Despite achieving a minor radio hit in Canada with their single Blue, the album and subsequent tour landed the band nearly $1 million in debt.

[1][2] Burnt out, Jayhawks co-founder Mark Olson decided to part ways with the band to pursue music with his wife Victoria Williams.

Originally intending to start anew, under the name "Six Green Olives", Louris, bassist Marc Perlman, and keyboardist Karen Grotberg decided to retain the Jayhawks moniker.

Olson's departure, Louris' on-going divorce, and record label politics all factoring together led the band to believe Sound of Lies would be their last album.

[7][6][8] Sara Scribner of the Los Angeles Times felt that Sound of Lies was the work of the band "still reaching to discover what it is" in the wake of Mark Olson's departure, though noting that "despite battling emotions, muddled messages and elusive experimentation, this is still a brave album.