John Doe w/ special guest Jesse Dayton

John Doe is much more likely to look ahead to what's next, rather than fixate on the past – even a past as storied and influential as his own. "When you look backwards, you just end up thinking 'I wish I could write that song again – that was a good one,'" he explains. "You gotta keep going forward. But, within the past five years or so, I've begun to realize some of the advantages of reflection."

Doe's sizable contribution to the music of X and The Knitters, which first brought him to international attention, made clear what was important to him: haunting songs, heart-rending vocals, pronounced country/rockabilly underpinnings, and no-frills production. His commitment to these values only deepened as he branched out on his own.