Composer Danny Elfman on music, books and 'The Daily Show'

Composer Danny Elfman has slipped his way into our collective subconscious by creating the scores to numerous films, including the blockbusters " Spider-Man," "Mission: Impossible" and "Men in Black," as well as the themes to " The Simpsons" and " Desperate Housewives."

The L.A. native made his name as the frontman for '80s new wave band Oingo Boingo. This year he composed the scores for the films " Wanted," " Hellboy II: The Golden Army" and "Standard Operating Procedure."

His first ballet "Rabbit and Rouge," choreographed by Twyla Tharp, premiered at the Orange County Performing Arts Center this summer, and he recently began work on his first Broadway musical, "Houdini." He shared his pop culture interests with Liesl Bradner.

HEAVY ROTATION ON YOUR IPOD

I listen to constantly changing messy playlists. If I had to pick I'd have to say a playlist that heavily features the work of Gavin Bryars, "Farewell to Philosophy"; Steve Reich (Kronos Quartet), "Different Trains"; Erik Satie, "The Irreverent Inspirations of Erik Satie," which is a rare use of him writing for solo voices. It would also be mixed with doses of Radiohead and Sparklehorse, Cat Power, Aimee Mann and the incredible Mauritanian singer Dimi Mint Abba.

Read more of 'Composer Danny Elfman on music, books and 'The Daily Show.'