Following the 2002 EP Amped, Lawnball marked the first TDA studio album to feature a reduced six-piece line-up following the departures of original members Linda "Big Lou" Seekins, Patty Brady, Art Peterson and Clyde Forsman. With Paul Rogers now the sole singer-songwriter of the band, Lawnball had a noticeably different musical style than TDA's previous albums, placing a primary emphasis on rock and pop songs with folk, country and jazz influences, while the prominence of the accordions were slightly downplayed and accompaniment from acoustic guitars and pianos added for a fuller studio sound.
The title of the album refers to what's also known as a yard globe, a reflective lawn ornament.
