Seven More Minutes

Beginning in 1995—the same year that Return of the Rentals was released—The Rentals' frontman, Matt Sharp, began to spend a considerable amount of time in Spain, particularly Barcelona.^[10] While there, he began to record lyrics and melodies for songs that would appear on this album on a tape recorder while at nightclubs and parties.^[10][11] For "My Head Is in the Sun", Sharp cowrote the song with Rivers Cuomo, whom he had previously worked with while on the band Weezer.^[10] Songs were recorded in Barcelona and London.^[11] The album featured contributions from artists from other bands, which, in addition to Cuomo, included Damon Albarn of Blur, Miki Berenyi of Lush, Petra Haden of That Dog, Donna Matthews of Elastica, and Tim Wheeler of Ash.^[11] While mixing the album, Sharp lived in Cuomo's apartment in Boston.^[10]

Sharp said that a goal of his with Seven More Minutes was to make the album more universally accessible than its predecessor, which he said had been "on the geeky side of things".^[11] While he said that both of the albums were personal reflections of his life at the time that he was writing them, this new album was more grand in scale.^[11] Concerning the use of synthesizers, which were featured heavily in both albums, Sharp said that he had wanted to utilize them in a less "new wave" style with Seven More Minutes.^[10]

The album was released on April 13, 1999.^[11] "Getting By" was released to rock radio stations several weeks earlier, on March 23.^[11] Maverick, the record label, said that they would be utilizing mailing lists for fans of The Rentals, Weezer, and bands whose members were featured in the album in order to promote the album.^[11] Additionally, they would be distributing cassette samplers of some of the songs at concerts for bands that they believed would have a similar fanbase for The Rentals.^[11] Prior to the album's release, Sharp said that he planned to do a concert tour to promote the album.^[11] Sharp said that, while his commitment to Weezer had limited his ability to promote Return of the Rentals, he would be more active in this album's promotion.^[11]

David Daley of CMJ New Music Monthly gave the album a positive review, calling it "more cohesive and daring than their debut, but with just as much kitschy new wave fun".^[10] Miles Raymer of Entertainment Weekly also spoke positively of the album, saying it was "almost shockingly raw and honest".^[12]