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Album Review
Let's get
this out of the way right from the start - sophomore slump? OneRepublic? Uh,
no. It doesn't take but a few minutes of their latest, "Waking Up," to show
these guys have gotten better and are far from done. It's a hell of a lot
more engrossing of a record, taking a page from recent work of Eye Alaska
more than anything these guys have done in the past, but the change suits
One Republic's abilities.
The move to dense sound and layered atmospherics leads to an overtly massive
sound, a statement that could be used to describe most every song on
"Waking Up." The boys obviously took a detail oriented approach with this album, and
a couple years worth of that kind of workmanship certainly has paid off. Not
to mention one of the best pop producers in Timbaland manning your mixing
board helps as well. On a side note, for those that don't know, the
singer/producer lending his talents to the band debut "Dreaming Out Loud"
and remixed their uber-smash hit single "Apologize" for his "Timbaland
Presents Shock Value" disc. He will also be including "Marchin' On" on his
next disc, "Timbaland Presents Shock Value II."
With "Waking Up" he amplifies their sound, adding a dense stratum to their
songs through towering drum build ups, effectual piano strokes, and sweeping
string movements. The argument could be made that "Waking Up" has more than
one flagship track, even though lead single "All the Right Moves" has be
close to the front of the pack. "Everybody Loves Me," "Good Life" and
"Secrets" also are near the head of the class, just going to show the sheer
merit and overall sheen of radio airplay that "Waking Up" boasts. A lot of
the albums success has a lot to do with frontman Ryan Tedder's continued
vocal presence, a staunch swagger with a lasting effect, something felt
throughout the record. Oh, and the hooks are phenomenal.
OneRepublic have always been good at putting together songs that just beg to
be sung, and fans shouldn't have any problems immersing themselves into
"Waking Up" and its massively sing-able tracks. This is a groove orientated
record that will have OneRepublic right back in the mix as a force at
mainstream radio. The idea of a sophomore slump has to be discussed for most
every band releasing their second disc, especially a band so popular s quick
as OneRepublic, but a listen to "Waking Up," it is clearly evident the
phrase sophomore slump and OneRepublic should not be mentioned in the same
breath.
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Brian Campbell
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