The quintet took root in Corinth, MS, where Weeks and Null cut their teeth in different bands before merging their songwriting talents. In early 2005, the duo attracted attention from producer Skidd Mills, who invited Weeks and Null to record in his Memphis studio. Juggling day jobs and regional gigs, the two began driving back and forth between Corinth and Memphis, sporadically recording their self-titled EP with Mills while putting together a full lineup consisting of guitarist Scott Bartlett, bassist Eric Taylor, and drummer Blake Dixon.

Within a year, the EP had earned Saving Abel a contract with Virgin Records, and Mills returned to produce the group's full-length debut. Combining new material with the EP's best songs, the self-titled album was issued in March 2008. It went gold within a year, with the lead single "Addicted" cracking the Top 40 and nearly topping the modern rock charts. While touring the country in support of the album, Saving Abel began playing new material, most of which appeared on the sophomore album Miss America in 2010. ~ Andrew Leahey