I make up stories that take place in real space with real people. If I could convert this into a technique for experimental novels, I might really be onto something.

I don't understand being idle; I don't have an idle setting. I probably should develop one.

People don't tend to notice, but in the past 10 years especially there's been a lot of growth in how I write songs and what goes into them. You can listen to Mountain Goats from 1991 to 2007 and never hear a seventh chord. In 2007 or 2008, I started working on the piano to grow as a songwriter. I started throwing major sevens in and sixes and more interesting stuff.

Everybody experiences reality in a way that's only true for them.

I grew up around some people whose parents toured a lot: tough on the marriage, tough on the kids.

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.

Good things never last, bad things never die.