What song would you use to describe your current relationship?

This song showin’ up uninvited and being all like, “Ima make you feel things now. Best of luck, bro. lol. 😎”

What song do you associate with your biggest accomplishment?

When I was working on my Master’s dissertation and fighting with the homunculus who lives rent-free in my head, this song was the pump-jam I used to steel myself for what Nick Cave calls the “sacred duty” of the creator: “to turn around and kick th[e] little fucker in the balls” each day before I sat down to write.

What song makes you feel understood when no one else does?

What's a song you initially disliked but now love?

In What About Bob?, Bill Murray's character, Bob Wiley, sums up his divorce by saying: "There are two types of people in this world: Those who like Neil Diamond, and those who don't. My wife loved him."

I don't like Neil Diamond.

At all.

But somehow this song snuck up on me at some point in my early adulthood and, despite my best efforts to hate it on principle, I love this perfect little piece of proto-sad-dad-rock.

What song feels like a secret between you and the artist?

I would say more, but its a secret.

What song makes you think of your childhood home?

What can I say... I was 5 when my aunt and uncle gave me this album on cassette. It was the first album that was mine, and I remember listening to it in my childhood bedroom on repeat—this song especially. Obviously, my tastes have changed a bit over the last 40 years, but it's difficult to argue that Whitney was anything less than a generational voice and I trace my nostalgic love of 80's leaning pop tropes all back to this album (and Thriller, of course, which was my 2nd album... also a gift from the same aunt and uncle.)

What’s your favorite track one on a debut album?

There are a lot of great opening album tracks, but to have a great first track on a debut album is rare. On the other hand, there are bands who might achieve that elusive feat, but ultimately not live up to the promise of the song, which ultimately diminishes it.

I came up with a few options, but in the end… had to give it to Fugazi because… well…“Waiting Room”, amiright!?!?

Happy Halloween from AFI in their we-just-wanna-be-the-Misfits-era!

What song reminds you of your first heartbreak?

Well, this didn’t come out until ‘98 so it doesn’t remind me of my first. But it reminds me of the worst.

How blessed we are for crying now For we will laugh someday and how