JOHN Rzeznik is in pragmatic mood.

Odd really for someone who thinks they have just made the album of their career.

Magnetic, the tenth release from the Goo Goo Dolls, could be the last, he says.

It's not terminal, theres no suggestion of creative differences, the need for band members to find themselves and explore other avenues.

If anything the whole process has been hugely rewarding.

Rzeznik is simply facing up to reality.

"I think it's a very positive, upbeat record," he said, the enthusiasm clear in his voice. "I just wanted to have a good time making an album because I suddenly realised that, at my age, this could be the last album I ever get to make.

"I wanted it to be something fun and special to me.

"I think it's just one of those things. Once I turned 40 I starting feeling wow, I have been doing this a long time.

"Music changes and tastes change and it was just case of I want to do what I want to do.

"If it works it works, if it doesn't, thats okay, at least I can go away saying that."

Rzeznik puts part of the reason for his being at ease with the world down to his recent marriage to long-time girlfriend Melina Gallo.

"Being settled into a grown-up relationship that is working is really great. That helps," he said. "(In addition) I decided to go out and collaborate with other people and gather their opinions. One of the things I thought as I was writing this record was I need to go back to school. I want to learn from other people who are truly amazing in what they do.

"I sought out some guys who are friends of mine, got them together and said 'let's write songs for my band'."

It was clear, said Rzeznik, that as soon as they got into the studio there was a bond.

"I laughed every single day. I learned a lot. I worked six days a week, for 12 hours a day for almost a year and I never got sick of it because there was so much camaraderie and fun," he said. "It was a great feeling and I feel like that more than anything influenced the tone of the album."

Rzeznik is confident that, when analysed, Magnetic stands up to anything else out there, but his own opinion matters much more than those of others.

"I think anybody that says they don't want people to like their music or they don't care is not telling the truth. Of course I want people to like my music, but am I willing to bend it and change it in a way that is untrue to myself? No, I am not," he said.

"I have made a lot of records. I have made records that have been very popular and records that have been really unpopular and I believe it's better to have an album that's really popular. It's a lot more fun."

Rzeznik is excited to be back touring the UK after a three-year break, believing people here are far more in tune with music than those back home.

"I love playing there," he said. "It is so much fun. The audiences are so much more enthusiastic. I think people in the UK still really listen to music, whereas in America, it seems as if the music is the background noise.

"'I listen to this when Im vacuuming the carpet, I listen to this when I am at the gym and I listen to that when I doing whatever'.

"When I go there and I am up there singing and every single person in the audience is singing along it gives me goose-flesh."

In keeping with how the interview started, Rzeznik looks to the future as it wraps up.

When he decides to call it a day he hopes to turn his skills to fatherhood and making furniture.

So would he be happy for his son or daughter to follow in his footsteps?

"I would be like that's great," he said. "But talk to me before you sign anything!"