Release Date: (November 11, 2007)
Label: Interscope Records
Producer: Ryan Tedder

December  Hotel 
Overall Rating:  +++  

(Say (All I Need)

You may have heard their song "Apologize" on the radio a few times or noticed that they have been the number one band on MySpace for the past two years now. Pretty good for a band that has only just released their first album.

"Dreaming Out Loud" is OneRepublic's first CD and was officially released on Nov 20. The album features the hit "Apologize" in its original version, the "Apologize" that cycles on the radio constantly is a remix featuring Timbaland. The track features piano and even cello, with drums that are a light beat in the background. Ryan Tedder, lead vocals/guitar/piano/songwriter and also record producer, sounds great singing the heart touching lyrics.

Tedder was the man to start up OneRepublic back in 2006 when he and high school friend Zach Filkins, guitar/vocals, began playing around with music in Colorado Springs, Colo. They have come a long way since, recruiting the remaining members along their journey into the music industry. Eddie Fisher provides the kick and boom with percussion, Drew Brown plays guitar, Brent Kutzle jams on bass and the cello as well as giving some background vocals too.

"Dreaming Out Loud" starts off with the song "Say (All I Need)" that in a way sounds like "Apologize" with the same beat and dreamy vocals. It's the perfect song to open up this album since it accurately sets up how the rest of the CD will sound. Throughout the album, the songs feature emotional lyrics sung over calm melodies and slow tempos.

The CD showcases 13 tracks with the last one being the Timbaland remix version of "Apologize." The songs flow nicely into each other and they are the ideal songs to listen to for anyone who loves the sappy rock scene. If you love bands like The Fray and Aqualung, you will most definitely fall in love with OneRepublic once you listen to this album.

Although they may seem like just another typical rock/pop band, OneRepublic really has its own sound. It's hard to think that anyone who has collaborated with an R&B artist on a song might sound any different from that one hit track, but this is not the case with OneRepublic. As heard from their songs on the album, they like to change up their instruments a lot and this gives the band freedom from being too harshly placed into one genre.

For example, the song "Won't Stop" shows off vocal abilities that soar up into the higher ranges most rock singers only think they can reach. The song also features plenty of strings and piano that make the song sound classier.

There are definitely themes throughout the songs including battling what you want versus what you have, why you are not where you want to be in life and of course love with heartache in general.

From the Tedder himself off the band's official Web site, "If I'm not getting goosebumps when I write the chorus, then others aren't going to either. I want that 'hair standing on end' feeling. They may have simple melodies but our songs are about real life. It's complexity wearing the mask of simplicity."
 

~ Kaylah Baca