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I was reading Guster’s studio diary the other day and thought, ‘Damn! They’ve got a bunch of great titles for their new album. Wish I’d thought of ’em first.’ See, sometimes a song starts with just a good title, or turn of phrase. My job, as a songwriter, is to be tuned into those good…

I never open my mouth when I smile. Twenty-three years of painful and largely fruitless orthedontia, periodontistry, and destristry have left me (and my parents) thousands of dollars poorer, and without a smile worth showing. This bums me out. And not just because everyone’s whitening and getting all cosmetic. It bums me out because it’s…

I was picking up some groceries at Gristede’s last night when the woman who was bagging said, “I like your button.” The woman who was ringing me up said, “What!?! You like his butt!?!” I made a bunch of what I call “heartbeat buttons” for last fall’s release of “Love & Other Indoor Games.” It’s…

I could’ve gotten it perfect, but it’s so much more fun to get it close enough. Picture it. I’m two beers into a Monday night. I step out onto my deck. I’m shocked by the quantity of stars. My iPod’s on shuffle. Avril Lavigne’s “Happy Ending” comes on. Wait a second: don’t hate the player,…

Listen, I’ll be honest with you. This is a pitch, straight up. I spent the weekend remixing the live CD, “February 25, 2005.” It sounded great, and everyone who’s purchased it has been thrilled (my favorite email: “Jesus Christ you coulda warned a girl. Best thing I’ve heard in ages. Thank you — totally made…

I’m back from my first half-marathon of the season. I finished well, and am happy to report that I’m still walking. I’m not a pro, or even much of a weekend warrior. But I’ve been running road races, half-marathons, marathons and triathlons for about eight years. I’ve learned a thing or two. So here are…