As a songwriter, Brock is noted for his wordplay and frequent use of metaphors, philosophical lyrics, themes of authentic rural lifestyles,[1] and phrases and sayings commonly used in the early to mid-20th century and in blue collar environments.

During his childhood, he lived with his mother and sister in Montana and Oregon in hippie communes and churches before moving to Issaquah, Washington when he was 11 years old.

After a short period of living in a friend's basement, he moved into the "Shed" built on the land next to his mother and stepfather's trailer.

He told an interviewer from The Guardian that he was asked to speak in tongues when he was six: "I didn't feel the spirit of the fucking Lord rushing through me," he says.

In 2023, Brock was a guest singer and musician on the song "We Got to Move" for the album Los Angeles by Lol Tolhurst, Budgie, and Jacknife Lee.

"[7] In a 2003 interview with Salut Les Copains Magazine, Brock explained how the decision to quit drugs was influenced by his experiences.

[10] Brock is a former member of the A&R team for the record label Sub Pop; his most notable accomplishment with them was signing Wolf Parade in 2004.

[12][13][14] A portrait of Brock wearing lederhosen and standing in front of a giant boar hung for many years in the office of Portland mayor Sam Adams.

After having signed Lisa Molinaro to his Glacial Pace label in 2010, with her band Talkdemonic, the pair soon entered into a relationship.

Its first signee was Minnesota songwriter Mason Jennings, followed by Love As Laughter, Marcellus Hall, Mimicking Birds, Morning Teleportation, Talkdemonic, Survival Knife, Nocturnal Habits, and Mattress.