Jeff Bridges, aka "The Dude," has temporarily set aside his acting career to focus on music. His new self-titled album is his major-label debut, following 2000's indie-released Be Here Soon, which received mixed reviews. This time around, he teamed up with famed producer T Bone Burnett, whom Bridges worked with in Crazy Heart. Bridges plays alongside a strong cast of Americana musicians, maintaining the rootsy edge that worked well for him in the movie. Songwriting credits go to Bridges for three of the 10 tracks on the album, one of which he co-wrote with Burnett and Thomas Cobb. Bridges' best vocal performance is found in the opening track, "What A Little Bit Of Love Can Do," written by the late Stephen Bruton. His voice is endearing, and the upbeat, country vibe of the song suits him perfectly. In "Maybe I Missed the Point," written by John Goodwin, Bridges tells a story of a Dude-like slacker — familiar territory. Even though Bridges' own compositions lack the panache found in the other songs, the album does contain several powerful tracks that prove his credibility as a musician.
