Moore began writing the album in 2004. She originally signed with
Sire Records after leaving
Epic Records in 2004 and released a single via her site titled "Hey!" which was written by
James Renald, the co-writer and co-producer of her 2001 single "
Cry". In early 2006, Moore posted her cover of
Lori McKenna's 2003 song "Beautiful Man" on her
MySpace profile and later informed her fans that she left Sire because of creative differences. In July 2006. Moore signed with
The Firm, owned by
EMI, and a U.K. magazine assumed after hearing the song "Slummin' In Paradise" that it would be the title of the album. Moore collaborated with producer
John Alagía on the album, who is known for working with
Dave Matthews Band and
Liz Phair, and has co-written an entire album for the first time: she co-wrote songs with a number of musicians, including
Michelle Branch,
Chantal Kreviazuk, Lori McKenna,
Rachael Yamagata and indie folk pop duo
The Weepies, all chronicled in a promotional video available for viewing on her official website. This is the first album that Moore co-wrote entirely and the first time she released songs that she co-wrote since "When I Talk to You" with songwriter and producer
Matthew Hager, which appeared on her
self-titled album, in 2001; a number of the songs are about her breakup with her ex-boyfriend, actor
Zach Braff in 2006. The album's lead single "
Extraordinary" was one of the songs she co-wrote with The Weepies, which premiered on her MySpace profile on January 29, 2007. On February 9, 2007, Moore posted the album's second single "
Nothing That You Are" on her MySpace profile. Moore said making the album helped her cope with depression and self-discovery. ==Critical reception==