Loud Music

The tone is passionate and contented.

• Speaks strongly on this subject.
• Tells of how much he likes being lost in the music eagerly.
• Justifies the reasons his stepdaughter feels as she does.
• Doesn't say his stepdaughter is wrong; is fine with being at odds with her.
• "What she wants is self-location"

The mood is calm and passionate.

• Speaks to the reader casually.
• Speaks officially at the same time.
• Speaks like he has the ache in his chest only emotional people understand.
• Pours his heart out to you casually.
• "It wipes out the ego."

Theme

My Interpretation
What Dobyns is trying to say is that everyone has something they do to make them forget themselves, along with the rest of the world.

For him, the activity would be listening to loud music, "...I like the music loud..." He likes the way it covers you, wrapping you in a blanket, separate from the rest of the world, "... It wipes out the ego..."