Back in the mid-1980s, Irish rock band U2 was on top of the world. Taking the mainstream music scene by storm, the group’s sound was refreshing, dynamic and excessively celebratory. While the Colorado-based OneRepublic may not have the same prestige at this point that U2 possessed in their heyday, they are most definitely made of the same stuff. They thrive on robust anthems, optimistic lyrics and grand instrumentals. You simply can’t help but feel good listening to OneRepublic. With their third album, “Native,” it is evident that the band will only continue to refine and expand their unique sound. Tedder exemplifies the tenacity and range of Bono while the band behind him echoes the likes of The Fray and Snow Patrol, only on a slightly grander scale.
Well-roundedness demonstrates ability to be musically diverse
“Native” is arguably their most well-rounded album in terms of the themes it explores and the tempos that fluctuate from track to track. The song “Can’t Stop” has a very electronic ‘90s feel to it, with a chorus that is guaranteed to get stuck in your head in the best of ways. The song “Burning Bridges” is likened to “Secrets” off of “Waking Up,” and is essentially the most obvious anthem of “Native” with a message of sacrificial love and letting go of old ties.
“Au Revoir” is my favorite, a slow and patient song that lulls the listener and shows off Tedder’s capacity to sing outside of his falsetto formula. The most unconventional track of them all is “Something’s Gotta Give,” a blend of strange chord progression and wild narrative concerning the heartbreak that ensues from failed romantic expectations.
These are but a few of the songs that make up one of the best albums in years from any band. So often an album will have its designated hits alongside other more mediocre tracks for cushion. You would be hard-pressed to find any song on “Native” in which Tedder and co. are not bringing their A-game.
Band history lends to developed style
As with most bands who suddenly and out of nowhere become radio-famous, OneRepublic has been around for quite some time. Forming back in early 2002, lead singer Ryan Tedder, guitarists Zach Filkins and Drew Brown, drummer Eddie Fisher and bassist Brent Kutzle launched the band on MySpace, where they became widely popular with a younger, Internet-based demographic. After releasing their hit single “Apologize” in 2007 — the Timbaland-produced version — OneRepublic became a household name almost overnight. They released their debut album “Dreaming Out Loud” shortly after, and then “Waking Up” in 2009, which featured the singles “All the Right Moves,” “Secrets” and the wildly popular “Good Life.”
Plain and simple, OneRepublic’s music makes you happy and instills great emotion. It’s just mainstream enough to be accessible to a majority audience, and just different enough to be appreciated by more reflective, intimate listeners. So many of their songs are radio-friendly, yet there are enough idiosyncratic dimensions to them that they stand apart from anything else on FM. Tedder and Filkins have been friends since high school in Colorado Springs and have had more than enough time to develop a style that works.
The U2 of our generation
OneRepublic boasts a sound that is rambunctious, heartfelt and pure. It isn’t a stretch to say that OneRepublic is, in a sense, the U2 of our generation — their relevance is matched only by their ability to promote imagination and good vibes. What’s more is that they do these things in honest ways, with lyrics that don’t sugarcoat pain but honor it as something real to grow through.
Happiness is not the band’s crutch but rather its catalyst. It allows them to make songs that can be enjoyed just as much on the radio amid mega-hits as on a rainy afternoon doing homework in the dorm. The group remains true to themselves as their career evolves into higher prominence, and while new ways of playing can help a band on its way, consistency is perhaps its greatest asset.
