New Vibrations: OneRepublic
Waking Up
Before OneRepublic, Ryan Tedder was better known as a songwriter and producer. In 2007, he and high school friend Zach Filkins caught the attention of Timbaland with their song "Apologize," which spawned a platinum-selling hook-up and record deal.
The resulting album Dreaming Out Loud featured hit singles such as "Stop and Stare" and "Say (All I Need)." It was this album and various other side projects that turned OneRepublic into a household name.
They toured with Maroon 5 and Brandi Carlisle and performed "Apologize" on American Idol. Fame was within reach.
Fast forward to Nov. 17, 2009. Their sophomore album Waking Up showcases the band's growth up and away from the hip-hop scene, though members retain the best of that genre in their sound.
Tedder's experience with production clearly puts the group at an advantage - the album oozes slick effects and beautiful vocal layering.
OneRepubic seems to rely not only on the traditional band instruments - guitar, bass, drums - but also on the less predictable ones.
With the exception of drummer Eddie Fisher, each member of the quintet is a multi-instrumentalist. Glockenspiel, viola and cello are just some of the less-traditional instruments that the album showcases.
Strings particularly contribute heavily in OneRepublic's sound, often taking the place of guitars and bass in effect. At one point, the band features an organ. Make no mistake though, despite the use of more classical arrangements, Waking Up is very much a radio-friendly album.
The pop appeal can be attributed perhaps to that juxtaposition with hip-hop beats beneath piano and viola runs. Tedder uses these rhythms to create a universal appeal that gets toes tapping.
Add in a proclivity for cadenced, singsong verses and the occasional urge to beatbox and you've achieved OneRepublic's signature sound. Layers of vocal harmonies, beats and classical canonical structure make up the majority of the album and create a one-of-a-kind experience.
That is not to say the album is perfect Â- the very thing that makes this record so good is also its major downfall.
At times the songs seems overproduced, disingenuous and overwhelming. OneRepublic relies too much upon the string section, or any non-traditional instrument for that matter, to bring depth and perspective. The drums carry the "rock" sound, but the guitar and bass often get lost beneath the layers of production and effects.
Singles include "All the Right Moves" and "Everybody Loves Me." The former starts with an organ vibrato that complements Tedder's soaring voice.
The most interesting part of the song comes from the drum parts, which mimic the stuttered phrases of the hip-hop genre. The lyrics speak of disillusionment, with Tedder singing, "Do you think I'm special? Do you think I'm nice? / Am I bright enough to shine in your spaces?"'
Likewise, "Everybody Loves Me" makes reference to Julius Caesar and his assassination at the hands of Brutus: "Hail Caesar, shadow on my backseat / and her friends are standing right in front of me."
One can only wonder what woman encouraged such malice from Tedder. The upbeat, quirky melody contrasts with his bitterness even as he sings the chorus, ironically, "Everybody loves me."
Other songs to download include "Good Life," which offers acoustic guitar, whistling and a lovely breakdown that showcases Tedder's voice and the percussion. Waking Up, the title track, may be the best song on the album.
Although the intro and outro are perfect examples of overproduction, the rest of the song epitomizes the band with its sweeping vocals and distinct rock sound.
A strikingly simple song for the majority of its duration in terms of effects, Waking Up hits all the right notes and leaves a lasting impression.
The resulting album Dreaming Out Loud featured hit singles such as "Stop and Stare" and "Say (All I Need)." It was this album and various other side projects that turned OneRepublic into a household name.
They toured with Maroon 5 and Brandi Carlisle and performed "Apologize" on American Idol. Fame was within reach.
Fast forward to Nov. 17, 2009. Their sophomore album Waking Up showcases the band's growth up and away from the hip-hop scene, though members retain the best of that genre in their sound.
Tedder's experience with production clearly puts the group at an advantage - the album oozes slick effects and beautiful vocal layering.
OneRepubic seems to rely not only on the traditional band instruments - guitar, bass, drums - but also on the less predictable ones.
With the exception of drummer Eddie Fisher, each member of the quintet is a multi-instrumentalist. Glockenspiel, viola and cello are just some of the less-traditional instruments that the album showcases.
Strings particularly contribute heavily in OneRepublic's sound, often taking the place of guitars and bass in effect. At one point, the band features an organ. Make no mistake though, despite the use of more classical arrangements, Waking Up is very much a radio-friendly album.
The pop appeal can be attributed perhaps to that juxtaposition with hip-hop beats beneath piano and viola runs. Tedder uses these rhythms to create a universal appeal that gets toes tapping.
Add in a proclivity for cadenced, singsong verses and the occasional urge to beatbox and you've achieved OneRepublic's signature sound. Layers of vocal harmonies, beats and classical canonical structure make up the majority of the album and create a one-of-a-kind experience.
That is not to say the album is perfect Â- the very thing that makes this record so good is also its major downfall.
At times the songs seems overproduced, disingenuous and overwhelming. OneRepublic relies too much upon the string section, or any non-traditional instrument for that matter, to bring depth and perspective. The drums carry the "rock" sound, but the guitar and bass often get lost beneath the layers of production and effects.
Singles include "All the Right Moves" and "Everybody Loves Me." The former starts with an organ vibrato that complements Tedder's soaring voice.
The most interesting part of the song comes from the drum parts, which mimic the stuttered phrases of the hip-hop genre. The lyrics speak of disillusionment, with Tedder singing, "Do you think I'm special? Do you think I'm nice? / Am I bright enough to shine in your spaces?"'
Likewise, "Everybody Loves Me" makes reference to Julius Caesar and his assassination at the hands of Brutus: "Hail Caesar, shadow on my backseat / and her friends are standing right in front of me."
One can only wonder what woman encouraged such malice from Tedder. The upbeat, quirky melody contrasts with his bitterness even as he sings the chorus, ironically, "Everybody loves me."
Other songs to download include "Good Life," which offers acoustic guitar, whistling and a lovely breakdown that showcases Tedder's voice and the percussion. Waking Up, the title track, may be the best song on the album.
Although the intro and outro are perfect examples of overproduction, the rest of the song epitomizes the band with its sweeping vocals and distinct rock sound.
A strikingly simple song for the majority of its duration in terms of effects, Waking Up hits all the right notes and leaves a lasting impression.
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