Music Journal'''s Amy Wan called the album a "showcase for Elmore's powerfully biting lyrics and her passionate voice, dancing deftly between little-girl sweet and outright roar," and The Village Voice gave the album an A−, with famed music journalist Robert Christgau praising the debut, saying that "Elmore left a great band to go to law school. Now she leaves a great law school to start a better band." Along with the positive feedback for the album, the band was able to secure its first permanent drummer in Matt Espy. The band would tour the United States and parts of Canada a number of times following the release of the album. Along with the performance agenda in 2003, Elmore balanced touring, songwriting for their next album, and a return to law school while the band suffered the loss of yet another drummer, as Espy was forced to leave after a tenure of nearly a year and a half for personal reasons. To Force a Fate The band settled on their second permanent drummer, Steve Van Horn, shortly after Espy left following their round of touring. At the same time, the band began negotiations with Lookout! Records to release their follow-up. After a marathon run of shows and songwriting toward the end of 2003, the band recorded their second album. The sessions were difficult, with 14-hour recording days being balanced with Elmore attempting to finish remaining law school papers, combined with weekend tour jaunts to the East Coast. The album was unique compared to other Elmore projects in that other members of the band assisted in the songwriting process.To Force a Fate was ultimately released in April 2004 on Lookout! Records. The album received generally positive press, including favorable reviews in Spin Magazine, calling the album "a bang of power pop epiphany." Blender Magazine gave the album four stars, stating that "Elizabeth Elmore, a law-school graduate with boy trouble to match her student loans, writes songs that are as much legal briefs as diary entries." Entertainment Weekly called the album "muscular yet lush," and gave the album a B+. The album would eventually reach No. 58 on the CMJ charts. Post-album touring The band spent 2004 and 2005 touring the United States for over nine months, including opening slots for Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, The Killers, Modest Mouse, Death Cab for Cutie, and the Donnas. The band's performance at South by