11. July 2025
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Media Review

Dierks Bentley – Broken Branches

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Dierks Bentley - Broken Branches

Dierks Bentley - Broken Branches
4.8

Rating

 4.8/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Very good storystelling
  • Strong messages of the songs and the album

A new one Dierks Bentley: while his tenth studio album Gravel & Gold is some two years old, the country music artist has released a new record on 13th June 2025. It is called Broken Branches. Unfortunately, I did not have a promo for this, so that my review is slightly delayed. Enjoy!

 

Dierks Bentley – About The Artist

Frederick Dierks Bentley was born on 20th November 1975 in Phoenix, Arizona. He moved to Nashville at the age of 18 to pursue a career in country music. In 2001, the released his debut album Don’t Leave Me in Love. While this one had rather limited success, the following 2023 Dierks Bentley already received a platinum record. 18 Dierks Bentley songs topped the Billboard charts. He has been nominated for a Grammy Award fourteen times, but never won one. A side project by Bentley are the Hot Country Knights, which have released their only album so far, The K is Silent in 2020.

 

Dierks Bentley – Broken Branches – Track by Track

The eleven track album lasts 37 minutes.

1. Cold Beer Can (feat Stephen Wilson Jr.)

Nothing breaks the ice like a cold beer can – what sounds like the perfect plot for a rocking party opener is a rather calm country song with a good melody. The collaboration of Dierks Bentley with Stephen Wilson Jr. feels very adult. You can still grab a cold drink while listening to it, it’s a nice one. Cheers!

2. Jesus Loves Me

While the song title suggests the (stereo)typical religious praises in country songs, Dierks Bentley takes another twist in this song. In the chorus, he states Yeah, Jesus loves me, but she don’t – sometimes the religious love is simply not what you are longing for. The rhythmic song overall leads to an entertaining listen.

3. She Hates Me

The rocking and groovy She Hates Me has been the core track of the campaign towards the Broken Branches album. The song even spreads some alternative rock vibes, especially in the bridge, while the chorus could be a lovely listen on the upcoming country music summer parties.

4. Something Worth Fixing

There is no Drunk on a Plane, 5-1-5-0 or even Hot Country Knights vibe in the album so far. Dierks Bentley feels deep and thoughtful in Broken Branches. This very reflected style continues in Something Worth Fixing. A calm song about the struggles and challenges in life which are simply worth fixing. The much I like to party with Dierks, the much I love this side of his music as well.

‘Cause life’s full of potholes and band-aids and stitches
Hammers on thumbnails and sons of a bitches
Bass boats and two strokes and ornery small engines
I’m always workin’ on something
Something worth fixing

5. Standing In The Sun

The following two songs have been released before the album as well. Standing in the Sun is a beautiful ballad, which is focusing on the lyrical praise of his wife Cassidy Black. They have their twentieth wedding anniversary this year. What a lovely way to say thanks for this.

Yeah loving you is standing in the sun
Holding you’s a heat wave burning me up
Ain’t no way I’ll ever get enough
It’s just one kiss, one look, one touch
That noise dies down and life slows up
This world can be dark and wild and damn cold but
Yeah loving you is standing in the sun
Standing in the sun

6. Well Well Whiskey

This April 2025 release does have some darker rock vibes, but overall stays in the calmer signature of the album. It does have a nice instrumental setting, though.

7. Broken Branches (feat. John Anderson, Riley Green)

The title tracks deals with the Broken Branches you have in your life. In an interview, Dierks stated We’re all doing our own thing. We’re a little bit of a misfit, just trying to find our way in this world. It is the core track of the album and thus deserves to be named on the album title. It also spreads some of the Dierks country party vibes, also because the collaboration with John Anderson and Riley Green in this song leads to a nice width of sound.

8. Off The Map

Somewhere on a barstool sipping something cold
Somewhere on a back porch off a backroad
In an airstream, in the gulf stream
In a daydream, who the hell knows?
Laid up in a beach chair, laid up on my couch
Somewhere by my lonesome, somewhere in a crowd
If you can’t find me, I ain’t lost
Sometimes life’s just better off the map

Off The Map comes with the perfect mood for a long summer night at the front porch. Thus, the song drives perfect country music romantics. Furthermore, it is full of harmony. It beautifully closes with

I’m happy where I’m at
Right here off the map

9. Never You (feat. Miranda Lambert)

In this duet with Miranda Lambert, you have another piece of the unique Dierks Bentley country sound. The kind of Dierks Bentley music you simply loved and enjoyed in his earlier works. The 2025 is not pushing too much, his music feels more mature – but it is still a song which is amazing to listen to – or to sing along.

10. For As Long As I Can Remember

Broken Branches spreads so much contentedness, so much calm, so much happiness. For As Long As I Can Remember feels to be like a condensed essay of the album. It is not loud, you won’t make your country boots stomp on the dancefloor of a honky tonk to it. It is simply beautiful and impressing.

Some things will always be a certain way
Just like him, I wanna be the kinda man the wind can’t change
I’ll be my father’s song till I wake up on the other side of forever
It’s all I ever wanted to be, for as long as I can remember

11. Don’t Cry For Me

Don’t cry for me when I’m gone
Heaven knows I’ve had one hell of a run
Left nothing unsaid and nothing undone
Sing me away with a song
But don’t cry for me
When I’m gone, when I’m gone

Dierks is turning 50 years old this year – is it really time for a farewell song? The rather zestful finale feels like the perfect ending of this album on the one hand. On the other hand, the thought of not having Dierks music any more is somehow frightening. Especially after listening to the full Broken Branches album.

 

Dierks Bentley – Broken Branches – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

Dierks Bentley – Broken Branches – My View

Broken Branches is not a party album. But it could become one of the key country music albums of the year 2025. Dierks Bentley manages to send such a strong message with these eleven songs – you simply have to love him for that. At least I do. Thanks, Dierks!

Favorite Song: Broken Branches

 

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