[4] After the release of their debut Signs of Satanic Youth in 1993, and a heady succession of touring with the likes of Sonic Youth, Smashing Pumpkins, Beck and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Magic Dirt weathered the hysteria of 'the next big thing' tag and a storm of major label interest by breaking up and getting back together four times.

After regrouping for good and hiring help in the way of management and an agent, Magic Dirt reconvened in the middle of 1994 to record Life Was Better.

[5] The cover art for Life Was Better was heavily influenced by Aussie cult movie Puberty Blues, with which the band were obsessed.

[5] In November 1994, OTS said "Geelong's favourite sons (and daughter) do it again, with five tracks of pure alterno magic... this is a guaranteed indie hit and one of the archetypal Australian releases of the year.

Forte called the EP "the kind of feedback-laced gutter pop to knock the loneliness out of your head".