Some people stay in the academic world just to avoid becoming self-aware. You can quote me on that.

Sometimes we drop in and do an acoustic set somewhere, and that`s really fun to take all these insanely loud songs, and to do them quiet. It`s really a sight to see... or to hear!

I`m kind of the town pump. I think I have a pretty good ear for what sounds good in this style.

Even when there are banalities, they`re usually kind of benign banalities.

I`m all over the place. As you may have seen from the credits, I write with everybody.

That`s a job that it makes a few friendships, but it probably breaks more.

They were kind of like little Stephen King stories... but these go back many hundreds of years.

I made some friends who are still friends, and this is the city of my birth. I love living here when there`s a reason to, other than just moving here. I still don`t like the winters here, but it`s an amazing city and I love it.

The process depends on the situation, and I don`t think there are any two songs that have gone exactly the same way... well, actually, that`s not true.

I think you have everyone kind of pulling on the same end of the rope. It`s not like you`re Robin Williams and everyone else is a deaf mute. It`s like - there`s plenty of help.

[describing how he and wife Annette O`Toole go about writing a song`s music and lyrics] When we`ve done it - and this sounds like I`m talking about sex, doesn`t it? - we`ve done it every way you can.

You know, I think it`s one of those cases where the situation really does dictate your level of ridicule.

When we can figure out a way to really tour and make a profit, then we`ll do it again.