The album also marks the first time the US and UK releases have featured identical track listings.

[2] The average track length is notably shorter to previous releases, and the album is lyrically darker to the drug-centric Phoenix and Rise and Fall.

[1] According to the liner notes, the album is dedicated to the memory of fellow Los Angeles-based musician Elliott Smith and to Bomp!

Drowned in Sound wrote: "'Surgery' isn't the unlistenable, depression-fest it's [sic] lyrical content threatens it to be.

Instead, it's heartfelt message combined with the monstrous sound behind it make it one of the most curiously uplifting records of the year.