Dierks Bentley Introduces ‘The Mountain’

Dierks Bentley brought The Mountain to Music Row on Wednesday morning, April 25.

At what was billed as an “intimate album preview” held at Southern Ground Studio, the country star talked about his latest project and aired its tracks over the facility’s speakers. The Mountain was largely written and recorded in Telluride, Colorado. Wednesday’s brunch event marked its Nashville debut.

“This whole experience was transformative for me,” said Bentley of making The Mountain. “I felt like we’d gone as far as we could go with Black [his previous album]. So we brought in Jon Randall. He added some really cool elements. We went out to Telluride to write songs and make a record….It was a magical experience.

“I feel like there’s a theme through the album of gratitude and celebration. Being out in the mountains was freeing for me.”

In addition to the celebratory single “Woman Amen,” the collection includes such feel-good tracks as “Living,” “You Can’t Bring Me Down” and “Stranger to Myself.”

“Son of the Sun” is a rambling-man groover with swirling guitar figures. “The Mountain” addresses personal struggles that end in triumph. “Nothing On But the Stars” is a romance, while “Goodbye in Telluride” is about the end of romance. “One Way” is at once breezy and wistful.

Brothers Osborne are his guests on the dynamic, churning rocker “Burning Man,” the likely second single. Brandi Carlile joins him on vocals in the joyous, bluegrass-y “Travelin’ Light,” which also features Sam Bush, Tim O’Brien and Jerry Douglas.

The latter two reappear, providing poetic instrumental backup on the ballad “My Religion.” It is one of three tunes on the collection that Bentley did not co-write. The others are “Burning Man” and the album-closing “How I’m Going Out,” which bids farewell to youth and fame.

Randall and his wife Jessi Alexander co-wrote that finale track. He co-produced the album with Ross Copperman, and the two of them provide instrumental support on many tracks, as does Bush.

The Mountain is slated for release on June 8.

Robert K. Oermann speaks with Dierks Bentley.