(keys) and Matthew Taylor (bass) in 2001. The quintet recorded and self-released their debut album, ''[[I Am the Movie]]'', in 2002, selling copies out of the back of their tour van for a year.<ref name="theage"/> The next year, it was picked up for larger distribution through California-based independent label Epitaph, best known as the home of punk rockers [[the Offspring]] and [[Bad Religion]]. The group were part of an abundance of Epitaph signings, including [[Matchbook Romance]] and [[From First to Last]], amid concerns the label had strayed too far from its roots, or "a little too [[emo]]."<ref name="cleve">{{cite news|title=Cain is Able : Motion City Soundtrack's Joshua Cain is all business|author=Chris Rager|date=December 20, 2004|work=[[Cleveland Free Times]]}}</ref> The band toured heavily in support of the LP, attracting a new fanbase; their 2004 stint on the famed Vans Warped Tour was considered a "must-see" among punk fans.<ref name="cleve"/>
Their rise to prominence continued when the group joined Blink-182 -— during thenthis period, one of the largest pop-punk acts worldwide -worldwide— on a European arena tour. That band's bassist, Mark Hoppus, had first heard of the group from an employee at his clothing company, [[Atticus Clothing]]. He enjoyed the group so much that he raved about them in ''[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]]'' magazine, and invited them to open for Blink. The six musicians became quick friends, frequently talking backstage before performances.<ref name="shooman"/><ref name="Hoppus"/> Hoppus was developing an interest in recording music from a production standpoint, having recently acquired a large amount of gear and amplifiers.<ref name="Hoppus"/> At the final show of the tour, Cain went to Hoppus' dressing room and asked him to produce their next record.<ref name="mtv">{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1617362/motion-city-soundtrack-tell-blink-182s-mark-hoppus-how-great.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222091621/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1617362/motion-city-soundtrack-tell-blink-182s-mark-hoppus-how-great.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 22, 2014|title=Motion City Soundtrack Tell Blink-182's Mark Hoppus How Great He Is|author=James Montgomery|date=July 31, 2009|publisher=[[MTV News]]|access-date=November 4, 2012}}</ref> Although Hoppus had never produced anything before, he was excited to be a part of the album and accepted the offer.<ref name="Hoppus"/><ref name=rs/>
