Hey there-

>jeff t.
>
>NP: the Sloan singles disc. How could I have missed these guys before? 
>All the great stuff I've heard over all these years, and I never picked 
>up a record until this one. (insert whack on forehead sound). 

I'd steer you to their (IMO) best record, BETWEEN THE BRIDGES 
(see http://www.avclub.com/content/node/53609 ), but coincidentally several friends have only just "discovered" the band (after either missing previously out like you, or by not particularly loving what they'd heard) after hearing their latest, NEVER HEAR THE END OF IT. You won't go wrong in either direction.