DeYarmond Edison became his next musical project, as he graduated from college and relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina in August 2005. Afterwards, he spent time as a band member for The Rosebuds; his contributions feature on their third album, Night of the Furies. He layers his vocal harmonies, while a gently strummed acoustic rhythm guitar just about holds the centre. On the other hand, Robert Christgau, in his review for MSN Music, stated that the album ultimately had little to say about "shared aloneness", comparing Vernon unfavorably to Robert Creeley and writing that Vernon's "solitary meditations . The quality is rough and ready but the effect is strangely similar though to the slick vocal confections of European women like Bjork and Camille, all mystery and distance.

While "Skinny Love" has been considered a reference to his relationship with Smith, [7] Vernon countered this as "not entirely accurate [. In Australia, the album was eventually certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), denoting shipments of 70,000 copies, and it was also certified gold by IFPI Denmark, denoting shipments of 10,000 copies. He had an idea for a song and brought inside his musical equipment, which consisted of several guitars, microphones, and a Power Mac G4 with Pro Tools LE.It took several months for him to have thoughts on his recordings, [12] which he viewed as potential demos that he would later re-record. Vernon abandoned his old songwriting methods and instead focused on wordless melodies that he later set to words, which he felt evoked a more subconscious meaning. The Guardian 's Jude Rogers praised Vernon's restraint, noting, "nothing is overplayed, but nothing feels throwaway either. He chose to sign with independent label Jagjaguwar in late October 2007 [11] because he liked the label's president, Chris Swanson, who had first opened communication in the summer, [33] and its Midwest roots. The label on side A had a dirt smudge or something, which I find hilarious because I bought is brand new and sealed 😆 the packaging is lackluster Tbf, but other than that, the vinyl is heavy and the sound is stunning.

Now there is only a "crack" these places, but the lines can still be heard and the rhythm/flow doesn't change. Carey, a jazz drummer from UW–Eau Claire, was a fan of the album, and had approached Vernon at one of his first performances.

While living in Raleigh, North Carolina, Vernon fell ill with mononucleosis and a liver infection, and grew frustrated with his songwriting and life. The album's title comes from the middle name of Jensen, though he refrained from confirming that she was the central inspiration behind the album. He also felt inspired by Appalachian folk singers who employed the falsetto register, which inspired him to use his. He likened the singularity of the process to his teenage years, where he worked alone with an eight-track. David Marchese, writing for Spin, suggested Vernon's "sturdy folk chords, earthy melodies, and plainspoken, pastoral lyrics prevent the album from descending into self-pity.