In this week's issue of the New Yorker, the music critic with the most mercurial taste of anyone I've ever encountered, Sasha Frere-Jones, explains the importance of Mariah Carey in the history of pop music. Within a year or two, it's quite probable she'll break the Beatles' record for most #1 songs by an artist under 40, but rather than simply rationalizing her popularity, Frere-Jones actually finds evidence of Carey's influence on music, evidence of talent, evidence of...craftsmanship? You betcha. Interesting stuff that won't (don't worry) produce any cravings to buy the music in question.