The Story So Far signed toPure Noise in March 2010.[3] The band released their debut album in June 2011.[4] The band supportedWe Are the Union andI Call Fives in July.[5] The band toured alongsideHeartsounds andHandguns in August.[6] The band supportedSenses Fail in November.[7] From late February to early March 2012 the band went on the Pure Noise Records Tour alongside Handguns, I Call Fives, Daybreaker, The American Scene andForever Came Calling.[8] In early November, the band supportedNew Found Glory on the Road to Warped Tour in the UK.[9] From late November to mid-December, the band supported New Found Glory on the 10th anniversary tour for theirSticks and Stones album.[10] The band listened to New Found Glory when they were younger and did not expect to tour with them in their lifetime.[11]
On December 31, 2011, it was announced that The Story So Far was recording new material.[12] In March 2012 it was announced the band would be writing new songs in the summer.[13] In August it was posted that the band were recording "something" at Panda Studios.[14] The band recorded at Panda Studios[11] in San Francisco,[15] in the fall.[16] In an October 2012 interview withAlternative Press bassist Kelen Capener revealed the band were "just starting [to record] drum [tracks]".[11] The band went to the studio with 13 songs but were writing new material during the record process in case they want to drop any of the previously written material.[11] The band were figuring out what made their previous record excellent and attempted to expand on it.[11] The album was produced bySteve Klein of New Found Glory[17] and Sam Pura.[18] Klein originally visited the band to see what material they had and gave them tips.[11]
Guitarist William Levy said the new album was "heavier and more melodic" compared toUnder Soil and Dirt.[19] Levy reassured that the album is "still us, it's just more focused."[19] The song structures were "thought out a little better" and "parts that we came up with are more interesting."[15] Capener mentioned the group were not "trying to write something stylistically different" to their previous material.[20] The new material "shows maturation" but retains the "same youthful energy and angst we've always loved."[20] On November 22, the band announced they had finished recording.[21]
On January 16, 2013What You Don't See was announced and the track listing and cover art was revealed.[22] The band toured Australia in January with support from Anchors.[23] "Right Here" was released as a single on February 5.[24] On February 26,[25] "The Glass" was made available for streaming.[26] The band co-headlined The Suppy Nation Tour withMan Overboard through March and April.[27] On March 11, "Empty Space" was made available for streaming exclusively viaRock Sound.[28] When the band had finished recorded, they showed the album to their relatives and friends.[28] "Empty Space" attracted their attention "and made a few heads bob", according to Capener.[28] As a result, the band made a music video for it based on their friends and families' reaction.[28] The video was released two days later,[29] it was directed by Kyle Camarillo.[30]
In early March 2013 the album leaked and as a result the band were selling vinyl copies of it on tour.[31] On March 25, the album was made available for streaming,[32] and a day later it was released through Pure Noise.[22][nb 1] The band toured the UK and Europe from late April to mid May[19] with support fromThe American Scene andGnarwolves.[22] The band played on the 2013 edition ofWarped Tour.[34] The band toured the UK in October withSeahaven and Save Your Breath supporting.[35] The band toured in November and December with support fromStick to Your Guns,Such Gold andRotting Out.[36] The band supportedA Day to Remember in January and February 2014 on their tour of Europe.[37] On March 16, the band performed at South by So What?! festival.[38] The band played on the 2014 edition of Warped Tour.[39] The band supportedThe Wonder Years in October.[40] The band supported New Found Glory in November on their Pop Punk's Not Dead tour of the UK.[41]
Reviews have been generally highly positive, with aMetacritic score of 84, indicating universal acclaim.[42]Alternative Press described the album as "thoughtful and passionate", one that "will help young listeners navigate the murky waters of growing up."[2]AllMusic reviewer Fred Thomas wrote that the album's 11 songs were "new blasts of melodic pop-punk."[43] Thomas compared it to "many great punk records", in that it "breezes by in just under 30 minutes".[43]
The album was placed at number 9 onRock Sound's "The 50 Best Albums Of 2013" list.[46]
The album debuted at number 46 on the Billboard 200.[47] It sold over 13,500 copies in the first week.[48] As of April 2015, the album has sold 63,000 copies domestically.[49]
^Crane, Matt (January 23, 2014)."South By So What?! confirm final lineup".Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc.Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. RetrievedNovember 20, 2017.
^"Search | BMI".BMI.Archived from the original on January 25, 2016. RetrievedJanuary 24, 2016.Select "Title" from the drop down menu, then enter the song title in the search box, then click "Search".
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