Keep Telling Myself It's Alright is the debut studio album by American rock band Ashes Divide, the solo-project by A Perfect Circle guitarist Billy Howerdel.

Billy Howerdel first started working off and on solo material prior to the release of A Perfect Circle's second album, Thirteenth Step, in 2003.

[1] Rough versions of three or four songs had been written during the era, including the track "Stripped Away, which was even played at soundchecks at A Perfect Circle concerts while supporting the album.

[2] Shortly after Thirteenth Step, A Perfect Circle decided to quickly throw together a collection of anti-war cover songs just prior to the 2004 Presidential Elections, entitled Emotive.

[7] Inspired by the help he received from the Jak X sessions, Howerdel searched out for more collaborations, choosing to place Lohner as a co-producer of the album.

[7] Howerdel also collaborated with a few other musicians in writing songs as well, including Lenchantin on "Denial Waits", Johnette Napolitano on "Too Late", and Matt Skiba on "The Prey".

[13] Howerdel assembled a live band to tour in support of the album, including Jonathan Radtke on guitar, Matt McJunkins on bass,[14] Adam Monroe on keyboard, and Jeff Friedl on drums.

[20] CraveOnline praised it for going against the grain of stereotypical modern rock, stating that "With so many younger musicians going the route of vacant, stripped down party music, it's shocking to hear something so artfully composed.

Thankfully, Island Records has resisted the temptation to over-produce the hell out of Keep Telling Myself It’s Alright and has allowed a talented musician to deliver an album that captures the intelligent side of 80s nostalgia for once.