Lambchop leader Kurt Wagner has never been the sunniest of singers, though the darkness of his songs always seemed to be cut by a glimmer of clever humor or the glint of an eye that suggested he wasn't taking it all so seriously. "Damaged" (Merge), however, is nearly all seriousness - a slow march into the heart of hopelessness with a pristine, achingly beautiful soundtrack of soothing strings and muted horns.
Listen to "Paperback Bible" here (RealPlayer needed)