Aimee Mann was too smart to tangle much with the pop charts—even with her '80s band, 'Til Tuesday. But the reverence of critics like Elvis Costello and big nominations for her work on the Magnolia soundtrack illustrate the depth of her craft. She's shown her playful side on collaborations with Rush and Ted Leo, but the tragicomic voice of her prolific solo catalogue—big on melodic twists and keenly drawn stories—is her true calling card.