Dedicated to friend and colleague Vic Chesnutt, Lambchop’s 11th album is as refined and dignified as the top-hat-wearing gentleman depicted on the cover. Always the central figure in the Nashville band, singer Kurt Wagner is now the lone original member, leading the streamlined five-piece through this collection of bittersweet songs about love and daily life.

Though Lambchop are now less than half their peak size, glorious string arrangements and piano parts still complement Wagner’s picked acoustic guitar. His voice stays in his natural register (in the past he’s ventured into falsetto) and retains a warm, conversational tone. He’s not a strong singer, but the way his words drop off adds to the intimacy.

The closest Lambchop come to rocking is on toe-tapping Gone Tomorrow. For the most part, the tempos range from languid to glacial, drawing attention to the intricacy of the instrumentation and the stories being told.

Top track: 2B2