“I don't really know where the songs are coming from often. Many of the best things I made up were just off the top of my head.” KnowsMadeSongBest Things Author:Stephen Malkmus
“It's just a compulsion to create something new and stay busy. I don't know how to do anything else. It was never exactly right. Those records came out in spite of their flaws. And because of their flaws they were good.” KnowsKnow HowRecordsBusySpiteSomething NewFlawsCompulsion Author:Stephen Malkmus
“Besides, going on tour and playing songs and arranging things, going to practice, it's all I know to be productive.” KnowsSongPracticeProductiveArrangingArranging Things Author:Stephen Malkmus
“There's no reason to stop. Who knows what's around the bend? To participate, meet new people. It's mostly other musicians and people like you, or anybody I meet who's in this, that keeps me going.” PeopleKnowsReasonLike YouMusicianNo ReasonMeeting New PeopleAround The Bend Author:Stephen Malkmus
“It's hard to think back. I didn't even know I was going to do it, make actual records. But I was always making up songs, once I figured out that you could do it. I think it's pretty much the same, but there's less urge to get it moving out there. There was a time when it seemed like it was really super important to the audience and now it's just medium-important for people to like us. But that's okay.” PeopleThinkingKnowsImportantHardMovingSongAudienceRecordsOkayMediumsUrgesMaking UpMoving Out Author:Stephen Malkmus
“I know the world doesn't need maybe another of [a particular type of song] - the same thing again - but you can't help yourself. And some people like it, but you kind of know in your heart that it's a lesser version of what you've done before. But maybe it has a good tempo, or it feels fresh, but it's still not.” PeopleKnowsWorldNeedsFeelsHeartKindStillsDoneHelpingSongParticularTypeVersionsTempoHelp Yourself Author:Stephen Malkmus
“I don't know if you look back on your life and just see successes, but probably the first things that pop up are the regrets.” IfsKnowsFirstsLooksRegretPops Author:Stephen Malkmus
“Family is the best. I can honestly say, it's a gift that is beyond making art. I didn't know that when I got into it.” KnowsArtI CanHonestly Author:Stephen Malkmus
“There's probably a certain confidence in your voice, or something, that is validated. You know what I mean? I'm just imagining if people didn't already say that you were cool, that you'd [have] more doubt in what you're doing. That's not so conscious, but that's part of my cosmology now.” PeopleIfsKnowsMeanCertainVoiceDoubtConsciousCosmology Author:Stephen Malkmus
“Every song has a different genesis, or feeling. Usually the lyrics, I don't really know what it's all about, I just kinda do it. I mean, there's a combination of, like you're saying, that kind of lyrics about commitment or vaguely relationship lyrics mixed with jokey 90s Beck-style non-sequiturs and stuff.” KnowsKindMeanDifferentFeelingsSongStuffStyleLike YouCommitmentCombinationGenesis Author:Stephen Malkmus
“Well, you know, it's a younger person, and it was maybe an effort to be a little more sincere and adult about the lyrics occasionally, which is a good thing. It's nice that it's not too self-conscious like some of our lyrics could be.” KnowsWellsLittlesPersonsSelfEffortNiceConsciousAdultsGood ThingsSincereSelf Conscious Author:Stephen Malkmus
“You know, the songs that are self-conscious or jerky, they are that way, but the other ones aren't, so that's a good thing. Some of the songs are Beck-jokey, but the others, they have heart in them.” KnowsWayHeartSelfSongConsciousGood ThingsSelf Conscious Author:Stephen Malkmus
“The earlier stuff is more like "this is happening to me," but now there are more songs that are accusatory or something, or more declaratory. I don't know where that voice comes from, like, "I've been down the road, we've been there and done that." That's sort of like a tougher style, or a less vulnerable style.” KnowsDoneSongStuffVoiceStyleHappeningsVulnerableDown The Road Author:Stephen Malkmus
“You know, it's people's lives, so as you get a little older, your own life narrative, I guess, invades a little more. It's not like we're traveling in separate buses to each show. It's a labor of love, so we just do it because we like it. Maybe someone's gonna move, or not want to go on a tour for some reason - that could happen, I guess.” PeopleKnowsWantLittlesReasonShowsHappensMovingGoes OnLaborNarrativeBusJust Do ItLabor Of Love Author:Stephen Malkmus
“I think most musicians know if they make the same record twice, even if they say they don't.” IfsThinkingKnowsRecordsMusician Author:Stephen Malkmus
“Everyone wants to be loved, generally. If you released a record and nobody said anything, if you didn't get any feedback from people you don't know, i.e. the press, you'd be sort of upset. To me, any press is good press.” PeopleIfsKnowsWantSaidRecordsPressesUpsetFeedback Author:Stephen Malkmus
