Common Shiner began with college friends of Morgan Foster, a songwriter "with witticisms to spare and surprising social commentary," (Recoil) who desired to create music that would serve to be both meaningful and fun. The band takes its name from a small, abundant fish found throughout streams and lakes in the Midwest and Northeastern United States. In the same scope, the band writes music seeking to highlight the beauty found in the common experience we all share. Love and hope to melancholy and anger—and all the humor in between.

The group's mission: clever songwriting and meaningful lyrics that appeal to a wide range of avid music lovers as well as casual listeners. Some have drawn comparisons to acts like Dave Matthews, Barenaked Ladies, and O.A.R., but many just say Common Shiner has an impeccable way of combining many elements for a sound that is "uniquely familiar." All can agree that the thing that sets Common Shiner apart the most is the quality and thoughtfulness of the songwriting, which encompasses just as many feelings and themes as their music does styles. Everyone who listens to Common Shiner comes away liking something different, and these boys wouldn't want it any other way.

Common Shiner spent the spring of 2007 in the studio recording some fan favorites from the past year of writing and playing live shows. Says Brooks of Viennas: "While the songs themselves may not be all that new to fans who have been following us, we hope these recordings will offer just a little bit more than what we may be able to do live. We wanted to sweeten the deal."

The boys made the leap from Grand Rapids to Chicago in the fall of 2007 to kick-start their full-time music career.