Under Soil and Dirt

The Story So Far formed in Walnut Creek, California in 2007.[3] The band consisted of Parker Cannon on vocals, Kevin Geyer and Kevin Ambrose on guitar, Ryan Torf on drums, and Kelen Capener on bass.[3] Ambrose parted ways with the band[3] when he went to college and was replaced by William Levy.[4] On April 1, 2010, it was announced that the band had signed to Pure Noise Records.[5] The band supported This Time Next Year in November.[6] The band went on tour with The American Scene in January 2011.[7]

Throughout the writing and recording process the band listened to Transit's Keep This to Yourself (2010).[8] All of the band members "loved [Keep This to Yourself] and thought it was next level", according to Capener.[8] The band thought that the "14 awesome, solid" songs were "fucking badass" that they "want[ed] to do", according to Levy.[8] Levy and Geyer would listen to Elliott Smith, The Weakerthans, Wilco, Mother of Mercy, and Black Breath while driving.[8] Levy described Under Soil and Dirt as "Pop-Punk, with lyrics about Girls and growing up; grooviness, lot of energy."[8] Capener said the album isn't "really in your face, but at the same time, it is. It's an honest record, it packs a punch".[8] Levy found it difficult to write material since Capener lived an hour away and Cannon living six hours away.[8] At the time, Capener had a job and was in college.[8]

The members shared what they had written with each other online.[8] One weekend the band did pre-production where they "basically had the framework of each song ready to go" when they were set to go into the studio.[8] The album was recorded at The Panda Studios,[9] in spring 2011,[10] with Sam Pura producing.[9] The band considers Pura a sixth member of the band.[8] If Pura disliked a section of a song the band would listen to Pura.[8] "Mt. Diablo" was re-recorded,[2] the original version can be found a split with Maker.[11] Cannon revealed that the album was recorded while the members were high.[4] Cannon reasoned that this method "makes us look at ourselves from an outside perspective and not be assholes."[4] Cannon did not "record one vocal sober".[4]

In April 2011 The Story So Far revealed the album's title, Under Soil and Dirt.[12] A month later, the track listing and cover art was revealed.[13] The artwork was illustrated by Cody Sullivan, who also provided the layout.[9] On May 24, "Quicksand" was made available for streaming.[14] On June 6, "High Regard" was made available for streaming.[15] On June 14, "Placeholder" was made available for streaming.[16] On June 17, the album was made available for streaming.[17] Under Soil and Dirt was released on June 21 through Pure Noise.[13][nb 1] The band supported We Are the Union and I Call Fives in July.[19] On July 14,[20] the band released a music video for "Quicksand".[21] The video was directed by James Liberato.[22] The band played a record release show on July 18 at The Red House in Walnut Creek.[23] The band toured alongside Heartsounds and Handguns in August.[24] The band supported Senses Fail in November.[25]

The Story So Far went on a short tour in early December with support from This Time Next Year and Daybreaker.[26] The band supported Set Your Goals on a short holiday tour in mid-December.[27] In January and February 2012, the band toured the UK alongside Man Overboard and Save Your Breath.[28] From late February to early March, the band went on the Pure Noise Records Tour alongside Handguns, I Call Fives, Daybreaker, The American Scene and Forever Came Calling.[29] On March 18,[30] a music video was released for "Roam".[31] The video was filmed around the South Bank in London.[32] In March and April, the band supported The Wonder Years on the Glamour Kills Spring 2012 tour.[33] To promote the tour, a compilation album was released that featured the bands covering one of the other bands' songs. The Story So Far's contribution was a cover of the A Loss for Words track "Wrightsville Beach".[34] The band played some headlining shows in July with Seahaven, Stickup Kid, Troubled Coast and Stateside as support acts.[35] On October 8, the album was released in the UK.[36] In early November, the band supported New Found Glory on the Road to Warped Tour in the UK.[37] From late November to mid-December, the band supported New Found Glory on the 10th anniversary tour for their Sticks and Stones album.[38]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AbsolutePunk	8.1/10[1]
Alternative Press	[39]
Alter the Press!	5/5[2]

Capener said the album was "received really well".[8] The album was included at number 26 on Rock Sound's "The 51 Most Essential Pop Punk Albums of All Time" list.[40]

Personnel per back panel.[9]