A bands first albums usually not great. When you made the first album, you had a day job and you were still trying to be serious about it.

[Dennis] Etchison would write stories that were just punch lines at the end. You wouldn't realize something horrific was happening until the last paragraph.

People always talk about good time rock and roll, Chuck Berry or whatever, like this liberating force for feeling good. But what I need in my life is to be liberated into feeling bad. Not sad. I have plenty of sad. What I need is a place where I can spray anger in sparks like a gnarled piece of electrical cable. Just be mad at stuff and soak in the helplessness.

I always worry that I'm a dilettante: I know something about lots of things but don't have exhaustive knowledge of much.

I always want to try and see what the appeal is in anything. It's the healthiest and most honest approach.

I don't celebrate milestones and I don't do anniversary editions. It's not my style to reflect on accomplishments.

May we all emerge from winter with our strength renewed and any unwanted pieces left under the ice.