I think some musicians can almost forget that the stage is something to do something on, even if that thing is standing still.

If people can finally recognize you on radio without being told who it is, thats what you aim for.

I had a feeling about what I wanted to say, and I wasn't really qualified to discuss real things out of America because I didn't grow up there.

I seem to attract and be attracted to very willful, fascinating people.

I'm not interested in trying to have people who might like other kinds of music follow me. I don't want to please them.

Growing up in public is a test, and not many people know how to do it.

Guitars have been the obsession of my life. I first picked one up at the age of four and Ive been a guitar junkie ever since.

Coming from a working-class background, where my father did manual labor, was a good grounding; I was obsessed with getting a job or getting out of the house at 15.

Joining Modest Mouse was just consistent with what I used to do as a teenager: I followed where I thought I would make some interesting music.

I never took fans for granted. I always assumed subconsciously that people who followed what I did were just people who were kind of like me.

The biggest musical influence on me was my mum. We were both enraptured by music.

The world is ruled by cowards and cravens

Love is bullshit. Emotion is bullshit.

It is not settled happiness but momentary joy that glorifies the past.

The story of a marriage was an excellent way to fulfill the goal of discussing class without discussing class, and to tell an audience that they were upwardly mobile.

The rule I have when choosing films is the excitement factor, I need to feel excited about the story and whatever message the film has - only then do I sign on the dotted line.

Equally, the Internet interprets attempts at proprietary control as threats and mobilizes to defeat them.

The absurd is only too necessary on earth. The world stands on absurdities.

Father-daughter relationship, is something that I think is so unique and it can't really be explained unless you have a daughter.

I used to do a lot of video analysis early on, but more for pleasure and looking at my own technique.

Am I ambitious? I used to be afraid of that word but now I think ambition is a good thing.