I don't know what "clever" is supposed to mean exactly, but I think bubblegum hits like "Sugar, Sugar" or Street People's "Jennifer Tomkins" are pretty cleverly constructed. They're not hit-you-over-the-head-with-their-intelligence, but it takes a lot of skill to write songs that efficient.

But Aerial is one of her best two albums.
I think The Dreaming is probably fourth best behind that, Hounds of Love and Lionheart.

But Aerial is one of her best two albums.
I think The Dreaming is probably fourth best behind that, Hounds of Love and Lionheart.

She was overrated until she did Body Talk, which was awesome. That said, she may be a delusional cornball - I have no knowledge or opinion on that matter.

She was overrated until she did Body Talk, which was awesome. That said, she may be a delusional cornball - I have no knowledge or opinion on that matter.

John Cusack in Say Anything. Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic. George Clooney in "One Fine Day" perhaps. (Although he's not excessively manic from what I can recall.) I haven't seen "The Holiday" but the previews seemed to suggest Jack Black's character could qualify.

John Cusack in Say Anything. Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic. George Clooney in "One Fine Day" perhaps. (Although he's not excessively manic from what I can recall.) I haven't seen "The Holiday" but the previews seemed to suggest Jack Black's character could qualify.

You probably find "We Belong Together" extremely catchy because it's extremely catchy. Carey's singles stack up pretty damn well against just about anybody else working in pop music in the last three decades.

You probably find "We Belong Together" extremely catchy because it's extremely catchy. Carey's singles stack up pretty damn well against just about anybody else working in pop music in the last three decades.

I've never really understood this comparison. I like both bands, but Midlake are much more somber with less direct, more wandery songwriting - I'd put them closer to Neil Young or the mellower end of Pink Floyd, although I also tend to think of them as the good version of Fleet Foxes.

I've never really understood this comparison. I like both bands, but Midlake are much more somber with less direct, more wandery songwriting - I'd put them closer to Neil Young or the mellower end of Pink Floyd, although I also tend to think of them as the good version of Fleet Foxes.

1. Second Hand News
2. Albatross
3. I Know I'm Not Wrong
4. Never Going Back Again
5. Say You Love Me
6. Dreams
7. Lay It All Down
8. Blue Letter
9. Book Of Love
10. Silver Springs

1. Second Hand News
2. Albatross
3. I Know I'm Not Wrong
4. Never Going Back Again
5. Say You Love Me
6. Dreams
7. Lay It All Down
8. Blue Letter
9. Book Of Love
10. Silver Springs

He wrote one of my favorite Fleetwood Mac songs, "Lay It All Down" - RIP. That era of the band is rather underrated - Future Games is a great album, and Kiln House is pretty fun as well. Far better than the Peter Green era.

He wrote one of my favorite Fleetwood Mac songs, "Lay It All Down" - RIP. That era of the band is rather underrated - Future Games is a great album, and Kiln House is pretty fun as well. Far better than the Peter Green era.

Yoko's Plastic Ono Band is a good album, and one Beatles/Lennon fans could certainly stand to listen to, but it's not *that* good.

Yoko's Plastic Ono Band is a good album, and one Beatles/Lennon fans could certainly stand to listen to, but it's not *that* good.

He's been championing the Mekons since the mid-80s, which makes it hard for me to dislike him.

He's been championing the Mekons since the mid-80s, which makes it hard for me to dislike him.

Hey, "Soap Opera" and "Preservation Act 1" are good albums, even if the plot of the first one makes zero sense and the second makes only slightly more.