Corey Apar from AllMusic praised Leo's overall musicianship for remaining consistent alongside his previous works in terms of emotional resonance and politically minded savviness but was hoping for something a little more extraordinary that showed Leo pushing further from his comfort zone.[2]Rolling Stone's Christian Hoard noted the "unusually spry riddims" Leo uses when delivering his political lyricism but felt it lacked memorability.[6] Gabbie Nirenburg, writing for No Ripcord, said about the record, "[T]he songs are flat and unoriginal rock. Ted's voice and vocal range is exemplary, but it's the only real star on this record. Nothing sticks the way it should. Perhaps it's a bigger blow to my system because I've come to expect such greatness from Ted Leo."[4]
Recorded September 24, 2006 – October 5, 2006, at Longview Farms in North Brookfield, Massachusetts with engineering by Ian Neill, and October 8, 2006 – October 14, 2006, at Blind Spot Studios in Washington, D.C., with engineering by Brendan Canty
Mixed October 15, 2006 – October 22, 2006, at Blind Spot Studios in Washington, D.C., by Ted Leo and Brendan Canty
Mastered November 28, 2006, at SAE Studios in Phoenix, Arizona by Roger Seibel