On Closer to the Bone, Kris Kristofferson avoids the production mishaps of 2006's This Old Road (the whole album sounded deliberately out of tune), though he works with the same team: producer Don Was (who also played bass), drummer Jim Keltner, Rami Jaffee on keyboards, & guitarist Stephen Bruton, who passed away shortly after finishing this album -- it is dedicated to his memory. Closer to the Bone's 11 songs are simply jaw-dropping for the most part: some pay tribute to friends; others give