Tarmac Adam an album and tour. In June 2007, Tarmac Adam announced it was "back jogging on the main arterial as they prepare for the next stage of the journey. It's been a while but the break has been fruitful". The band's website said "Handheld Torch" would be repackaged, adding unreleased tracks from the early sessions with Seymour and Hester and ambient instrumental re-mixes. In February 2008 the website featured a new song, 'You As Me' and noted that "Tarmac Adam music is being made". The years from 2003 had brought a wealth of new life experiences that enabled O’Donnell and Paix
The Fine Art of Surfacing around America leading up to "The Fine Art of Surfacing", drumming up publicity for the band in the States. During this time the Rats learned much about both American life and breaking into the American music market. This is a recurring theme on the album, sometimes taking a serious approach in looking at American society, in songs like "I Don't Like Mondays" and "Diamond Smiles," while other times looking at it in a downright silly and mocking manner in songs like "Nothing Happened Today" and "Having My Picture Taken," the album takes aim at 1979 life in classic punk style.