Lambchop linchpin Kurt Wagner had part of his hip transplanted to fix his cyst-ravaged jaw prior to recording Damaged. The resulting album seems understandably more personal than before.
As chief songwriter with extraordinary alt-country band Lambchop - a grouping that currently has 18 contributors - Kurt's apparent physical and emotional fragility seeps throughout the songs on this album.
Although full of tender melodies and poetic lyrics sometimes derived from the most mundane subjects - like a song about items sold on public radio classifieds - it isn't all doom and gloom.
On The Decline Of Country And Western Civilization Wagner even jokes about his traumatic experience: "I still hold my hip each time I sneeze".
Wagner's almost spoken delivery is reminiscent of a more compassionate Tom Waits, and the depth of musical talent among his vast troupe is beautifully arranged into a warm, touching album that deserves some quality listening time.
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