"Right now/ I'll do it right now/ Here's your damn love song." One infers from these exhausted first lines that roots-rock singer/actress/upright bassist Amy LaVere is suffering romantically -- not surprising, given that her recently ex-boyfriend is still playing drums here. Stranger Me is delicate and wounded, with small, killer touches -- trumpet on "You Can't Keep Me," saxophone on "A Great Divide," a murmuring feedback hum to simulate car-radio static on "Cry My Eyes Out" -- lurking behind LaVere's frail, distant voice, perfect for such heartbroken fare. She'll bounce back.