Thing of the Past

Thing of the Past is the third studio album by Vetiver, released in 2008. Departing from original compositions, Andy Cabic utilized this project to pay homage to his influences, covering artists such as Michael Hurley, Townes Van Zandt, and Loudon Wainwright III. The album was recorded in 2007 across Sacramento and Los Angeles, notably capturing basic tracks live in the studio to preserve a sense of intimacy and collective performance. This approach resulted in what many critics consider the band's most cohesive and 'lived-in' sounding record. The inclusion of guest appearances by some of the original songwriters adds a layer of historical continuity. Positioned within the mid-2000s 'freak folk' movement, Vetiver distinguished themselves on this release by leaning more heavily into traditional Americana and country-rock structures than their more experimental peers. It remains a high-water mark for cover albums in the indie-folk genre.