# Man Sized Action > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Man_Sized_Action > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Man_Sized_Action.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_Sized_Action > Source revision: 1333115570 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Man Sized Action** was a [post-punk](/source/Post-punk) group from [Minneapolis](/source/Minneapolis). John Leland of *[Trouser Press](/source/Trouser_Press)* described the band as an "unpretentious lot" in the vein of [Hüsker Dü](/source/H%C3%BCsker_D%C3%BC) who "opened up punk structures with distorted, ringing guitar, some off-kilter rhythms and ... a neanderthal, propulsive attack to fundamentally poppy songs."[1] Influential musician and producer [Steve Albini](/source/Steve_Albini) of [Big Black](/source/Big_Black) called them "one of the finest bands in Minneapolis or anywhere."[2] ## Career Man Sized Action was formed by vocalist Patrick Woods, guitarist Tom "Tippy" Roth, bassist Kelly Linehan, and drummer Tony Pucci, all part of the same punk-rock scene that spawned [Hüsker Dü](/source/H%C3%BCsker_D%C3%BC).[3] Their sound was influenced by [Wire](/source/Wire_(band)) and [Mission of Burma](/source/Mission_of_Burma), setting them apart from other Minnesota hardcore bands by adding stronger melody and pop structures.[4] The band's first gig was in 1981, a seven-song set put together only a few weeks after all four musicians had first learned to play their instruments. Nevertheless, they developed a following which included Albini, who praised their music as "the sort of sound that comes about spontaneously, devoid of mimicry."[5] The band released two records in 1983 and 1984. The band drew on its Hüsker Dü connections for debut record *Claustrophobia*, which was produced by [Bob Mould](/source/Bob_Mould) and featured an album cover designed by [Grant Hart](/source/Grant_Hart).[6] Second guitarist [Brian Paulson](/source/Brian_Paulson) joined for 1984's *Five Story Garage*. *Five Story Garage'*s distinctive cover art was the result of an unintentional error in preparation for the four-color printing process. Both albums, as well as two compilations on which the band appeared, were released by [Reflex Records](/source/Reflex_Records).[7] The band broke up amicably in 1984 when Pucci left Minneapolis for college, but reunited several times for reunion shows in subsequent years,[3] including an annual Christmas show that gathers many 1980s-era Minneapolis punk bands.[8] Kelly Linehan later played bass with Dragnet. Paulson became a [record producer](/source/Record_producer) best known for albums by [Slint](/source/Slint), [Uncle Tupelo](/source/Uncle_Tupelo), [Son Volt](/source/Son_Volt) and [Wilco](/source/Wilco). ## Critical reception *[Trouser Press](/source/Trouser_Press)'* Leland wrote that *Claustrophobia* "sets up powerful grooves, but never escapes its murky dynamic." He called *Five Story Garage* an improvement, saying that it "generates a surge of momentum that threatens to explode its punky pop hooks, making the album fast, powerful and surprisingly accessible."[1] Writing in the zine *Matter*, [Albini](/source/Steve_Albini) criticized *Claustrophobia* as "raw and thin", lacking depth, but praised the record's "huge killer songs with balls as big as houses treading the water between [Mekons](/source/The_Mekons)/[Fall](/source/The_Fall_(band))-styled practiced amateurishness and [Joy Division](/source/Joy_Division)/[Wire](/source/Wire_(band))-styled controlled creepiness."[5] Jim Fitzsimons of the *[Tampa Bay Times](/source/Tampa_Bay_Times)* praised the band's "swirling guitars and driving beat", calling the two albums "good ol' Minneapolis do-it-yourself punk rock."[6] ## Albums - *Claustrophobia* ([Reflex](/source/Reflex_Records)) 1983 - *Five Story Garage* (Reflex) 1984 ## Compilations - *Barefoot and Pregnant* v/a compilation CD (Reflex) (1998) - "Yea!", "Everybody's Happy", "Pressure Relief", "I Hit Girls" - *Kitten: A Compilation* v/a compilation CD (Reflex) (1999) - "Only You", "Self-respect" ## References 1. Leland, John. ["Man Sized Action"](https://trouserpress.com/reviews/man-sized-action/). *[Trouser Press](/source/Trouser_Press)*. Retrieved 2020-10-21. 1. Albini, Steve (1985). ["Tired of Ugly Fat?"](http://www.dementlieu.com/users/obik/arc/other/misc_tiredfat11.html). *Matter*. No. 11. Retrieved 2020-10-30. 1. Riemenschneider, Chris (2012-12-20). ["Local music notes: Man Sized Action reunites, WIB drops 'Damn' good CD"](https://www.startribune.com/local-music-notes-man-sized-action-reunites-wib-drops-damn-good-cd/184303281/). *[Star Tribune](/source/Star_Tribune)*. Retrieved 2020-10-30. 1. Albini, Steve (1985). ["Man Sized Action"](http://www.dementlieu.com/users/obik/arc/other/msa_matter10.html). *Matter*. No. 10. Retrieved 2020-10-30. 1. Fitzsimons, Jim (2014-12-14). ["Never Found in the '80s: Man Sized Action"](https://www.tampabay.com/never-found-in-the-80s-man-sized-action/2210190/). *[Tampa Bay Times](/source/Tampa_Bay_Times)*. Retrieved 2020-10-21. 1. Tony Peart. ["Reflex Records - Discography"](http://www.geocities.com/soho/museum/7147/refdisc.html). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080401171832/http://www.geocities.com/soho/museum/7147/refdisc.html) 2008-04-01 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2008-10-09. 1. Riemenschneider, Chris & Bream, Jon (2018-12-14). ["Twin Cities concerts of the week: Atmosphere, Lil Skies, the Steeles"](https://www.startribune.com/twin-cities-concerts-of-the-week-atmosphere-lil-skies-the-steeles/502716872/). *[Star Tribune](/source/Star_Tribune)*. Retrieved 2020-11-09. ## External links - [http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/card/0,,515998,00.html](http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/card/0,,515998,00.html) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Man Sized Action](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_Sized_Action) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_Sized_Action?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.