When cleaning out your closets, you can discover a great deal about yourself and even who you used to be.

Jay Ferguson and the rest of the members of Canadian act Sloan were given the opportunity for that recently when they set about compiling film footage from their 15-year career for a new DVD.

And for Ferguson, what was the one thing he learned during the five-month process that he jokingly describes as "like therapy for me"?

Three words: No shorts allowed.

"I think there was one time I wore shorts onstage at some gig," the gangly musician says of the outdoor show in the southern States, which was filmed for posterity. "I was like, 'You know what? That's terrible.'

"And I have never worn shorts onstage ever since then -- it's not allowed basically."

The DVD is featured in limited editions of the band's recently released retrospective CD A Sides Win: Singles 1992-2005.

The compilation -- which also features a pair of new tracks -- was released mainly to allow time for things to settle at their recently merged label, but it also serves as a great reminder of how superb a pop rock act Sloan really are.

"I still listen to our records all the time anyway, so I didn't need to be reminded," Ferguson says mockingly.

For others, the disc will act as a great introduction to the Haligonian quartet and its melodic rock.

Even though Sloan have been around for years, releasing seven studio albums during that period, they're still managing to lure new listeners in.

Earlier this month, they got the opportunity to reach even more when they played the massive and influential outdoor alt rock festival Coachella for the first time.

"It was fantastic," says Ferguson. "We had lots of friends there as well -- people we knew from Toronto, but also lots of Canadian bands."

And the fact that most of those Canuck acts -- The Arcade Fire, k-os, Tegan & Sara to name a few -- are young, up-and-coming groups and not the veterans Sloan are, Ferguson says, is still a sign they're doing things right.

"Just the fact that we would get invited to festivals like that that are more of the hipster shows," he says, "it's nice that we're still thought of."

Sloan perform tonight at The Whiskey.