Teenbeat Records owner Mark Robinson had been impressed by a solo track that James Baluyut contributed to a 2000 EP Drawn and Quartered issued by Versus, an influential indie rock band in which Baluyut played 2nd guitar. Robinson asked Baluyut to record an album's worth of material for release on Teenbeat, which Baluyut did under the name +/-. Although the first +/- album was essentially a Baluyut solo affair, he had formed a touring and recording band in mid-2001 before the album was released, with Versus drummer Patrick Ramos assuming guitar, keyboard and co-lead vocal duties, Chris Deaner on drums, and Margaret McCartney (formerly of Tuscadero) on bass.
Teenbeat Records owner Mark Robinson was taken by a solo track that James Baluyut contributed to a 2000 EP Drawn and Quartered released by Versus, an influential indie rock band in which Baluyut played second guitar. Robinson asked Baluyut to record an album's worth of material for release on Teenbeat, which Baluyut did under the name +/-. Although the first +/- album was essentially a solo effort by Baluyut, he had formed a touring and recording group in mid-2001 before the album's release, with Versus drummer Patrick Ramos taking on guitar, keyboard, and co-lead vocal duties, Chris Deaner on drums, and Margaret McCartney (formerly of Tuscadero) on bass.