Consisting of brothers Adam and Jason Ptacek (the singer and the bassist respectively), guitarist Matt Olson, and drummer T.J. Kammer, Rearview Mirror was discovered in a Wisconsin bar by producer Steve Lillywhite. Known for his work with artists such as U2, Morrissey, and Talking Heads, Lillywhite had found out about the group over the Internet, and after contacting their manager he received a CD of their independent work, which he adored. He made them the first band to be signed to his new label, Gobstopper Records, and released their debut in the spring of 2002.