Closer to the Bone: Buy This Album!

There must be something in the air. Just last week, I pulled a Sinead O’Connor post out of nowhere and this week Kris Kristofferson releases an album’s worth of new compositions, including one about the exact events I pondered in last week’s post.

Sinead O’Connor, your ears must be burning.

That was only the first happy surprise contained in this excellently mellow, acoustic collection of tunes. I’m not sure the mash note to Johnny Cash even qualifies as a surprise. The two men were genuinely close and long-time mutual fans.

And I think Kristofferson believes that if the world had more Johnny Cash’s in it it would be a better place to be. Me too.

Most of the rest of the album is about looking back on a long, productive life, especially family; I’m pretty sure “Holy Woman” isn’t about a miraculous Rorschachian profile burnt into a piece of toast.

The song “From Here to Forever,” introduced as written for his kids, is bound to get covered by some A-lister and become a country & western classic. Willie Nelson, your next big hit is calling you! Big? Rich…? Toby? If you have kids and “From Here to Forever” doesn’t touch your heart it may be time to break out the home defibrillator.

And the song about Sinead is, of course, lovely. I would excerpt lyrics here, but that would require lots more typing. Just buy the record.

Kristofferson’s 73-year-old vocal instrument is smooth and smoky as Tennessee whisky and the production flourishes to Kristofferson and his acoustic guitar by producer Don Was never intrude.

Along with “This Old Road” a few years ago, Kristofferson is doing some of his best, most consistently strong work well into his seventies.

Check this album out if you like music that doesn’t even remotely suck.