Youthful West Coast singer/songwriter Brett Dennen first drew attention in 2004 with the single"Desert Sunrise." The tune, with its easy groove and soulful phrasing, garnered enough spins on KCRW to warrant the release of his self-titled debut the following year. In 2006 Dennen signed with Dualtone and released So Much More. Hope for the Hopeless followed on the same imprint in 2008.