Released on March 23, 2004 on Sub Pop, it was the first non-solo effort by Sam Beam under his Iron & Wine moniker.

[1] The album's title comes from the lyrics of the song "Passing Afternoon": "There are things that drift away like our endless, numbered days."

"Passing Afternoon" was played at the end of "Wilson's Heart," the finale of the fourth season of House.

"Naked as We Came," "Trapeze Swinger" (a song not in this album) and "Sunset Soon Forgotten" were featured in the 2004 dramedy In Good Company.

"Naked As We Came" is also featured in the 9th episode of the first season of Grey's Anatomy, when Cristina and Izzie plan a secret autopsy of a patient's sudden death.