Just an interesting related note...I was reading Jimmy Webb's 'Tune smith'* on the plane today (great reading, btw). He actually rants about this topic for a few pages...except in defense of the proper rhyme.

(Many of the contributors to this thread seem to throw all proper rhymes into the "obvious rhyme" category, which was bothering me. I think that you can use proper rhymes as long as they're not trite.)

Anyway, in the midst of defending the proper rhyme he writes, "The writer would be wise to note that using these false rhymes (which he defines as two words that while not proper rhymes are close enough in vowel sound to create a passable rhyming effect) even though they may admirably serve a purpose will inevitably weaken the effect of a given line. The listener will be offended on a subliminal level even if he or she doesn't know the difference between a false and proper rhyme."

Perhaps it can be argued that the industry has changed a bit since his heyday, but he makes some strong points that I believe are timeless. I think there's a place for both types of rhymes in today industry if properly used.

Continuing his point while also defending the use of rhyming dictionaries to get out of a jam, he writes my favorite line of the book (so far):

"Please, if I may: It is bad writing that ruins rhymes -- not lists of words that do or do not rhyme."

Classic.

(*The book title is actually one word, but it keeps getting edited out as a naughty word, though I don't know why.)