[4] The group was formed in 1995 by John Atkins, a Seattle native and member of Hush Harbor, and Polly Johnson of the band Bell Jar.
[5] The new group remained nameless until its first show, when a friend recommended that they use the Washington State Department of Transportation telephone number for reporting carpool lane violators.
[8] In 1998, the band asked James Bertram from Red Stars Theory, and formerly Lync and Beck, to join them as bass guitarist during a radio session.
PopMatters critic Jeremy Schneyer called the album a mix of melancholia and pop sensibilities that stood as "the band's high water mark".
Writing for Pitchfork, Ryan Kearney described the album as "their most accomplished work to date" and characterized by "crisp production".
Robin Peringer, whom Atkins and Johnson had met as a touring guitarist with Modest Mouse, replaced Bertram.
[11] The original two-piece lineup reunited briefly in 2016, playing the Suicide Squeeze Records 20th Anniversary Party on August 25.
Their two-song set comprised "Now You're Swimming", the first song ever released on the label, and a cover of Elliott Smith's "Division Day".