The album grew from what was initially a solo project for Snow Patrol songwriter Gary Lightbody which rapidly became a collaboration with members of Belle and Sebastian, R.E.M., and producer Jacknife Lee joining as well as contributions from actress and singer Zooey Deschanel, guitarist M. Ward, and Tom Smith of the indie rock group Editors.

"[4] The rest of Snow Patrol expressed excitement for their band-mate, "delighted that [Lightbody was] getting to exercise all his crazy ideas.

[7] The lead single from The Place We Ran From was "Dead American Writers",[11] released one week prior on Compact Disc and 7".

A music video was directed by Paul Fraser featuring Joseph Gilgun lip syncing the lyrics.

[12] "Dead American Writers" includes "I Finally Love This Town" as a B-side; the song was later made available through the band's site as a free download.