In AllMusic's retrospective review of the album, the website gave it five stars out of five, calling it a "shambling wreck of an album" while at the same time "among the most harrowing experiences in pop music; impassioned, erratic, and stark" and "the slow, sinking sound of a band falling apart". It was listed on David Keenan's "The Best Albums Ever...Honest" by the Scottish newspaper "The Sunday Herald". In 2012, the album was ranked number 449 on "Rolling Stone" magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. It was ranked #1 at the Top 30 "Heartbreak" albums of all time by NME. Third was also listed at number 31 on NME's "Darkest Albums Ever: 50 of the Best". "Kanga Roo" and "Holocaust" were both covered by This Mortal Coil on the band's debut LP, "It'll End in Tears". The 1992 Rykodisc CD release of "Third/Sister Lovers" includes a "thank you" to This Mortal Coil in the liner notes in acknowledgment of this. In 1984, the Paisley Underground all-star group Rainy Day covered "Holocaust" on its eponymous album, featuring Kendra Smith of Dream Syndicate on lead vocals. "Holocaust" was also covered by Placebo on the band's single for "Slave to the Wage" in 2000 and can also be found on their compilation "Covers". "Take Care" was covered by Yo La Tengo on "Summer Sun". "Kangaroo" was released by Jeff Buckley on his posthumous live album "Mystery White Boy"; another version can be found on the legacy edition of his album Grace. In late 2018, The Monkees covered "Jesus Christ" on their first full-length Christmas release, "Christmas Party". The album sessions have been issued in three vinyl and 4 CD formats featuring different song selections and/or running orders, plus as a comprehensive 3 CD set including demos and rough mixes. Side A  Side B  'Aura Records UK LP, 1978  Side A  Side B  PVC US LP, 1978'  Side A  Side B  PVC CD (US), Castle/Dojo Communications CD/LP (UK), and Line Records CD (Germany), all 1987   Rykodisc Edition, 1992 This version created by Jim Dickinson is alleged to reflect the band's original intentions for the album. All songs written by Alex Chilton, except where noted.