In 2002, Lovers not Fighters dropped like a love bomb to all us fans of good pop everywhere. The world’s stereo systems rejoiced.

The album has been characterized as “mature”; I quickly came to MW’s defense before I realized that was a compliment. There are two songs about/against academia, one significantly catchier than the other, but both supporting the idea that being smart and well-read should not be an end of itself but should lead to questioning and actively resisting the bad parts of this modern world. Honor is paid to those who came before, voting is mentioned twice, alcohol receives its due, and “also” is rhymed with “torso”. Matters of the heart are of course not neglected; “Dialling Tone” is about as persuasive an argument for infidelity as there could be.