Rank: C
While Dierks Bentley’s new album, “Riser”, includes a track titled “Sounds of Summer” this album won’t make it very high on the vacation playlists. The record does include some solid songs like the pre-released single “I Hold On”, along with “Say You Do” and “Hurt Somebody.” However, the other songs seem to fall short. The female back-up vocals seem awkward and oddly placed, like in the track “Bourbon in Kentucky.” While songs “Drunk on a Plane” and “Back Porch” seem like Luke Bryan-rejected party anthems, they fall short of being successful recordings. The album just doesn’t make the cut of being a perfect play-all-the-way-through kind of album and instead just has a couple of good tracks that are worth an occasional listen. While some songs will most likely make it to radio play, the album won’t replace the good country music that’s out there.