"Man-Sized Wreath" is the second track and third single from R.E.M.

R.E.M.

R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...

's fourteenth album Accelerate

Accelerate (R.E.M. album)

Accelerate is the 14th studio album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on March 31, 2008 in Europe, and on April 1 in North America. Produced with Jacknife Lee, Accelerate was intended as a departure from the 2004 album Around the Sun. R.E.M...

, released on August 11, 2008 in the UK. The single was announced after the band's Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...

 show on June 19, 2008, where footage of the upcoming music video was shown. The single is available as a digital download

Music download

A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...

 and a limited edition clear-colored 7" vinyl single. The b-side "Living Well Jesus Dog" is either a demo or early take of "Living Well Is the Best Revenge," and gets its title from a comment Peter Buck

Peter Buck

Peter Lawrence Buck , is an American rock guitarist who is best known for playing in and co-founding alternative rock band R.E.M....

 makes at the beginning of the track as to whether or not Jesus had a dog, which prompts Michael Stipe

Michael Stipe

John Michael Stipe is an American singer and lyricist. He was the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.Stipe is noted and occasionally parodied for the "mumbling" style of his early career as well as his social and political activism. He was in charge of R.E.M.'s visual image; often...

 to joke they should name the new album

Accelerate (R.E.M. album)

Accelerate is the 14th studio album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on March 31, 2008 in Europe, and on April 1 in North America. Produced with Jacknife Lee, Accelerate was intended as a departure from the 2004 album Around the Sun. R.E.M...

 "Did Jesus Have a Dog?"

Before the performance of "Man Sized Wreath" during R.E.Ms live show at the Olympia Theatre

Olympia Theatre

The Olympia Theatre may be:* Olympia Theatre, Dublin* Olympia Theatre, New York* Olympia Theater and Office Building in Miami, Florida, USA* Paris Olympia...

 in Dublin, 2007, Michael Stipe

Michael Stipe

John Michael Stipe is an American singer and lyricist. He was the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.Stipe is noted and occasionally parodied for the "mumbling" style of his early career as well as his social and political activism. He was in charge of R.E.M.'s visual image; often...

 commented "This next, new song will not be on our next record". Peter Buck

Peter Buck

Peter Lawrence Buck , is an American rock guitarist who is best known for playing in and co-founding alternative rock band R.E.M....

 then responds "It's a little early to make that call".

Music video

The video is produced by CRUSH Inc., a graphic-design and production studio based in Toronto

Toronto

Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...

, who also created the video for previous single "Hollow Man

Hollow Man (song)

"Hollow Man" is the fourth track and second single from R.E.M.'s fourteenth album Accelerate. The music video was created by Crush Inc., a graphic-design and production studio based in Toronto, and posted on the band's website on April 23, 2008. The single was released in the UK on June 2, 2008...

." Some footage of the video was shown during the band's June 19 concert at Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...

.

The video revolves around a man being followed by various block-shaped figures, said to represent the media.

Track listing

7" single (W807)

1. "Man-Sized Wreath" – 2:32
2. "Living Well Jesus Dog" – 4:21

Digital download

1. "Man-Sized Wreath" – 2:32
2. "Living Well Jesus Dog" – 4:21
3. "Mr. Richards" (Live in Vancouver) – 3:54