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The hardest part of this review was promising myself I wouldn’t refer to Mr Bridges as his bud-loving, bowling incarnation, The Dude (I think I just blew it).
The Big Lebowski star must’ve felt the pull of the guitar after an Academy Award winning performance as the troubled Country singer, Bad Blake in Crazy Heart.
Jeff took a year off acting after the wrap of the movie to concentrate on writing and producing his sophomore effort, the self-titled Jeff Bridges.
This is not the Californians first foray into music. Eleven years have passed since the release of his debut album, Be Here Soon, which received mixed reviews in 2000.
A mix of self-penned numbers and a host of covers, Jeff Bridges is an eclectic mix of country, rock and jazz.
When it came to the making of the record Bridges did not scrimp on big names to help him out. Legendary producer T-Bone Burnett lends a hand and song writers Stephen Burnot and Gary Nicholosn assist with tracks.
Backup singing is brought in the form of harmonising Rosanne Cash, on the gloomy Everything but Love, while Ryan Bingham chimes in on the upbeat What a Little Bit of Love Can Do.
But it is on Bridge’s original material where the album really makes an impact. Falling Short is a reflective journey about making your own way and Slow Boat is a dreamy, funeral song-like number, that stamps his own style formed from listening to Captain Beefheart and Bob Dylan.
I doubt Bridge will give up his considerable acting career anytime soon, but if it did he could do a lot worse than picking up the guitar full-time.