[9] He collaborated with David Ryan Harris on "Tell Me a Story", which he described as his favorite song in the album and the one he is most proud of.

[10][11] Other songwriters he collaborated with include Greg Holden and Drew Pearson who wrote his coronation song "Home".

The album was recorded in three weeks at the Quad Studios in New York after the Idol tour had finished.

[20][29] Most critics noted influences from Dave Matthews Band and Mumford & Sons in the album.

Glenn Gamboa of Newsday opined that Phillips "offers up Dave Matthews Band's jamming-blues-rock hybrid to a younger generation in "Get Up Get Down," while also giving the indie-leaning folk of current darlings Mumford & Sons an attractive American face in "Gone Gone Gone.

""[26] Gary Graff of Billboard noted that Phillips' song "Home", "aligned him with the Mumford & Sons nu-folk movement," but considered "the album actually plays out more like the year's second-best Dave Matthews Band release.

"[22] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic thought the similarities to Dave Matthews Band to be "near farcical,"[2] and the similarities to other bands led Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone to wonder if Phillips is redundant "when we've already got Dave Matthews and Jason Mraz, why do we need another earnestly raspy balladeer with ace acoustic-guitar skills?"

Rosen nevertheless thought that "he's far better in originals like "Gone, Gone, Gone" and his hit "Home," which build from folksy picking to hooting power-ballad choruses, a pleasantly popified take on Arcade Fire.

"[27] Emily Tan of Idolator was enthusiastic and thought that the album "showcases Phillips’ potential as a musician, singer and songwriter who can rise above the generic pop that these reality competitions sometimes spawn.

"[24] Kristin Coachman of Blogcritics.org commented that Phillips in the album "reflects every bit of the gravelly voiced pop rock artist, with jazz leanings that he portrayed during his Idol run.

Phillips ran a very limited-time promotion during which fans could order the deluxe version of the album, and he would personally sign the booklet.

[57] Interscope announced that the album will be rereleased with additional live tracks on the anniversary of its release, November 19, 2013.