Its critical and cult appeal including slots on Top of the Pops for the first time, enabled the album to aid the band's breakthrough which was completed on the follow-up Echo Park.

[12] The name change was due to former Take That singer Robbie Williams releasing his solo debut album Life Thru a Lens, with the band not wanting to be compared to him.

Some of the album's lyrical themes were derived from Grant's personal perspective of working in a menial supermarket job ("Day in Day Out"), his experiences after gigs on their US tour ("Insomnia" and "You're My Evergreen"), past relationships (the title track and "Dry"), the music industry ("Hole in My Head") and "fear of commitment in relationships" ("Anaesthetic") amongst others.

[17] The album was due for release in June 1999, but this was delayed to include material written after its completion which the band felt was too good to leave off.

[18] Cover artwork and images for the album and related singles were photographed by Rick Guest in the grounds of the recently decommissioned RAF Ash in Kent.