Filter: The Very Best Things (1995-2008)

Personnel: Richard Patrick (vocals, guitar, synthesizer, drums, programming); Scott Kern (vocals, drums); Matt Drvenkar (vocals); Geno Lenardo (guitar, mandolin, sitar, keyboards, programming); Brian Liesegang (guitar, keyboards, drums, programming); Wes Borland, John 5, Mitchell Marlow (guitar); Steven Gillis (drums, percussion); Mika Fineo, Josh Freese, Matt Walker (drums); Rae DiLeo (programming). Audio Mixer: Ben Grosse. Audio Remasterer: Daniel Hersch. Liner Note Author: Bryan Reesman. Photographers: Jeff Richards; Ralf Strathmann; Scott Legato; Peter Ganske; Karen Mason Blair; Gabrielle Geiselman; Gene Ambo. Anyone wondering whether Richard Patrick should have departed Nine Inch Nails to form alterna-industrial frontrunners Filter can judge by this concise 12-track collection (they only released four records over VERY BEST's 13-year span). THINGS is unsurprisingly buoyed by the band's smash singles, "Hey Man Nice Shot" and "Take A Picture." But those disparate tracks, and their chronological sequencing, only highlight the unpredictable and underrated path Patrick walked as a songwriter. From his days as a post-Ministry, grunge-era fuzz-thrasher up through contemplative ballads and textured, melodic pop arrangements, Richard Patrick and Filter made their mark as one of industrial rock's biggest crossover innovators.

• Genre: Rock and Pop
• Format: CD
• Released: 03/31/2009