. Gonna Get There Someday

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16916 in Music
• Brand: Liberty
• Released on: 2005-05-10
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Amazon.com
A decade ago, country acts who sounded more like arena rockers gained hegemony on a Music Row that scorned the success of the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack as a fluke. As in the past, many there couldn't see the forest for the trees. Both Bentley's own rootsy self-titled debut and Gretchen Wilson's Here for the Party prove quality modern traditionalism still sells. Bentley's sophomore album offers more straight-ahead amalgams of bluegrass, '60s Bakersfield, and raw barroom fare like the Waylonesque "Got a Lot of Leavin' Left to Do" and the beer-guzzling anthem "Domestic, Light, and Cold." He shows real depth on the sensual "Come a Little Closer." The moving, timeless "Gonna Get There Someday," a tale of a son at his mother's grave vowing to make something of himself, easily trumps the album's cliché-ridden title song, as does his fetching treatment of friend Del McCoury's "Good Man Like Me," recorded with McCoury's band. Bentley's lack of artifice proves his greatest strength. Again. --Rich Kienzle

Customer Reviews

No sophomore blues here!
Dierk's Bentley's debut CD was "new"--i.e., it was traditional country without the pop edge radio pretty much demands...and yet, Bentley became a #1 selling artist. Surprising. What's more surprising is that he keeps it going with this album, one of the best released this year.

I won't go song-for-song; let me just say that the spirits of Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and George Jones prevail. There are some romantic tunes (most notably Jamie Hartford's "Good Things Happen"); there are some heartbreakers; there are good-time drinkin' tributes ("Domestic, Light and Cold," as if you couldn't guess); kiss-offs; personal anthems (the title track, surprisingly one of the few tunes not cowritten by Bentley, though he fits the bill perfectly); and a ton of humor.

The album kicks off with the chargin' "Lot of Leavin' Left To Do", and ends on the gut-wrenching "Gonna Get There Someday." In between, you'll find songs that describe your life and beliefs...that is, if you like traditional country music. Dierks Bentley's MODERN DAY DRIFTER is a great TRADITIONAL country album. No sophomore blues in sight...the only blues here are the ones you can drink to (and sing about).

A new singer added to my favorites list
I bought this album blindly. What I mean is I bought it because I'd heard one or two songs on the radio from it that I liked. I do that sometimes-if an artist has two or three songs I like, I usually buy that album because I know the rest of the songs will most likely be just as good. This album is the same. I'd heard "A Lot Of Leavin' Left To Do" and "Come A Little Closer" on the radio and liked them. Then came "Settle For A Slowdown," which became an instant hit for me. I had to try this album, and I'm glad I did. It's a very good album with an equal amount of upbeat songs to ballads. Not to mention the very funny monologues in a few of the songs. Also, another gem on the album that was not released as a single (yet) is the title track, "Modern Day Drifter." It could very possibly be the best song on the album. Buy it, you'll love it.

This boy can really sing--worth every penny!
I didn't buy Dierks' first CD, although I love all his songs that've been played on the radio. I decided to take the plunge and buy his newest CD and absolutely love it. This cute boy with the blonde curls can truly SING and is a pleasure to listen to. In addition, there is some great fiddling on this album. Although there ain't a song I don't like here, my favorites are "Come a Little Closer" and "So So Long." But the whole album is great--bravo to Mr. Bentley!