In October 2008, Moore posted live videos of three new songs she had been working on with singer-songwriter, record producer, pianist and guitarist Mike Viola on her blog.

[1] It was announced in February 2009 that the album was going to be released in May by Storefront Records that was founded by Moore's longtime music manager Jon Leshay.

The album's music is variously influenced by three of Moore's favorite singers, Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell and Todd Rundgren.

The eleventh and last song's title, "Bug", is named after Moore's nickname from her then-husband, former Whiskeytown frontman Ryan Adams, and she calls it "something acoustic and simple to fall at the end of the record".

For the promotion of the album, Moore performed an exclusive concert for the winning town of the "Love at First Sniff" competition on Gain's official site.

On May 26, 2009, she performed songs from the album at Amoeba Music in Hollywood, together with Mike Viola, the day it was released by Storefront Records.

[7][8] On March 17, 2009, the album's lead single "I Could Break Your Heart Any Day of the Week" was released as a digital download on iTunes.

"[12] IGN said, "With Amanda Leigh, Moore has succeeded in crafting a personal record that is entertaining, even compelling at times, but isn't weighed down by heavy themes, misguided irony, or complex arrangements.

"[13] The Dallas Morning News said, "Amanda Leigh turns more compelling with each listen...How great that she left the Britney Spears factory behind.