[4] Multi-instrumentalist and engineer Phil A. Jimenez wanted to work with Brown after hearing "Teenage Dirtbag".

[4] The energy "of the pop elements" in addition to "the story-telling and the social commentary" made Jimenez feel like he "really wanted to be a part of [the band].

[6] The song titles came to Brown first with the subject matter following as he considered the name "an emotional blueprint".

[4] Brown mentioned that the beat in "Teenage Dirtbag" was "sort of a hip-hop thing" and that the guitars "are definitely heavy metal".

"[7] Brown claimed the song was autobiographical, however, none of the band members "wound up getting the girl in the end.

"[7] Talking about "Truffles" and "Wannabe Gangstar", Brown explained that when you're younger "You can't do anything [...].

[4] "Sunshine", the first song written for the album, was Brown realizing he was working for the wrong kind of people.

[8] "Wannabe Gangster" was inspired by "white, middle class glorification of inner city problems", according to Brown.

[9] Using the knowledge he gained from being in his former band,[4] Wheatus was recorded in the basement of Brown's mother's house.

[6] One of the reasons the band self-produced the album was their idea to take specific sounds from different genres and include them into songs.

[11] The tones originate from Brown's acoustic Martin guitar, which is set up through two preamplifiers which are connected to their own power amplifiers.

[11] Brown can swap between the preamplifiers with the aid of an expression pedal so that he is able to "swell into a distortion sound while fading out the clean tone".

[12] In the same issue, it mentioned that the band's debut album was planned to be called Teenage Dirtbag and was set for release on August 1.

[22] The music video, directed by Brendan Malloy,[23] is about how a boyfriend fails to impress his girlfriend until Wheatus stages a private concert for the pair.

[28] A remixed version of "Wannabe Ganstar" featuring Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson was released earlier on January 7.

[45] Discussing the album's legacy, Brown revealed that the recognition "did not initially happen in America.

"[46] The band played the album in full in the UK in September and October[47] with support from Mike Doughty and The Hipstones.