"And right now, they're away. Rock music has gone in this direction that's like indie pop jingles. It's like songs that could be on Nick Jr. and the Disney Channel. I can't see myself writing music like that. I don't want to follow that trend. Forget it!"

He's quick to point out that he enjoys some of the big indie pop artists of the moment. "Bands like Chvrches and Haim to Vampire Weekend, I like those records, I like those bands, I always cite those bands when I talk about this subject. I like that style of music. But there was a point at which that was fresh and new, and they were making it because it was part of their identity and they were making something different. And now it's a different situation. None of these bands are indie bands, they're all major label bands. So if you think they're not, you're mistaken."

The thing that he felt was missing? Loud guitars. And his own band was guilty of that as well. "On the last two albums, there was not much guitar. "And the guitar that was there, I usually wrote and played." The band's other guitarist, Brad Delson, was more involved in the song arrangements.