I'm just taking one step at a time. I could zigzag one way, but it's not usually on purpose.

I'm always looking for older equipment and ways of recording, but you can't escape the fact that it's all going to be digitized and reduced. I do think music sounds better when it's on tape and more simply recorded. I've been arguing with people for 10 years about tape versus digital, and I believe tape is absolutely essential in getting the sound that's conducive to the enjoyment of music. I wonder if it's going to go back to that. Sometimes I think it has to. As music becomes more computer-based, it's lost some emotional impact.

It gets a little bit troublesome when you have something that's overcompressed that shouldn't be.

I'm more critical of my songwriting than anybody, but I've worked really hard in the last five to 10 years to improve.

With modern recording techniques, and living in the Pro Tools era, the process gets really drawn-out, and it can become painstaking.

I don't remember half of the new bands, though - and I think that's kind of where we're going. It's turning into just a big derby of songs. May the best song win.

There's some quality you get when you're not totally comfortable.