Take It Like a Man
Amanda Shires · 2022
37 min · 10 tracks · Americana
A blend of poignant storytelling and intricate melodies, merging Americana roots with contemporary reflections on love and identity.
Top tracks — play these first
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Take It Like a Man — The title track encapsulates the album's theme of confronting societal expectations around masculinity and femininity, blending raw emotion with a catchy melody.
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Hawk for the Dove — This opening track sets the tone for the album, using vivid imagery to explore complex relationships while highlighting Shires' lyrical prowess.
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Empty Cups — With its haunting arrangement and introspective lyrics, this song delves into feelings of loss and longing, making it a standout moment on the record.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines strong storytelling with varied instrumentation, making it engaging but not.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks establish a mid-tempo groove, while the fourth track introduces a more upbeat rhythm that contrasts with the previous songs.
- Several tracks feature layered instrumentation, with strings and harmonies building in intensity before dropping back to simpler arrangements.
- The lyrics often employ vivid imagery and personal anecdotes, creating a narrative thread that connects many of the songs.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- introspective moments of quiet reflection
- poignant storytelling for late nights
- rich instrumentation for focused listening
- emotional depth in concise tracks
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy party vibes
- prefer standalone hit singles
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Take It Like a Man is Amanda Shires' fifth studio album, released in 2022 after her critically acclaimed work on Goodnight, Coward in 2020. This album arrives at a moment when Shires is solidifying her voice as a significant figure in Americana music, following collaborations with notable artists such as Jason Isbell.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Brandi Carlile· Neko Case· Kacey Musgraves
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Hawk for the Dove 3:47
- 2 Take It Like a Man 4:31
- 3 Empty Cups 3:59
- 4 Don’t Be Alarmed 3:51
- 5 Fault Lines 2:56
- 6 Here He Comes 3:29
- 7 Bad Behavior 3:37
- 8 Stupid Love 3:17
- 9 Lonely at Night 4:12
- 10 Everything Has Its Time 3:33
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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