Jeff Bridges has been many things over his long career and “professional musician” may just be another notch on his belt. Having been a dabbler in music for much of his life, his eponymous debut, Jeff Bridges, is an exercise in artistic extension.
It is natural to be weary of actors-turned-musicians since so many have failed our expectations in the past. Recall Eddie Murphy or Bruce Willis’ attempts at crossover-careers — even Tim Robbins’ recent foray into the folk scene has been met with suspicion and confusion. Where Bridges differs are his connections in the business.
Combined with producer T. Bone Burnett and songwriters John Goodwin and Ryan Bingham, Bridges has picked a solid team for his musical debut. All three helped with the music in Bridges’ 2009 film Crazy Heart, and that same sound resonates strongly in this album.
Most of the tracks benefit from a slick sound, due in part to Burnett’s long career at the producer’s table. Instrumentation and arrangement are top notch, here Bridges’ music connections pay off.
The album starts strong with “What A Little Bit of Love Can Do.” It has an upbeat tone, helped by steel guitar and confident harmonies. The album closes with “The Quest,” a song written by Goodwin, Bridges’ longtime friend. In between these tracks, pacing is problematic, with songs switching from slow and reflective, “Either Way” and “Falling Short,” to light-hearted fare like “Blue Car”.
Sorting through a track-list is important for a listener’s experience. Without proper pacing, an album can fizzle or flare too soon or too late. Jeff Bridges has more of an up-tempo/down-tempo problem. The ten tracks don’t seem to fit very easily together.
That being said, the good songs are golden. There is a solid feel of music and lyrics throughout and a good combination of vocals. What will probably keep the average listener at bay is, in fact, the star of the show himself, Jeff Bridges.
To dissociate “The Dude” or “Bad Blake” or “Starman” from the songs is difficult. He has a very unique voice, but it is solely Jeff Bridges. One can see the singer upon hearing his voice, and by doing so see the actor. The high range is a little out of reach, sometimes a strain creeps into Bridges’ timbre. He is definitely aided by backup harmonies.
As authentic as Bridges may be in his love for music, there is the looming thought that the album exists only because Jeff Bridges wanted it. If this album were to come out by a totally different musician, it would have a diminished response. Because of Bridges’ stature, the discussion happens to be about an actor making music, not a musician making an album. And that, I believe, is the point.
Three stars out of five.
