David Bazan, who founded the band in 1997 and is occasionally its only member, decided to take a back-to-basics approach for the new album. Eschewing his usual year-long recording process, Bazan did the album in about a month in his home studio.

Multi-instrumentalist T.W. Walsh and James McAlister of Ester Drang contributed to the record.

John Vanderslice – who recently released his fourth solo album, Cellar Door – will accompany on most dates.