'What Makes a Man Start Fires?' is the second studio album by American punk band Minutemen, released in January 1983 by SST Records.
At almost twice the length of their previous album, 'The Punch Line', Minutemen's songs began surpassing the two-minute mark. Breaking another Minutemen record, the band took the longest time they took to date to record 'What Makes A Man Start Fires?'. The basic tracks were recorded in one late-night session, but then the band held two separate late-night sessions for guitar and vocal overdubs. Watt has said that he considers this to be Minutemen's "first real album."
While the songwriting credits are shared among all three Minutemen, all of the music for the album was composed exclusively by bassist Mike Watt; the bass-centered origins of the songs is especially apparent on such tracks as 'Bob Dylan Wrote Propaganda Songs', 'Sell Or Be Sold' and 'The Anchor'. All three members contributed lyrics.
Also for the first time on a Minutemen record, the band had a guest musician, Saccharine Trust guitarist Joe Baiza, who added improvised guitar leads to 'Beacon Sighted Through Fog' and 'East Wind/Faith'. Drummer George Hurley introduces his first non-drum percussion work on a Minutemen album, playing a collection of empty oil drums on 'East Wind/Faith'.
For what would be the only time on a Minutemen release, all of the lead vocals were sung exclusively by D. Boon, although Watt does contribute backing vocals.
Tracklisting:
Side A:
1. Bob Dylan Wrote Propaganda Songs
2. One Chapter in the Book
3. Fake Contest
4. Beacon Sighted Through Fog
5. Mutiny in Jonestown
6. East Wind/Faith
7. Pure Joy
8. 99
9. The Anchor
Side B:
10. Sell or Be Sold
11. The Only Minority
12. Split Red
13. Colors
14. Plight
15. The Tin Roof
16. Life as a Rehearsal
17. This Road
18. Polarity
