Frontman Mayo Thompson had been living in Germany prior to the recording of the album.[6] He was lured back into the studio by younger musicians who considered him an influence.[7]
The Chicago Reader praised the album, writing: "It's the band's most blatant 'rock' outing, but among the barbed guitar riffs, weird synth gurgles, and solid rhythmic underpinnings is Thompson's usual caustic humor, this time ripping apart the sacred cows of rock and pop."[8]
