Their early work was a little too ... New Wave for my taste.

Someone just watched American Psycho

Hey Paul! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Commercially, sure. Artistically, maybe. I never thought what they did was Art, but they seemed to have their own style they weren't going to subvert drastically. Sort of an American pub band, ala Squeeze or Graham Parker and the Rumour. Never bought their records, but I've seen and heard worse. They were lucky they were as popular as they were. Not as talented as Bob Seger and not good looking like Duran Duran.

Just they're...Huey's too black-sounding for me.

No one will likely believe this, but I saw these guys live, when they played at my high school, circa 1982/83. Our electronics teacher had connections in the music industry, and he was able to nab some of these bands as they were rising, and just prior to big fame. Other notables were the Greg Kihn Band, Bonnie Hayes and the wild combo (I think they might have been called the punts at that time) and Journey (Yes, that Journey, way back in 1974).

The News, then known as Clover, backed Elvis Costello on his debut album.