"The Fall of the World's Own Optimist" was co-written with the English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello.

The success established Mann as a career artist who could work outside of the major label system.

When Imago encountered financial problems, they sold the albums to Geffen Records.

[4] She took more control over the production than she had for her previous albums,[4] and said in 2020: "This was the only record that I really took responsibility for all the music: all the parts that were played, the way everything sounded.

"[5] The dodo of the album title reflected Mann's sense that singer-songwriters were a "dying breed" in 2000.

[4] One executive suggested Mann work with Diane Warren, who had written hit singles for major acts.

[6] Mann wrote "Nothing is Good Enough" in response, but felt the song could also apply to many kinds of relationship.

[4] "The Fall of the World's Own Optimist" was co-written with the English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello.

[8] In response, Mann sold homemade EPs of her music on tour, a move she described as a "DIY fuck-you-record-company-I'm-selling-it-myself" gesture.

[11] With Mann's husband, the songwriter Michael Penn, they also established United Musicians, a collective working outside the major label system.

[8] The success established Mann as a career artist who could work outside of the major label system.

2 was Mann's strongest work to date, praising her "bleak and bracing cynicism about our ability to connect with fellow humans" and her "sinuous, Burt Bacharach-like melodies".