The biggest thing this has in common with almost all of our records is the dualities are still there. We kind of stripped down the other things we were writing about, and that's what was left. A lot of good things have happened to us in the last couple of years both as a band and in our personal lives. But something as wonderful as having children also brings along these new fears and terrors and responsibilities.

Songwriting can be cathartic, but then you just keep it private. If you're going to play out and have other people listen to you, then you need to make sure there's some point to what you're saying.

The road does not always bring out the best in people.

I feel like, as a people, we're sort of stumbling in the dark right now.

A lot of the music that I grew up loving has a really political bent to it.

I never want to be that guy spouting off my political views. I mean, they're pretty well known, and it certainly comes out.

I dislike Bush as much as probably anybody on earth could, but having said that... It's not like I'm going to change anybody's mind.