The Fine Art of Surfacing was The Boomtown Rats' third album and contained the hit-single releases, "I Don't Like Mondays", "Diamond Smiles" and "Someone's Looking at You." "I Don't Like Mondays" b/w "It's All the Rage" was released in June 1979, and hit #1 in late July in the UK in the same year (the song refers to Brenda Ann Spencer's killing spree on Monday, January 29, 1979 in San Diego, California). Musically, however, this album is, for the most part, quite a departure from the Rats' punk influences that came across so clearly in their debut LP and Tonic for the Troops. The Rats display many styles in this album from a wide range of influences.