The California based idiosyncratic rockers, Eels unveiled both their first "best of" compilation, ??Meet The EELS: Essential EELS Vol. 1, 1996-2006?? (CD+DVD), and its first collection of rarities, B-sides, filmcontributions and unreleased tracks, the ??EELS Useless Trinkets: B-Sides, Soundtracks, Rarities and Unreleased 1996-2006??(2CD+DVD), each issued by *DreamWorks/Geffen/UMe 8. All videos are available for the first time on DVD and all music is digitally remastered with both packages packed with never before seen photos, artifacts and Everett's notes about each track.Mark Oliver Everett (aka E), the main artistic force behind the Eels, is known as an "intensely personal (songwriter) such subjects as mortality's toll, mental illness, loneliness, and unrequited love, as well as mustering the courage to continue living in spite of such things."Eels have a huge fan community. Their several world tours took them to Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and USA. The band is probably most successful in the UK and in Central and Northern Europe. In past interviews, E has said that Dreamworks encouraged the group to tour mainly in Europe, as their American tours were not typically as profitable. However, since the group signed to Vagrant Records, they tour the United States with a higher frequency.The best of compilation is scheduled for released on January 18, 2008.Official Site:http://www.eelstheband.com/