By MICHAEL MCCALL

| For The Associated Press

Dierks Bentley, "Home" (Capitol Nashville)

A banjo kicks off Dierks Bentley’s new album "Home," recalling a backwoods sound prevalent on his previous, bluegrass-inspired album "Up on the Ridge."

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The similarities stop there. The bluegrass album generated rave reviews and but no radio hits. With "Home," Bentley returns to contemporary country music and the top of the charts — in the distinctive fashion that has established him among country music’s most interesting hit-makers.

Bentley always utilizes banjo, fiddle, mandolin and especially dobro in his music, but with a modern beat and energy that, along with his distinctive voice, gives him a compelling sound of his own.

Like his peers, he regularly offers songs about celebrating with friends. "Am I The Only One," already a No. 1 hit, as well as "Tip It On Back" and "5-1-5-0" are as entertaining as any partying songs coming from Jason Aldean and Eric Church.

But the Arizona native separates himself from his peers with love songs, which feature a sensual quality rare in modern country music. The steamy "Breathe You In" and the tortured "In My Head" are outstanding relationship songs, while "Home," a valentine to America, is a patriotic ode that doesn’t stoop to jingoism.

"Home" indeed finds Bentley back where he belongs: On the top of the country music charts.

Check out this track: The soulfully swaying "When You Gonna Come Around," a sexy duet with Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town, makes flirting sound as if it’s going to lead to an inevitably positive conclusion.