Dierks Bentley

Country Music singer Dierks Bentley quickly made a name for himself in 2003 when he sent his debut single "What Was I Thinkin'" to #1 on the country charts. What followed is a mainstream country career with a bit more traditional leanings than most. Although his name is maybe not the most recognizable outside the genre, he has maintained a steady following and a solid streak of hits, interrupted only by his detour into bluegrass with Up on the Ridge in 2010.

Albums:

• Dierks Bentley (2003)
• Modern Day Drifter (2005)
• Long Trip Alone (2006)
• Feel That Fire (2009)
• Up on the Ridge (2010)
• Home (2012)

Tropes present:

• Awesome McCoolname: Dierks (rhymes with "works").
• Break Up Song: "Settle for a Slowdown". She's leaving him in her car. He says, "I'm not asking you to turn back around / But I'd settle for a slowdown."
• Distracted by the Sexy: "I was thinkin' 'bout a little white tank top sittin' right there in the middle by me" is a line in the chorus to "What Was I Thinkin'".
• Let X Be the Unknown: Jim Beavers, co-writer of "How Am I Doin'" (and brother of songwriter-producer Brett Beavers), credited himself as "Writer X" on the song.
• Lyrical Dissonance: For a party song, "Am I the Only One" is rather… lethargic sounding.
• New Sound Album: Up on the Ridge was not only a radical departure into bluegrass, but also his first produced by Jon Randall instead of Brett Beavers. Randall also produced Home, which otherwise returns Dierks to his signature sound.
• Studio Chatter: At the end of "How Am I Doin'", a musician says "You feelin' better, big guy?" and Dierks responds, "Uh, not really, dude."