Time To Get Manly 71: Johnny Cash - At Folsom Prison

I randomly ran across a list of what Esquire magazine claims are "The 75 Albums Every Man Should Own." In this series of posts, I'll explore these manly, manly sounds.

Johnny Cash - At Folsom Prison

What could possibly be more manly than Johnny Cash playing a live show at a prison? It's a musical sausage fest with the added allure of contraband cigarettes and illegal toothbrush shanks! And when the line,"But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die" results in that much thunderous applause, you know you're one of two places: A maximum security correctional facility or a Republican presidential debate.

Time to Get Manly 70: Tom Waits - Small Change

I randomly ran across a list of what Esquire magazine claims are "The 75 Albums Every Man Should Own." In this series of posts, I'll explore these manly, manly sounds.

Tom Waits - Small Change

Where's Luna's Penthouse represents an idealized version of a social life steeped in parties, drinks and swanky, late-night parties, Tom Waits paints a potentially more accurate picture of that kind of life on Small Change. Even the album cover suggests that perhaps the nightlife isn't as glamorous as it seems. Add to that songs like, "The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me)," "Bad Liver and a Broken Heart" and "The One That Got Away," and Small Change becomes the perfect album by which to lick your wounds and sober the fuck up.

Time To Get Manly 69: Buena Vista Social Club - Buena Vista Social Club

I randomly ran across a list of what Esquire magazine claims are "The 75 Albums Every Man Should Own." In this series of posts, I'll explore these manly, manly sounds.

Buena Vista Social Club - Buena Vista Social Club

Everyone who knows history is aware that President Kennedy once sent a bunch of pigs to Cuba as a gift for Fidel Castro which resulted in Castro being all unappreciative and offended because he apparently doesn't eat pork. It was a fiasco. Ever since then, the USA and Cuba have been in a fight over cigars. It's complicated. But Ry Cooder decided this was stupid and got a top notch group of Cuban musicians together to make this record. And it ended up being a fantastic decision. For freedom.

Time To Get Manly 68: Luna - Penthouse

I randomly ran across a list of what Esquire magazine claims are "The 75 Albums Every Man Should Own." In this series of posts, I'll explore these manly, manly sounds.

Luna - Penthouse

"You're out all night/Chasin' girlies/You're late to work/ And you go home early." I have a feeling that these lyrics from "Chinatown" heavily influenced Esquire's decision to include Luna's Penthouse on this list. Because these words encapsulate the very essence of manliness: Non-stop partying, oodles of women, and having a job that pays you enormous sums of money but requires very little responsibility. Ah, the Esquire life! Also, Luna's founder Dean Wareham eventually started a band with and married the woman who was the singing voice for Jem. If that's not a goddamn fairytale existence, I don't know what is.

Time To Get Manly 67: Leonard Cohen - Songs of Leonard Cohen

I randomly ran across a list of what Esquire magazine claims are "The 75 Albums Every Man Should Own." In this series of posts, I'll explore these manly, manly sounds.

Leonard Cohen - Songs of Leonard Cohen

I think the best way to explain my feelings about Leonard Cohen's music is I typically prefer his songs as performed by other people, and even those versions don't really do a whole lot for me. I know this makes me a terrible person. But I am not blind to the fact that Songs of Leonard Cohen left a lasting impression on the music world, and that I am forever indebted to the man for being such a huge influence on so many of my favorite artists. Considering Cohen's lyrical focus on love, lust, women and life, there's enough manly content on Songs... to make just about any man want to pick up a guitar and dream about becoming a Canadian folk singer. 

Time To Get Manly 66: Sam Cooke - Night Beat

I randomly ran across a list of what Esquire magazine claims are "The 75 Albums Every Man Should Own." In this series of posts, I'll explore these manly, manly sounds.

Sam Cooke - Night Beat

The title of this record suggests some kind of after-hours hot spot - loud music, friends, dancing, friends, drinking... But the songs on Night Beat suggest that other kind of night beat - the one when you're all alone with your thoughts and it's so quiet you can hear your own pulse. That's the place where some of the best music comes from, and Sam Cooke delivers a whole record to prove it. Night Beat's sad bastard songs combined with perfect-yet-stark instrumentation makes it the perfect showcase for Cooke's voice - one of the finest ever.

Time To Get Manly 65: Beethoven - Symphony No. 5

I randomly ran across a list of what Esquire magazine claims are "The 75 Albums Every Man Should Own." In this series of posts, I'll explore these manly, manly sounds.

Beethoven - Symphony No. 5

Oooh, Esquire's dropping a bit of manly sophistication into the mix with the inclusion of some "classical music." And really, what's more manly than a man in a wig and tights, right? Haha. Stop being a dick. Beethoven, though emotionally unstable, plagued by chronic pain and early onset hearing loss, was a motherfucking musical badass. Of his nine symphonies, this one is probably the most immediately recognizable, especially if you're a fan of Saturday Night Fever. So yeah, when you're done listening to Slick Rick, put this on to scrub some of that filth out of your brain.