The shambolic din of Pavement has touched me more than any one cohesive musical ideal has ever touched me before. It is for this that I say Pavement is my favorite band ever. They wear their influnces on their sleeves while taking a piss on these influences' self seriousness. On 'Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain' (which is one of the greatest album titles ever by the way) Pavement created one of the finest pieces of post modernism ever, a concept album about the death of rock and roll by abunch of guys who thought concept albums were the stupidest thing in the world. It is this sort of high low art winking that keeps me coming back to this album, which amongst the being smart and rocking is actually pretty funny (and the jokes don't wear out their welcome). 'Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain' isn't my favorite album, but it defines me more than any other.