Linford has written many of the songs which make up Over the Rhine's oeuvre and could probably be accused of being the band's main lyricist, although Karin's contributions have been significant. (Ric contributed lyrics to Gentle Wounds, Circle of Quiet, and Melancholy Room.) Linford paid for the band's early recordings and has often functioned as the band's producer and de facto fearless leader. Much of the Over the Rhine ethos derives from Linford's sensibilities, or lack thereof. Linford collects books, photographs, paintings, woodcuts, and all manner of ephemera including paper dolls and birds' nests. (Perhaps this is why he enjoys disappearing occasionally to monasteries where there are few if any distractions.) In 1992, Linford contacted the aging widow of Rockwell Kent to gain permission to decorate the Patience booklet with Kent's exquisite woodcuts and typically collaborated with Michael Wilson on the content for this and the other packages, drawing liberally from Michael's resonant, melodic photographs.

Linford remembers showing the woodcuts to Brian who was wondering what the big deal was and the only argument he could come up with for wanting to use them was, "They make my heart beat faster."

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