For years, country star Dierks Bentley had a hand in writing every song on his albums. But on more recent records, he pushed his pride aside and embraced singing tracks by others.

It’s a sign the 41-year-old Arizona native has matured as an artist, as well as a practical decision. Sometimes, other musicians simply have the better tune.

“It’s about wanting to be the best, man. I want to be known as someone who makes albums,” Bentley said recently on the phone from his Nashville, Tenn., home.

His choice of “albums” over “hits” was deliberate. A year after releasing his eighth studio album, “Black,” Bentley is in the early stages of writing the follow-up, uncertain of where it is headed. No matter the direction, Bentley — who headlines Merriweather Post Pavilion tonight — said his goal, as usual, is to create “a complete body of work.”

“I’m going into this next one, once again, with nothing, and hoping something in the writing either sparks a lyrical idea or some sort of sonic idea. Right now, I’m back to square one,” Bentley said.

“If you’ve got any song ideas, let me know,” he added with a chuckle.

Based on his track record, Bentley should be just fine. Since the release of his major-label debut in 2003, Bentley has solidified himself as one of country’s most consistent stars, with No. 1 songs, platinum albums and high-profile tours. Tightly constructed radio singles like the bluegrass-inflected “Am I the Only One” from 2012 and 2014’s languid “Drunk on a Plane” showed Bentley was improving with age.

But on “Black,” Bentley took an ambitious step forward with a loosely constructed concept album of messy hookups and breakups, and ultimately, self-discovery and love. The record feels and sounds darker than previous efforts (hence the name).

The first half depicts a narrator giving in to lust and other booze-filled impulses, while the midway point (“Why Do I Feel”) shifts the focus into clear-eyed introspection of the character’s flaws and need for deeper connections.

After he had the title track, “I was able to circle it up with these other songs that fit this narrative of the ups and downs of a relationship,” said Bentley, who’s been married since 2005. “It really came together like a book.”

“Black” features two rising voices of the genre: Maren Morris (“I’ll Be the Moon” — “one of my favorite songs on the record,” he said) and Elle King (“Different for Girls”). The latter song went platinum and reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, thanks to its catchy-if-generalized depiction of how men and women deal with heartbreak.

“A guy gets drunk with his friends and he might hook up / Fast forward through the pain, pushing back when the tears come on / But it’s different for girls,” the duo sings.

Bentley held onto “Girls” for a long time, unsure how it would fit on an album still taking shape at the time. But as the concept for “Black” grew stronger, Bentley saw a chance to make it an integral part of the story.

“I finally saw a place where not only did it fit the album, but it could be a critical part on the B side — more of a look at this guy who at one point was singing [the kiss-off] ‘Somewhere on the Beach,’ but later in life he matured,” Bentley said. “It became a big part of the record, and I’m just really thankful to have that song.”

Bentley said he might choose one more single from “Black” before moving on, but he’s already gathering ideas for new songs. He’ll hunker down in the studio this fall after his summer touring ends, but in the meantime, Bentley is mostly focused on the road.

“I’m not very good at [writing] on the road. That’s why I come back home and usually do it here,” he said. “I’m excited to see what the pen and paper hold, and what the next thing could be.”

wesley.case@baltsun.com

twitter.com/midnightsunblog