There are records that you just sink into. They coincide with what you’re going through and become an ally. If our records do that for people, that’s the greatest compliment I could ever receive. That’s one of the reasons making music is so important to me, because there’s a very strange emotional reach. For me—more than books or movies or other things—music is like a mainline to your heart.

It takes us a long time to write a song that we all really like, so it makes sense that it would take a while for the listener to get there, too.

I'd say recording and playing on stage are two completely different things. Being up in front of all people is like jumping off a cliff into icy water. The recording process is a totally different energy.

I'm not saying I'm not a moody guy sometimes, but I think I have a pretty normal balance.

I actually don't go to shows anymore. Rock concerts have lost their appeal for me.

A song is a song and, if I am emotionally connected to do it, whether it is sad or not sad, I am going to chase that song.

I have pit bulls barking at me on half of the love songs.