One of Renee's friends asked her, "Does your boyfriend wear glasses?" She said, "No, he wears a Walkman.

— Rob Sheffield

On the way we talked about the road sign Bridge Ices Before Road. I always wondered If that's a problem, why don't they just build the bridge out of the same stuff they use to build the road? Drama explained that the bridge isn't made out of different material than the road, but that the bridge ices quicker because it's alone, hanging there without the land under it to keep it warm.

— Rob Sheffield

Our lives were just beginning, our favorite moment was right now, our favorite songs were unwritten.

— Rob Sheffield

Renee loved to do things. That was mysterious to me, since I was more comfortable talking about things and never doing them. She liked passion. She liked adventure. I cowered from passion and talked myself out of adventure.

— Rob Sheffield

Something I really enjoy about older couples is that they really have given up on getting everything right. They don't sweat the imperfections.

— Rob Sheffield

That Jim Morrison song gets it all wrong. People are strange when you’re a stranger, but it’s not because they ignore you—it’s when they notice you and smile, that’s when you realize you’re alone out here. Their kindness is what makes you notice how weak you are. That’s when you know it’s not the city’s fault, it’s yours. These people are in the same strange town, but they’re not letting the strangeness eat them up and turn them into robots. That’s just you.

— Rob Sheffield

The bassist -- always the bassist.

— Rob Sheffield

The dilemma of the eighth-grade dance is that boys and girls use music in different ways. Girls enjoy music they can dance to, music with strong vocals and catchy melodies. Boys, on the other hand, enjoy music they can improve by making up filthy new lyrics.

— Rob Sheffield

There are all kinds of mix tapes. There is always a reason to make one.

— Rob Sheffield

There’s only the one, see. When you fall in love with a girl, she’s the bloody White Album. That is what you whisper to yourself, when you don’t understand her at all. You just keep telling yourself, she’s the bloody Beatles White Album and there’s only one of her.

— Rob Sheffield