If you're as tired of the daily news onslaught as we are, if you're suffering from outrage fatigue and are worried that you're starting to not give a crap about anything, this week's playlist could not have come soon enough. At the time of this writing the US midterm elections are a scant 6 weeks away and the deadline to register to vote in some states is just days away. This is the first time in 2 years that we're going to have any real say about what's going on in Washington. Do we want to change the current situation? There's really only one way to do that at the moment - we gotta vote our asses off. Pal Of The Pod Ryan Stockstad is back to help count down the songs you need to hear - songs to motivate, galvanize, and inspire you to get up off your ass and help us start turning this damn thing around.

People all over the country are being deleted from voter rolls for seemingly no reason. Even if you're registered, you need to confirm your status as such. There are a number of helpful sites that can tell you in a matter of seconds whether or not you're still registered. Try https://votesaveamerica.com for this info and more.

Ryan's YouTube series Halloween Horror Picks is gearing up for a new season of horror film reviews. Get caught up on previous seasons here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVRiDw73ddw&list=PLi45zQyp9B6FkqCHlxqndk3iLU0qEOx5M

Stream this playlist on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/user/alltimetopten/playlist/4tTfLShPtYEsMn29IMdX9F?si=mhoqt1pGRba1tRzmVXxguQ

Just when we thought we had progressed as a society, far enough that Dr. King's dream of universal brotherhood was within our grasp, we had to go and take a giant leap backward. In 2018 racists, bigots, white nationalists, white supremacists, alt-right neo-nazis and the rest of the scum are rising to the surface, emboldened and empowered enough to march in the streets, with no sheets covering up their pitiful faces. These days there's a sinister element where it feels like the progress we made has been thwarted. In truth we're just getting started on the road to having what Peter Tosh so eloquently asked for - equal rights and justice. We here at ATTT are as proud as we can be to be joined by Nyaze and Mel of the fearless Woke With Kids Podcast, a weekly dissection of current events as told through the lens of an unapologetically enlightened couple working on carving out a better society for their two kids in this crazy world. While we count down the greatest songs against racism, much is discussed and believe it or not, there's a ton of laughs.

ATTT host Ben Eisen was a guest on the latest episode of WWK, which you can download at all of the places. Here's the Soundcloud link:
https://soundcloud.com/wokewithkids/ep-103-burn-your-nikes-confirming-kavanaugh-when-to-pull-your-gun-on-a-white-man?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=facebook

Stream this playlist on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/user/alltimetopten/playlist/4TM6NeuYv8oOJt0edU7sYm?si=d9u-l9eUSxubnfyb8il0VA

Hey better late than never right? Things are crazy around here at ATTT headquarters. This was supposed to come out last Friday but oh well. Here's an episode to get you inspired to vote this November. Top Ten (Non-Cheesy) Songs About America was released in July 2016, and back then we really needed it. We need it even more now.

On July 4th, America turned 240 years old. Like any true Patriot, we here at ATTT love everything about America - the good, the bad, the ugly, and the ridiculous. We love the fact that we have freedom of speech. It's an inalienable right that allows us to say what's on our minds as well as listen to whatever music we want and enjoy whatever art moves us. We don't take it for granted. We reserve the right to say that your typical shit-kicker song about America wallows in cheesiness and we reserve the right to reject such songs as lame, trite and not worthy of this great land of ours. Ben is joined by singer/songwriter/producer Paul Larson to count down the best non-cheesy songs about our home.

In 2018, to be an American is to be paranoid, vindictive, and fearful. We don't trust each other and 40% of the country lives in a bubble of misinformation from conservative media, where their viewpoint is shielded from honest dialogue by a steady diet of scapegoating, fear-mongering and straight up BS. Someone needs to tell it like it is. In that spirit, ATTT feels it's our patriotic duty to do yet another volume of songs about people that repulse us, aka the worst people in the world - liars, con-artists, megalomaniacs and racists. These are people that exemplify their hero, our current president. Thankfully for this go-around we have a little help from our friends Charley T and the mighty Rick Torres of the LA-based punk rock titans Dirtycakes. These gents help keep things fun so we don't get caught in a rabbit-hole of despair; and they bring the fire & fury, enough to keep us going for another week and determined to get the vote out on November 6th and start turning this damn thing around. Testify!

Dirtycakes is in studio and on tour, coming soon to your town to rock your face off. Find out more and listen to some killer tunes here:
https://dirtycakesband.bandcamp.com

Stream this playlist on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/user/alltimetopten/playlist/7opz5dh4TaUKp5IHq6L7Ui?si=gFLnauDcS4-G1yWff_ZBIA

If you want more here's the archive links to Songs For Donald Trump Volumes 1 & 2:

https://www.mixcloud.com/beneisen/episode-234-top-ten-songs-for-donald-trump-wmike-vanessa-axelsen/
https://www.mixcloud.com/beneisen/episode-279-top-ten-songs-for-donald-trump-vol-2-wnina-jo-smith-rain-perry/

Where does the time go? It's September and the US midterm elections are 2 minuscule months away. Are we sitting on our hands? Hell no. We here at ATTT are fired up to vote, and to encourage other like-minded people (aka people who give a shit) to get out and vote this November. We're doing our part by helping you fill up your music players with empowering, righteous-anger-filled music to inspire you to make the most of this moment and be that change that we all want to see. First things first, there's been a lot of talk about women, and their role in this fight. We think it's everything. All across the country there are badass women of all stripes running for office, tearing down the patriarchy and working to make this world a better one, one elected position at a time. This is why it was a no-brainer to make Top Ten Feminist Anthems Volume 2 the kick-off episode for this month of pull-no-punches episodes. The HBIC of this show is our very own Rock N Roll Librarian Summer Blake, who helps count down another set of tunes about female empowerment to get your fist in the air and your voice amped up to 11.

If you missed Feminist Anthems Volume 1, check it out here:
https://www.mixcloud.com/beneisen/episode-292-top-ten-feminist-anthems-wvanessa-narad-axelsen-candi-bartlett/

Stream this playlist on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/user/alltimetopten/playlist/68Xog2jd0s5T4EngAZbPew?si=HXXwDsnuSBCe5YvGe4yuvA

We know you don't need any reminding, but it is the end of August and if you're of student age and you're not already back in school, you will be soon. It's a fact of life. It's also a fact that there are a metric ton of great songs about teachers, students, classrooms, principals, homework and detention. We here at ATTT could think of no better guest to educate the masses on music than Pal Of The Pod Jeff Axelrod (hey that rhymes!) who just so happened to be in LA on break from his new teaching gig - in China! Jeff regales with stories on what it's like being a teaching newbie jumping right into the deep end, teaching English to middle school kids in China. Along the way Jeff and Ben play some of their favorite songs for going back to school. Listen up, because we don't want to have to fail you.

Keep up with how Jeff's adventures in the Far East are going at his blog:
http://adventures.chinateachingnewbie.com

Stream this playlist on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/user/alltimetopten/playlist/26TLLQTVvOTlZTYY0JC83A?si=PvniubymQgq4uHxvXkpl7w

If you're a songwriter itching to make a statement about humanity or looking to tell a tall tale, animals can be a perfect muse. Throughout music history, we've heard from the old blues masters on down through modern indie rock and everything in between - fish, reptiles, mammals, birds, insects and amphibians make great subjects for some of the best songs ever made. Enter guitarist, songwriter and all-around swell fella Geoff Pearlman. Geoff and Ben crack open an entire zoo's worth of informative, goofy, whimsical and sublime tunes about our brothers, sisters and cousins in the animal kingdom. We hope we did them proud.

Programming note 1 - Since we recently covered Songs About Cats And Dogs, our feline and canine friends will not be heard from this time around.

Programming note 2 - Big time thanks to Shannon Hurley for mastering the hell out of this episode. Let us know if the sound quality is an improvement.

Geoff Pearlman's music and other goings-on in his career can be accessed here:
https://geoffpearlman.bandcamp.com

Stream this playlist on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/user/alltimetopten/playlist/4FMHHGq67QGu6Z6bbmW1K7?si=7xddUkTKQVayDiaDrFhQVg

What's the point of writing this blurb about existentialism in music when we're all gonna die anyway?

Stream this playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/alltimetopten/playlist/57weIATvVr0cCqsrC33fxD?si=-jz-a094QmiETqesTJUyBg

Listen to Existential Songs Volumes 1 & 2:

https://www.mixcloud.com/beneisen/episode-228-top-ten-existential-songs-volume-1-wgabe-scalone/

https://www.mixcloud.com/beneisen/episode-274-top-ten-existential-songs-volume-2-wgabe-scalone/

The 3rd and final episode taped while on assignment in Wisconsin tackles the godfathers of heavy metal. Inarguably the most commercially successful metal band in history and perhaps it's most creative and vital, Metallica broke through in the mid 80's like a buzzsaw, taking the genre to dizzying new heights. When it came time for their turn as the "biggest band in the world" in 1991, they seized the opportunity to put a heavy metal album in the hands of seemingly every kid in America. Metallica was and is still a force to be reckoned with and ATTT is proud to welcome 2 of Ben's brothers and a childhood friend to the podcast to talk about the heaviest band of all time and metal's crowning achievement. Special thanks to guests Abe and Ira Eisen as well as our pal Eric for an epic show that gets to all of the essentials.

Stream this playlist on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/user/alltimetopten/playlist/0c6qCJm3oi6uRsEGdzthkr?si=g8dqCyb1RJWBOlHQAGcNWA

As the Divine Ms. M will tell you, you got to have friends to make the day last long. In this uncertain and vicious world that's overrun with liars and cheats, a good friend or two can mean the difference between joy and despair. In that spirit, Ben is joined by some of his oldest friends in the world for a podcast that features songs that explore the many-layered facets to friendship, while jumping genres faster than you can say "I love you, man." Top Ten Songs About Friendship is the 2nd of 3 podcasts that were taped while Ben was on assignment in Wisconsin, and this week's show is a nostalgic trip with 3 pals with dozens of years of friendship behind it. We hope you share it with some of your besties, BFFs, buds, pals, chums, casual acquaintances, and that dude you barely know.

Stream this playlist on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/user/alltimetopten/playlist/40dsCnlDdUZcDO5cIkDLhs?si=KpviBIJhTzyA7HPMA2oxkw

DJ & Dixie's band Body Futures has a new album out for your enjoyment. Listen here:
https://bodyfutures.bandcamp.com

DJ and Chris's band IfIHadAHiFi is hard at work another stellar noise rock masterpiece. Find out more here:
https://ifihadahifi.bandcamp.com

Chris' band The Glacial Speed has stuff for you to check out as well:
https://theglacialspeed.bandcamp.com