Style: Mainstream country; compare to Tim McGraw, Billy Currington, Jason Aldean
Top tracks: “Home,” “Heart of a Lonely Girl,” “Thinking of You”
Paying homage to his bluegrass roots on 2010’s Up On the Ridge and collaborating with underground acoustic talents like Will Hogue and Chris Thiele, Bentley has maintained a left-of-center musical persona despite his massive mainstream country success. But his sixth studio recording circles back to radio with 12 infectious ditties, including the already-No. 1 “Am I the Only One.” Regardless of commercial appeal, Bentley’s warm vocal rasp and acoustic allegiances (banjo, mandolin and dobros abound) are easy on the ears. And though his lyrical fare continues to avoid country typicals (cheating, stealing, killing), Home is also devoid of Bentley’s usual faith-based standout track.
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