Jeff Bridges by Jeff Bridges! - CD Album Review
Country fans will love it; Bridges fans not into country will pick it up and warm to it, due to the sheer passion that seeps through; and it sounds like the work of a seasoned musician, not a guy who is on his second album – eleven years since the release of his first!
If someone were to mention the name Jeff Bridges to you in a conversation, the chances are youd think of him acting. Hes an extremely well-known and established character actor & sometimes leading man, famous for his roles in movies such as: Tron, The Big Lebowski, and most recently, True Grit. As a marker for the quality of his acting prowess, hes been nominated for six Academy Awards and is one of the youngest ever actors to be nominated for one, at the age of 22, for The Last Picture Show. He has won an Academy Award for Best Actor in Crazy Heart and his role in that film also won him a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a drama. So, as you can see, he is a very talented man and is exceptionally good at what he does. However, Bridges isnt a one trick pony. Hes also a dab hand at photography, is a cartoonist (some of his drawings have appeared in films, including K-PAX), has done voice-over work and is even a musician, which is the reason why I write this. As mentioned earlier, he is a person who is exceptionally good at what he does whatever he decides to do and his foray into music is no different to any of his acting work. Its precise, high-quality and assured. Its an album that youd expect from a guy who has a lot of life experience but who also seems grounded. Its an album that youll find yourself listening to on those days where all you want to do is draw the curtains, just be by yourself and hide from the world. The lyrics have obviously been fermenting for years, such is the depth of them, and the guitar fits perfectly with Bridges typical country-style voice; youll find yourself swaying to the carefully but sincerely played guitar while Bridges tells you his story; his heartbreak, his joy, about the times good and bad. From the outset, with What A Little Bit Of Love Can Do, you know that youre in for a fun, accessible, distinctive country album. The song builds up with its solid drums and Bridges mild-mannered, composed vocals and the well-played guitar lead up to a pretty good solo which shows that Bridges can play his guitar, and this isnt something he does for fun its a solo which shows a lot of time and effort has gone into learning this craft. The lyrics work well with the generally soothing feel of the song: I know that youve been feeling down and blue / there aint nothing really wrong with you / you just need a little tending to / its amazing what a little bit of love can do.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjJl-TDakms Tumbling Vine has a walking bass-line and a sparse guitar at the beginning which wakes up it seems, of its own accord. It creeps in and imposes itself on the song and over-shadows the bass, but with the eclectic piano that jumps in and out of the track, the guitar makes for an outlandish yet elegant addition. This track has a creepy feel to it and it almost feels as if Bridges wrote this while halfway through a bottle of whiskey, moodily pondering his life. The Quest is a great track to finish things off. Its lyrics indicate Bridges going back to what we all know him best for, acting, which would be a pity on the basis of this album.
Now Im done doing nothing / and weary of rest / now Ive got to get back to the quest.The sorrowful guitar and the slow-paced nature of the track keep you listening to the very end. The sense that this song creates is one of sadness, hardship and of Bridges perhaps indicating that he feels safer, more content if he leaves his music where it is. But he really shouldnt give up on it because this is a really impressive album. Country fans will love it; Bridges fans not into country will pick it up and warm to it, due to the sheer passion that seeps through; and it sounds like the work of a seasoned musician, not a guy who is on his second album eleven years since the release of his first. A very commendable effort, indeed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmiK6tPucjc Jeff Bridges: Jeff Bridges is available on Amazon from September 5th.