We have to talk about the math of “Back At One.” If steps 1-3 are variations on “I want to be with you,” what does it mean to “repeat steps 1-3”? And how does that lead to step 5, “Make you fall in love with me”? When does the loop break? Regardless of this shoddy work, I love any pop ballad based around counting. Same goes for a good space metaphor (“Drops Of Jupiter” has a great one, and out-of-this-world orchestration). All these songs are feel-good megahits except for “I Understand,” from an amazing pop band that deserved to be much bigger.