Around The Sun
by R.E.M.

This is really underrated. Alright, it's not their best, but it does contain, leaving new York, a genuine REM classic. One complaint i hear is that the album is too plodding, but I think that adds to the experience of it, instead of taking it away. There are some really good songs here. I've already mentioned the best track, but other stand outs are, I wanted to be wrong, which wouldn't have been out of place on Automatic for the people, there's the excellent, the boy in the well and the electronica of, electron blue. I'm not a great fan of wanderlust which sounds like she's electric, and, high speed train, is ok, but it's certainly not a bad album, much better than, collapse into now, seven years down the line. Other tracks like, the outsiders, aftermath, and, the ascent of man, are all good songs. REM were obviously past their best at this point, but they certainly weren't over the hill. An overlooked album, worth a second glance.

It has taken me fifteen years of listening to this album fairly regularly to recognize Boy in the Well as the epic it has revealed itself to be to me. Is there any other song where Michael Stipe shows his vulnerability more, through not only the lyrics but their delivery? (Only The Wrong Child comes to mind). I have learned to understand that the lyrics could apply to admitting your homosexuality and leaving your unsupportive family for an adopted "family" of friends, not just leaving a lover in a depressing town, as I understood it for years. Knowing a bit about Michael Stipe's private life, this explains why the delivery seems so heartfelt and personal. Other standouts on this album are Leaving New York, Electron Blue, The Outsiders, Aftermath and Final Straw. Basically half the album is great. The other half, not so much...

The worst album R.E.M. ever made. It's not as horrible as you would think listening to the critics, but it is actually disappointing if compared to the rest of their discography. Most of this is dued not to the songs (they have done better, but many are good), but to he sound direction, too layered in my opinion.

I love this album. But the thing is, I am the only REM fan to do so. Leaving New York and The Ascent Of Man are amongst REM's best songs, and not far off are Electron Blue, Boy In The Well, Aftermath, The Worst Joke Ever and the title-track. The only weaknesses this album displays are High Speed Train and the second half of The Outsiders. Please, if you are an REM fan and you like this album, tell me.

REM themselves have berated this album

And general consensus is that it is substandard for them

However - I love this album and choose to play it more often than some of their other 'classics'

I would bin 'wanderlust' but otherwise I think all the songs are well crafted and 'leaving New York ' is one of their best ever.

Give it a listen - it's not as bad as you'd think