The album was produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, who personally selected the tracks[4] for the album from a list of songs provided to him by members Tony Scalzo and Miles Zuniga.[5] Berlin recruited bassist Bruce Hughes,[6][7] This freed Scalzo to concentrate on keyboards and guitar.[8]
This album marks the first time since The Harsh Light of Day that a Fastball album does not feature songs co-written by Scalzo and Zuniga.[5]
The first single off of the album, "The Help Machine", addresses the effects of consumerism. According to Zuniga, "[the song is] just about emptiness and the feeling that things that are supposed to make us happy don't."[9]
Critical reception
Described as "ethereal",[10] the album also features the band's signature sound with comparisons to Elvis Costello[11] and the Beatles.[12]Pop Matters magazine referred to the album as "pop perfection."[13] The album features a "thick modern sound"[14] and is considered to be a great introduction to the band's catalog. Critics called the album "near perfect"[15] and considered it one of the best albums of 2019.[16]
