the album was recorded at the prescott church in northeast portland, which the band rented for one month in the summer of 2004. to facilitate the creative process and avoid creative block, band members filled a used bike helmet with slips of paper listing strategies and ideas to try out. non-traditional rock instruments used in the album's recording included an accordion and a hurdy-gurdy. the album was produced by chris walla, also the guitarist for the band death cab for cutie.