A Decent Sophomore Effort

As far as his music goes, it is blatantly apparent to me that Dierks Bentley is a torn man. He's stuck somewhere in the middle of being a bland Nashville act and a talented alt-country/neo-traditional country artist. I say this with a mixture of fondness and disdain because even though he's much better than many of his contemporaries in mainstream country, he still isn't reaching his full potential as a singer-songwriter. He is talented, no doubt, but I feel that with each album he puts out, he grows further and further from the traditional-country-meets-bluegrass charm that I fell in love with on his first, independently-released debut Don't Leave Me in Love.

By no means is Modern Day Drifter a horrible album. Thankfully, many of the arrangements on this album are kept decently country, and yet still radio-friendly, making this a great way for younger fans to get introduced with real country music. And, no matter how you look at it, Dierks is still a far better musician than many of his contemporaries on the country charts. The songs on this album are all listenable, although there are a few I usually skip. Some of the better tracks include "Settle for a Slowdown", "Good Things Happen" (with the angelic Alison Krauss on background vocals), and "Good Man Like Me" (which brings back bluegrass greats the Del McCoury Band, who were also on Dierks' debut album.) But, in my opinion, the highlights of the album are the title track and "Gonna Get There Someday". The song "Modern Day Drifter" features some lovely dobro and the music is very toned down and simplistic. The song itself somehow manages to be cynical and soaring, both lyrically and musically. The lyrics, penned by John Scott Sherrill and Wyatt Easterling, talk about a man who's leaving behind everything (including his wife) "for a pocket full of sand." There is a great sense of freedom to the song, yet it still leaves the listener with a feeling of sadness and emptiness when all is said and done. Meanwhile, "Gonna Get There Someday" is a heartwrenching song about a man having a conversation with his deceased mother by talking to her gravestone. The lyrics, co-written by Dierks, Brett Beavers, and singer Deric Ruttan, tug at your heart all by themselves. Lines such as "just wish I could stop feelin' mad when I pray" and "when who I want to be still seems so far away" are so honest and they probably sum up the way most people feel when a loved one is lost. Combined with the graceful fiddle, the song is a step up from your standard contemporary country tearjerker. I especially love how the song fades with a haunting fiddle solo that reminds me of an old Irish ballad. Both of these songs' beautiful simplicity is proof that Dierks shines at his brightest when his music is toned down and his earnest voice gets the opportunity to really be heard.

That said, Modern Day Drifter is not perfect. As a songwriter, his lyrics were much more impressive on his previous efforts (his 2003 self-titled debut and 2001's independently released Don't Leave Me in Love). With the exception of a few songs, most of the lyrics he co-wrote here are trite and unimaginitve. I know Dierks has the capability to be an amazing lyricist, I've seen what the man can do. But for the most part, the better songs contained this CD are the ones written by others. Also, I find a few of the songs annoying after a few listens. "Lot of Leavin' Left to Do", "Cab of My Truck", and "Down on Easy Street" are relative disappointments on this album. I know he's one of country music's party boys, but it seems he's trying too hard to fit the mold of people like Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban. And for some reason, it seems like he's giving up artistic freedom for commercial success. But who knows? Maybe his tastes really are evolving and it isn't just a marketing ploy by Capitol Records after all. But this album really leaves me wondering what Dierks would be capable of without commercial expectations. With his talent and good intentions, I'm sure his capabilities are endless.
All in all, Modern Day Drifter is safe bet for any mainstream country fan. Although it's not quite as apparent, Dierks' music does have roots in alt.country (particularly the Texas music scene) as well as bluegrass and traditional country, so fans of those genres might find it worthwhile also. There are a couple great songs contained on this CD, as well as a few flops, but overall, Modern Day Drifter passes as a formidable effort that deserves a listen.