Dierks Bentley’s new album, “Long Trip Alone,” may have listeners letting him take that trip. This new album was missing his country-guitar, bar hopping, romantic sound. Instead, Bentley lays us to sleep with tunes like “Band of Brothers,” and injects too much religion to the mind with “Prodigal Son’s Prayer.” He does amp it up with “That Don’t Make it Easy Loving Me,” but it’s a pale attempt, not unlike his last hit “Lot of Leavin’ Left to Do,” which was similar in context. There are playful summer-drive songs like “Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go),” giving the foot something to tap about. Still hard to resist is that tempting, dusty drawl which seduces listeners to stay his course. Other than that, this was a wrong turn from one of the most promising youngsters in country music today.
