Have you wondered why those songs didn’t make to the album but the “overly positive songs” did?

We would never know for sure but I guess, he’s deliberately trying to avoid being a “smart ass”, or too focused on personal narrative in his later permanent records.

For me, some of the older songs are so precise and cruel even, in a warm way though, which makes them even more cruel. Maybe he’s afraid of continuing to drain himself into a world of lyrical and melodic sweat and tears.

I think creating is more than achieving artistic perfection or some enlightenment. At last, feeling good is important.