Prefab Sprout: The King Of Rock'n'Roll

FOR SOMEONE who's only ever strived to bring a little wistful beauty into our pop lives, with an honest and artisan approach to the craft of writing songs that occasionally soar way, way beyond the sum of their parts, Paddy McAloon has managed to raise the hackles of harder-boiled hipsters over the years. They divine in him a preciousness, a clever-clever-cleverness that makes them want to throw rocks at him. While conceding that songs like 'Cars And Girls' are "a bit smartarse", McAloon is ready with his retort.