Pump it up: four albums to help you dominate your workout

Men's Fitness, Nov, 2004 by Brian O'Connor

We picked our favorite recent releases to amp up each segment of your workout. Crank these up to 11.

1. Warm-up

What you want: Blood flowing to muscle groups.

We recommend: The Roots, The Tipping Point (Geffen). Chill hip-hop beats are great for getting your body in rhythm.

2. Pumping Iron

What you want: Aggressive attitude and energy.

We recommend: Metallica, Some Kind of Monster EP (Elektra). Psyches you up to jump in, push as hard as you can, and kick these weights' ass.

3. Cardio

What you want: Beal boredom by mixing up speeds.

We recommend: Guided by Voices, Half Smiles of the Decomposed (Matador). The fist-pumping drives will turn your juice up, while the mellow songs make for a smooth tempo.

4. Cool-down

What you want: Your body to know the workout is done and it's time to heal thyself.

We recommend: Citizen Cope, The Clarence Greenwood Recordings (RCA). The down-tempo tunes will relax you without putting you to sleep.