The Damned's vampire-faced frontman David Vanian is a hard nut to crack. It's impossible to tell where he draws the line between hammy and sincere. Therein lies the mystique of the Damned — a band that participated in punk's earliest days and went with the flow well into the new wave '80s. So, Who's Paranoid? is a refreshingly catchy album that draws from a lifetime spent crafting gorgeous melodies, punk jitters and baroque romanticism. "A Nation Fit for Heroes" and "Diamonds" are goth-laced power-pop gems. "Since I Met You" is a sappy guilty pleasure that should be skipped over in the presence of certain company. "Under the Wheels" is the real standout song; a beautifully balanced and engaging work of pop genius that, after more than 30 years in the game, underscores the group's vitality as punk's undead pop masters.
This article appears in Jan 14-20, 2009.