Essentials is a focused overview of The Jackets' recorded output to date, bringing together a selection of tracks from across their catalogue alongside two new recordings. Released to coincide with the band's first tour of Australia and New Zealand, it works both as a clear introduction and as a compact summary of an eighteen-year trajectory.

Formed in Switzerland in 2008 by Jackie Brutsche (vocals, guitar) and drummer Chris Rosales, The Jackets have built their reputation through constant touring and a steady run of releases that move between garage, punk and psychedelic rock without drifting from a recognizable core. The songs collected here span albums released between 2012 and 2024, chosen for how they represent the band rather than for chronology.

The two new tracks, 'The Question' and 'Rock & Roll Band', were recorded specifically for this release and sit naturally alongside older material. Essentials is not a retrospective in the traditional sense, but a practical entry point into the band's world, shaped by the way they write, record and play live.