Singer-songwriter and guitarist Ben Ashley moved from his hometown of Philadelphia to Los Angeles and recorded a set of demos with producer Rick Parker in the spring of 2002.
[2] The Shore's debut self-titled studio album was written over the course of three months by Ashley and produced and mixed by Parker.
[6] Wayne Faler, a touring guitarist and background vocalist, was added as a permanent member of the band in 2005.
Andrew Leahey of AllMusic favorably described the album as "every bit as hazily gorgeous as its predecessor.
[7][4] AllMusic's Andrew Leahey wrote that the band had a "mix of California psychedelic rock and summery swoon.