Creed Bratton may play a selfish Neanderthal on NBC's "The Office," but in real life he's a generous, sophisticated musician who was the original guitarist for the 1960s band the Grass Roots ("Midnight Confessions," "Let's Live for Today"). Bratton, who will release a new solo album this month, explains why he has rediscovered Lucinda Williams' 1998 classic, "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road."

NEAL JUSTIN

"I like her honesty. She's really upfront, and she transforms you. You feel like you're there in that room with that threadbare dress and the mother that doesn't have much money. You can't make that stuff up. I can never be that honest. Like my character, I lie a lot."