On a Wire is the third studio album by American rock band The Get Up Kids on Vagrant Records. Released three years after their breakout sophomore album Something to Write Home About, On a Wire was a massive departure from the band's established sound, eschewing the brighter pop-punk that helped define emo as a genre in favor of a darker, more adult sound inspired by 70's rock bands like Led Zeppelin. Reception to the album was extremely divisive, and is widely seen as having derailed the band's career just as emo was starting to break into the mainstream with contemporaries like Jimmy Eat World and Dashboard Confessional receiving extensive radio play. However, in the years since, the album has been re-appraised, with many praising its complex songwriting. Background and recording After touring extensively to support Something to Write Home About, the band was looking to depart from their high-energy powerpop style in lieu of a slower, more mellow sound. In 2000, vocalist/guitarist Matt Pryor moved to Boston, Massachusetts, and drummer Ryan Pope moved to Los Angeles, California. As a result, the members only saw each other when they embarked on tours. After a US tour in October and November, the group began working on a new album. By the end of the year, they had managed to fit in ten rehearsals, writing eight songs in the process. Their goal was to write 30 songs, which they plan to whittle down to 12. Following this, the group received a number of tour offers that they accepted, such as opening for Weezer and Green Day. Unlike the band's previous work, which they played extensively at live shows before recording, On a Wire was written entirely in the studio, leading to a much less energetic sound. Years later, Jim Suptic remarked that had the band toured the songs before recording, the resulting album would have been "less acoustic and heavier in parts." After touring ended, the band was physically and mentally fatigued, and looked to write a significantly different album. The group eventually reconvened in Kansas and wrote new material for their next album. Soon afterwards, they accumulated 25 songs. The band compiled a list of potential producers for their next album. Scott Litt approached the group after liking the demos he heard. Eudora, a compilation of rarities and obscure recordings, was released as a stop-gap release to capitalise on the band's success