The Mountain (Dierks Bentley album)

The Mountain is the ninth studio album by American country music artist Dierks Bentley. It was released on June 8, 2018 by Capitol Records Nashville. It features the singles "Woman, Amen", "Burning Man" (a duet with Brothers Osborne) and "Living". The album was co-produced by Jon Randall and Ross Copperman.

Content

Bentley wrote 10 of the 13 songs on the album. Most of it was written after he performed at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Telluride, Colorado. He recorded it at the Studio in the Clouds in that town in November 2017. According to Bentley, the album mixes the bluegrass influence of his 2010 album Up on the Ridge with the rock music influence of his previous disc, 2016's Black. Serving as record producers are those two albums' respective producers, Jon Randall and Ross Copperman.

The album includes two vocal collaborations: "Burning Man" featuring Brothers Osborne and "Travelin' Light" featuring Brandi Carlile. Bluegrass musicians Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, and Tim O'Brien are also featured.

Commercial performance

The Mountain debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums and No. 3 on the US Billboard 200, with 102,000 album-equivalent units, 94,000 of which are traditional album sales. The album is Dierks Bentley's ninth top 10 and the best debut sales week of his career. It sold another 13,400 copies (18,200 units) in the second week. It has sold 193,400 copies in the United States as of September 2019.

Critical reception

Rolling Stone praised the album, particularly the track "You Can't Bring Me Down," with writer Luke Levenson commenting, "Dierks Bentley is continuing his celebration of resilience and strength with "You Can't Bring Me Down," which, following previous releases "Woman, Amen," "The Mountain," and "Living," returns the production level to its basics."

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Burning Man" (featuring Brothers Osborne)	Bobby Pinson Luke Dick	3:58
2.	"The Mountain"	Dierks Bentley Dick Natalie Hemby Jon Randall	4:44
3.	"Living"	Bentley Ross Copperman Ashley Gorley Jon Nite	3:42
4.	"Woman, Amen"	Bentley Copperman Josh Kear	3:00
5.	"You Can't Bring Me Down"	Bentley Luke Laird Hillary Lindsey	4:46
6.	"Nothing On but the Stars"	Bentley Nite Randall Ross Copperman	3:47
7.	"Goodbye in Telluride"	Bentley Gorley Copperman Scooter Carusoe	3:09
8.	"My Religion"	Ben Burgess Jamie Kenney Michael Pollack Rick Markowitz	3:05
9.	"One Way"	Bentley Jeff Hyde Laura Veltz	3:37
10.	"Son of the Sun"	Bentley Nite Randall Copperman	3:10
11.	"Stranger to Myself"	Bentley Heather Morgan Copperman	3:24
12.	"Travelin' Light" (featuring Brandi Carlile)	Bentley Gorley Nite	3:14
13.	"How I'm Going Out"	Jessi Alexander Randall	3:38
Total length:			47:13

Personnel

Adapted from The Mountain liner notes.

Musicians

Dierks Bentley – lead vocals (all tracks), background vocals (1–4, 7, 8)
Alan Bradbury – background vocals (1, 2)
Sam Bush – mandolin (5, 7, 12)
Brandi Carlile – duet vocals (12)
Matt Chamberlain – drums (all tracks), percussion (1, 2, 5, 9–11), programming (8)
Ross Copperman – acoustic guitar (3, 6, 7, 10, 11), electric guitar (3, 6, 7), background vocals (3–7, 9), keyboards (3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11), programming (3, 4, 6, 7, 11), percussion (6, 7, 11)
Luke Dick – acoustic guitar (1), electric guitar (1, 2), background vocals (1, 2), percussion (1), programming (1)
Jerry Douglas – Dobro (8, 12)
Dan Dugmore – electric guitar (3, 10), pedal steel guitar (9, 11, 13)
Ian Fitchuk – bass guitar (all tracks), keyboards (1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 13), bass synthesizer (6)
Ben Helson – banjo (2, 5, 12), acoustic guitar (3, 4, 7–11), mandolin (4)
Dan Hochhalter – fiddle (2, 5, 9)
Jedd Hughes – electric guitar (all tracks), acoustic guitar (1, 4, 5)
Josh Kear – background vocals (4)
Jamie Kenney – keyboards (8)
Hillary Lindsey – background vocals (5)
Rob McNelley – electric guitar (1, 5–7, 10, 11)
Heather Morgan – background vocals (11)
Jon Nite – background vocals (3, 6)
Tim O'Brien – background vocals (1), fiddle (1), bouzouki (8)
John Osborne – electric guitar (1)
T. J. Osborne – lead vocals (1)
Danny Rader – acoustic guitar (6, 7), electric guitar (6, 7), keyboards (6, 7), banjo (7), bouzouki (7), programming (7)
Jon Randall – acoustic guitar (2–6, 9–13), mandolin (4, 5), background vocals (5, 7, 9, 10, 13)
F. Reid Shippen – bass synthesizer (1), programming (3, 4)

Technical

Arturo Buenahora Jr. – executive production
Ross Copperman – production
Pete Lyman – mastering
Jon Randall – production
F. Reid Shippen – recording, mixing

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2018)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)	58
Canadian Albums (Billboard)	10
New Zealand Heatseeker Albums (RMNZ)	8
Scottish Albums (OCC)	92
US Billboard 200	3
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)	1

Year-end charts

Chart (2018)	Position
US Billboard 200	166
Top Country Albums (Billboard)	23
Chart (2019)	Position
Top Country Albums (Billboard)	32

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)	Platinum	80,000
United States (RIAA)	Gold	500,000
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

Casey, Jim (April 12, 2018). "Dierks Bentley Reveals Release Date, Track Listing & Collaborations on New Album, "The Mountain"". Nash Country Daily. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
Parton, Chris (April 12, 2018). "Dierks Bentley's Album 'The Mountain' to Feature Brandi Carlile, Brothers Osborne". Rolling Stone Country. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
Asker, Jim (June 19, 2018). "Dierks Bentley & Sugarland Debut on Top Country Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
^ Caulfield, Keith (June 18, 2018). "Kids See Ghosts & Dierks Bentley Debut in Top 3 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
Bjorke, Matt (June 25, 2018). "The Top 20 Most-Consumed Country Albums: June 25, 2018". Roughstock. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
Bjorke, Matt (September 4, 2019). "Top 10 Country Album Sales Chart: September 4, 2019". Roughstock. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
Levenson, Luke (2018-05-11). "Hear Dierks Bentley's Empowering New Song 'You Can't Bring Me Down'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
The Mountain (CD booklet). Dierks Bentley. Capitol Nashville. 2018. B0028286-02.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
"ARIA Chart Watch #477". auspOp. June 16, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
"Dierks Bentley Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
"NZ Heatseeker Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
"Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
"Dierks Bentley Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
"Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
"Top Country Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
"Top Country Albums – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
"Canadian album certifications – Dierks Bentley – The Mountain". Music Canada. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
"American album certifications – Dierks Bentley – The Mountain". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 12 January 2022.

v t e Dierks Bentley
Discography
Studio albums	Dierks Bentley Modern Day Drifter Long Trip Alone Feel That Fire Up on the Ridge Home Riser Black The Mountain Gravel & Gold
Compilation albums	Greatest Hits/Every Mile a Memory 2003–2008
Singles	"What Was I Thinkin'" "My Last Name" "How Am I Doin'" "Lot of Leavin' Left to Do" "Come a Little Closer" "Settle for a Slowdown" "Every Mile a Memory" "Long Trip Alone" "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)" "Trying to Stop Your Leaving" "Feel That Fire" "Sideways" "I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes" "Up on the Ridge" "Draw Me a Map" "Am I the Only One" "Home" "5-1-5-0" "Tip It On Back" "Bourbon in Kentucky" "I Hold On" "Drunk on a Plane" "Say You Do" "Riser" "Somewhere on a Beach" "Different for Girls" "Black" "What the Hell Did I Say" "Woman, Amen" "Burning Man" "Living" "Gone" "Beers on Me" "Gold" "American Girl"
Featured singles	"The South" "Flatliner" "New Old Trucks" "Worth a Shot"
Related articles	Hot Country Knights The K Is Silent
Concert tours	Riser Tour Sounds of Summer Tour 2015 Somewhere on a Beach Tour

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