I don't find <i>Anniemal</i> to be particularly "knowing" actually - if anything Annie and her producers don't seem to have really worked out what they want to do and so the album sort of lurches all over the place, with the exception of the four singles which are also the four best tracks! In a funny way <i>Arular</i> is actually much more "slick" (in the sense of being an exact execution of a pre-ordained concept and neither more nor less)
Xenomania stuff or Rachel Stevens' singles are more "knowing" than Annie I think, but then I find this works well for both of them, and doesn't hinder or obscure their impact. The first three Saint Etienne albums get progressively more "knowing" and get progressively better as well.
Overall I'm very reluctant to endorse a binary of knowing/innocent that maps onto bad/good so easily.
Xenomania stuff or Rachel Stevens' singles are more "knowing" than Annie I think, but then I find this works well for both of them, and doesn't hinder or obscure their impact. The first three Saint Etienne albums get progressively more "knowing" and get progressively better as well.
Overall I'm very reluctant to endorse a binary of knowing/innocent that maps onto bad/good so easily.