Dier ks approached the fall and winter feeling the need to throw out the rule


book and indulge in the sounds that brought him to the show. Te song that set the tone for the project and gave it its title was inspired by some time spent on an actual ridge – a plot of land Dierks bought in rural Williamson County with no buildings except an old barn and a commanding view of hills, fields and trees. Dierks finally arranged a long-sought writing session with Angelo, a lyrical and sonic wizard who’d come to Dierks’ attention working with Kim Richey but who’d gone on to rock production stardom with the Kings of Leon. A conversation about the good time possibilities of hanging out on the ridge matched with Angelo’s spooky, mantra-like guitar riff, and the gritty title track was born. From there, the


partnership


with Jon Randall led to a series of


sessions where a complete


album took shape. Mountains were moved to get busy artists together in the relaxed setting of


Gary Paczosa’s studio.


Dierks arranged to write and record with one of his heroes, Tim O’Brien, producing a darkly comic and swinging country/grass classic, “You’re Dead To Me.”


Kristofferson’s song “From The


Bottle to


the Bottom” was unknown to Bentley, a student of great country songs, until it was suggested by Jon Randall. And they pulled together two of the biggest stars of traditional country music – Jamey Johnson and Miranda Lambert – for a three-way harmony


on the Verlon Tompson/Suzi Ragsdale song “Bad


blowout Angel.”


Te production team decamped at one point for Brooklyn, New York, where Dierks spent a magical three days recording with the Punch Brothers, arguably the most innovative and technically complete pickers in acoustic music. He matched voices beautifully on Bob Dylan’s rippling and subversive “Senor.” And he and Stewart pulled off the coup of the album – a searing


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