Post Description

"The Outsiders" features a guest appearance by rapper Q-Tip, recalling a similar appearance by KRS-One on "Radio Song" from the band's 1991 album Out of Time. When performed live, Michael Stipe carries out the rap, as he does on a later b-side release of the song.

"Final Straw" is a politically charged song, reminiscent in tone of "World Leader Pretend" on Green (though Stipe has often mentioned the latter's very personal lyrical themes of "using military terms to describe a battle within.")[citation needed] The version on the album is a remix of the original version, which was made available as a free download on March 25, 2003 from the band's website. The song was written as a protest of the American government's actions in the Iraq War.

Around the Sun is also the first R.E.M. album to contain a title track.

   1. "Leaving New York" ? 4:49
   2. "Electron Blue" ? 4:12
   3. "The Outsiders" (feat. Q-Tip) ? 4:14
   4. "Make It All Okay" ? 3:43
   5. "Final Straw" ? 4:06
   6. "I Wanted to Be Wrong" ? 4:34
   7. "Wanderlust" ? 3:04
   8. "Boy in the Well" ? 5:22
   9. "Aftermath" ? 3:52
  10. "High Speed Train" ? 5:03
  11. "The Worst Joke Ever" ? 3:37
  12. "The Ascent of Man" ? 4:07
  13. "Around the Sun" ? 4:29