Capitol Records has a rather nasty and long-standing habit of signing amazing bands then putting no time or energy into promoting them. Through the years they have allowed acts like Menthol, Triple Fast Action, Supergrass and The Smoking Popes to slip all but unnoticed through the cracks in their corporate facade. You can add Jimmy Eat World to that short but distinguished list. The band were rather unceremoniously dropped from the label after releasing one of 1999’s strongest albums, the pop-punk masterpiece Clarity. With their major-label career cut short, the band have regrouped and returned to their spiritual home on Big Wheel Recreation to release Singles.

Yes, Singles is a collection of the band’s pre-Capitol singles, which were released on a bevy of labels that included Big Wheel, Crank and Wooden Blue. The majority of these songs are now out-of-print. And while nothing on Singles can quite match up to the sonic majesty of Clarity, it shows that the seeds of JeW's greatness were sewn long ago. Supersonic love statements like "77 Satellites" and "Spangle" are predecessors to the anthemic guitar sweep and driving vocals of Clarity’s "Lucky Denver Mint" and "Blister", while centerpiece "H Model" displays the band's knack for writing sublime hooks and a penchant for rough yet polished production techniques. Other standouts include the instrumental precision of "Ramina", the precocious shimmer and frenetic rhythmic bombast of "What Would I Say to You Now" and the furiously endearing punk stomp of "Carbon Scoring", which is reminiscent of the stronger moments of their Static Prevails LP. You'll have to try really hard not to like any single song off this compilation, they’re all so damn good.

Capitol’s loss is Big Wheel’s gain, or the gain of whichever label the band decides on for their next long-player. Until then, Singles is essential listening for eager Jimmy Eat World fans, new and old. Perhaps the bigger question is what great band will Capitol decide to axe next -- Radiohead?