CD review: Dierks Bentley "Home"

From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.

Country

Dierks Bentley “Home” (Capitol Nashville)

After earning widespread critical acclaim with his 2010 progressive bluegrass album “Up on the Ridge,” Dierks Bentley returns to commercial country with “Home,” a solid collection of party songs, ballads and anthems anchored by the well-crafted title track.

The Arizona native wrote “Home,” his latest top 10 hit, with Dan Wilson and his album’s co-producer Brett Beavers in the days after the 2011 Tucson shooting spree that killed six people and injured 13, including former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. The trio avoids both jingoistic chest-pounding and soppy sentimentality, creating a rare patriotic ode that promotes unity, expresses loyalty and still acknowledges the flaws in the “place that we all call home.”

Due out Tuesday, the album already boasts a No. 1 hit with the rollicking “Am I the Only One,” which Bentley penned with Jim Beavers, who co-wrote his previous party smash “Sideways,” and Jon Randall.