Writing for the first Pennywise album began around 1989/1990. The band recorded it in 1991 at Westbeach Recorders in Hollywood, California. Epitaph owner/founder Brett Gurewitz actually produced the album. However, constant disagreements with guitarist Fletcher over the album's production and his dislike of the sound of the album prompted him to have his name taken off the credits in the liner notes.
Trouser Press wrote: "As a skatepunk answer to Bad Religion, Pennywise's eponymous debut weds driving, warp-speed punk-rock to intelligent, positive-thinking lyrics. The clean production, tight vocal harmonies and crisp ensemble playing provide a fine showcase for the Hermosa Beach, California band's high-energy odes to self-reliance and camaraderie."[4]