Dierks Bentley Celebrates The Outliers On New Project ‘Broken Branches,’ Due In June
Dierks Bentley is celebrating the unruly characters and outliers on his upcoming album Broken Branches, due out June 13 via Capitol Records Nashville.
“Broken Branches,” a good-timing anthem with a mood-boosting jukebox stomp in honor of nature’s black sheep, became the anchor track of the album and features John Anderson and Riley Green. In compiling the new project, Bentley spent months listening to raw demos, often driving around the backroads of his Tennessee home. He chose a mix of tracks with deep meanings and distinctive quirks, centered on the imperfect perfections of community spirit. Each song grew from acoustic-guitar foundation, which Bentley calls a testament to producers Jon Randall and Ross Copperman, along with musicians like Charlie Worsham, Jedd Hughes, Rob McNelley and Bryan Sutton. Co-writing just four tracks himself and securing seven from outside writers, Bentley dug deeper than ever before into Nashville’s thriving songwriting community.
“The country music community has a lot of broken branches in it. That’s why we’re all here,” Bentley explains. “We want to do something a little bit different, and I think everyone sees themselves like that – certainly in country. This is the people’s music and it represents that spirit of individuality so well – it’s just about doing it our own way.”
Other album tracks like “Cold Beer Can” offers a different way of looking at a frosty 12-oz., and the heartwarming “Never You (feat. Miranda Lambert)” tributes the essential companion in each life. Bentley returns to his bluegrass beginnings with the feverish “Well, Well Whiskey,” while tracks like the propulsive acoustic jam “Something Worth Fixing” celebrates life as a work in progress, and the grungy alt-country of “Jesus Loves Me” explores a heartbroken gospel truth.
“Off the Map” looks to escape a relentless reality—whether on a beach or a barstool—and the blazing heart of “Standing in the Sun” burns with the simple, life-giving power of true romance. “For as Long as I Can Remember” tributes the oak solid shelter a father provides, while “Don’t Cry for Me” brings the project full-circle.
Bentley recently released the biggest debuting song of his career with Broken Branches’ debut single “She Hates Me,” and he’ll launch his 30-city “Broken Branches Tour” on May 29 with Zach Top and The Band Loula.
Broken Branches Track List:
1. “Cold Beer Can” (Jon Randall, Luke Dick, Stephen Wilson Jr. and Dierks Bentley)
2. “Jesus Loves Me” (Adam James, Ben Stennis and Allison Veltz Cruz)
3. “She Hates Me” (Ashley Gorley, Chase McGill, Ross Copperman, Jimmy Allen, Wesley Scantlin and Dierks Bentley)
4. “Something Worth Fixing” (Stephen Wilson Jr., Luke Dick and Dierks Bentley)
5. “Standing In The Sun” (Kyle Sturrock)
6. “Well Well Whiskey” (Seth Ennis, Devin Dawson and Jordan Reynolds)
7. “Broken Branches” (Zach Abend, Beau Bailey and Graham Barham)
8. “Off The Map” (Jeremy Bussey, Lauren McLamb and Adam Wood)
9. “Near You” feat. Miranda Lambert (Scooter Carusoe, Ross Copperman and Ben Williams)
10. “For As Long As I Can Remember” (Devin Dawson, Connie Harrington)
11. “Don’t Cry For Me” (Jim Beavers and Dierks Bentley)
