Fresh off a creative writing degree at the University of Montana, this debut album comes after Meloy made a decision to split up with his college band Tarkio and move to Portland, Oregon to reach a wider audience in a competitive music scene.

The second song in the EP, "Shiny", features the narrator, who calls himself a "dull and witless boy," which is the username Meloy goes by on his blog site and Instagram.

[11] Meloy's fascination with death is loosely inspired by the Kossoy Sisters album "Bowling Green" which has served as his primary source for murder tales.

Meloy told audiences on 2 October 2007 at Royal Festival Hall how they reclaimed the bicycle years later, only for it to be crushed between cars when he was helping the true owner of the bike move house.

[14] TinyMixTapes 4.5/5 Mixed reviews were received for the band's debut, which is apparent compared to the Decemberists later albums, which favor more imaginative lyrics and overall substance than the EP's more simplified, poppy tone than ultimately made critics listening less fulfilled for some.

[16] The Band's first studio album, Castaways and Cutouts, attributed to the EP's mixed reception after receiving critically acclaimed reviews from magazines like PitchFork and TinyMixTapes,[17][18] and even comparisons to Neutral Milk Hotel's style of music.