We're in the top 3's, which means we're not f*cking around anymore, and songs from these albums will probably be played at our funerals. Eric's up first with his 3rd favorite album of all time, the Silver Jews' 1998 album 'American Water'. Eric loves the perfection of the language and the sloppiness of its performance, but Tyler and Tucker come around and are even able to connect the Jews' influence to bands like Sebadoh and Flight of the Conchords. Enjoy!

Get ready for school, kids! Bad Religion makes their first appearance (of probably many) on the podcast with Tucker's pick for 4th greatest album. This is true punk rock, but Eric is most surprised by the number of words-per-minute Greg Graffin can cram into each song. Tyler and Eric connect the dots by linking Bad Religion's sound to No Use for a Name and Wire. Enjoy!

Tyler's 4fth favorite album of all time is probably his most emo pick, but that's what happens when your older brother gives you Minidiscs. While this self-titled release from Smith isn't his first record, it does mark his debut on Kill Rock Stars, a label name that Smith took way too literally. Tucker and Eric fully support this album and are able to connect it to bands like The Rolling Stones and Sparklehorse. For some reason we remember "Bum Fights"--enjoy!

Sometimes when you listen to album over and over, you tend to block out what other people might hear as flaws--case in point: David Gedge's voice. While Eric fully stands by his choice of Seamonsters for his 4th favorite album of all time, Tyler and Tucker's all-American ears can't stand to hear a Brit sing. Their loss! This album brings together the anger and lust of broken relationships with the classic abrasive Albini sound. Tucker and Tyler do their best to connect to the album through tracks by China Drum and Sixpence None the Richer...Enjoy!

There's something to be said about playing in a band with your ex. Tucker picks a somewhat obscure release for his 5th favorite album of all-time. The Minneapolis chamber-folk band Dark Dark Dark was caught in the middle of ending a romantic relationship between two of its members while recording this album. Yikes! All that tension makes for some uneasy listening, but the music is actually quite beautiful. Tyler manages to connect this to an even-more obscure release by Joey Cape while Eric sticks to the basics with Leonard Cohen. 

Tyler's 5th favorite album of all time isn't really an album according to our friends at Wikipedia, but we're not known for following directions that closely (see episode #007, season one). This extended play by Strung Out is tight, fast & complex and has some of the worst cover art we've seen. Tucker and Eric bring all the Y2K energy and connect the dots from Strung Out to Pennwise and Marnie Stern--enjoy!

Eric starts off the top 5 with a controversial choice: a concept album by a white British rapper. The album would be bad enough on its own, but then you also have to listen to Eric explain why it's so good. Still, the rest of the Kill Power Crew entertain this bizarre choice and even manage to relate it to some more relatable acts like the Beastie Boys and Hot Hot Heat. 

Tucker's 6th favorite album of all-time is as messy as a break-up and as layered as a lasagna. Cursive's 4th album is received well by all members of Kill Power, with Eric & Tyler connecting the sound of the album to tracks by the Rollins Band and Of Montreal. Tyler even shares a hilarious story about mushrooms--bonus!

Where the bag at? Who's yo man? How does a loving god allow an album like this to happen? These are just some of the questions the City Girls ask on their landmark debut mixtape, which just so happens to be Tyler's 6th favorite album of all time. It's also the official soundtrack for drinking shitty beer in a broken hot tub. In addition to the City Girls, the Kill Power crew listens to tracks from Gucci Mane, V-Nasty and Lil' Kim. Enjoy this "rap shit".

Clocking in at just over 68 minutes, chock-full of pop nuggets, lullabies and daydream instrumentals, Yo La Tengo's 8th studio album is Eric's 6th favorite record of all time. Cutting through the nostalgic haze, Tucker and Tyler connect YLT's sound to Broadcast and Fluf, and it surprisingly works. Pull on your autumn sweater and enjoy.