David Berman

In the beginning, because of the Pavement thing, we were able to sell a certain amount of records. We were able to sell not such a great amount of records, but enough to live on. So there was no incentive to do what didn't come naturally. ”

I am not only neither Christian nor Jewish, but said to be in between, and I feel the same way about being from the South and being from the North. I write with my left hand but I throw a ball with my right hand. ”

I want so many artists that I care about to go away and grow up, and have been amazed at how hard that is for some people to do. ”

It's a Gen X thing to be okay with going unnoticed or unrated or untouched. To be free from strangers' expectations, or anger. People got angry at me when I stopped making music because it seemed I was devaluing everything. ”

I'm not a good singer. ”

I was not born to be the center of attention in a crowded room. ”

I always loved bands with mystique. ”

I imagine that I'm less famous than the 15th ranked bowler in the world. ”

There are enough really good love songs and I don't even know if I could write one if I tried. ”

If critics were harder on the musicians that they love, there would be better songs. But as they grow older and they lose their talent, critics refuse to let them know that and protect them, and they get to the point where they put out music that just isn't up to the levels where they've already been. ”