Artist: Filter
Title: “The Very Best Things (1995-2008)”
Label: Reprise Records
Release Date: 3/31/2009
Genre: Alternative Rock
Rating: 3.5/5

“The Very Best Things” is a great way to look back on the accomplishments of the band Filter, who while one of many Alternative Rock bands did have the luxury of a number of killer tunes which also found their way to regular rotation on both terrestrial radio and now continue to do so in the satellite realm. I have to admit that I was never a religious follower of their stuff but did like a handful of songs and probably the same ones that any casual listener enjoyed such as “Hey Man Nice Shot”, “Take A Picture” and “Where Do We Go From Here”, all of which are presented to the listeners who pick up this CD. The band was heavier than some of their contemporaries and I enjoyed that little extra grit when compared to the seemingly endless parade of bands that bore the “Alternative” label when this became the thing to do. As its title denotes, the compilation follows the band from 1995 through 2008 and covers not only their five albums but also delivers four tunes that the band did for movies such as “X-Files: Fight The Future”, “Crow: City Of Angels” and “Spawn”. I felt that this was a great way for the bands diehards to get those tunes as opposed to seeking out soundtracks that could very well be hard to find.

Most of the inclusions are the radio edit version which I had to admit confused me but was not something I considered an issue at the end of the day because this was the song that I came to know and enjoy. Perhaps you are in the same boat with me on this. The album gives the biggest focus to the bands “Title Of Record” CD with five tunes while both “The Amalgamut” and “Short Bus” only get two apiece. If you are a fan who demands that these two releases be paid better attention to then this compilation is not something that I would recommend to it. However if you seek a nicely done career overview that is not done in a more comprehensive Anthology format and left instead at one CD then this is a perfect choice for the music library.

There is a foldout booklet included that includes a comprehensive band history by writer Bryan Reesman along with some topical liner notes about the tracks. Filter is still active in some sense today and reports have been read where the plan is for new material to be a lot more Industrial. Let’s see if that sticks because a number of the Alternative Rock acts of the nineties are returning to the public and delivering what they did once again for their still existing fans. Could Filter be doing anything wrong by following suit? I hardly think so.

Track Listing:
1. Hey Man Nice Shot
2. Welcome To The Fold
3. Jurassitol
4. (Cant You) Trip Like I Do
5. Take A Picture
6. Soldiers Of Misfortune
7. Where Do We Go From Here
8. Dose
9. I’m Not The Only One
10. Skinny
11. One
12. The Best Things
13. The Only Way Is The Wrong Way
14. Thanks Bro

Official Website: http://www.officialfilter.com