Waking Up

Though best-known for their Timbaland-featured mega-smash, ‘Apologize’, OneRepublic’s success has almost been eclipsed by frontman Ryan Tedder – the brains behind the band – who has been churning out hits for the likes of Leona Lewis (‘Bleeding Love’), Beyoncé and Natasha Bedingfield, among others.

The second album from the Denver, Colorado outfit clearly seeks to put that to rights. Epic and anthemic for the most part, it certainly reaches for the stars. Virtually every track here comes with over-reaching instrumental and v ocal arrangements, breathtaking choruses and arena posturing. (“It’s like we’re chasing all those stars, driving shiny big black cars,” they sing at one point)

‘Made for You’ blends break-beats, pounding drums and a rousing chorus; the lead single ‘All The Right Moves’ mixes boy-band vocal mannerisms with martial rhythms; while the irresistibly catchy ‘Everybody Loves Me’ strongly recalls Beck’s slacker classic, ‘Loser’. Even the ballads are anything but low-key: it sounds like they’ve employed several massed-choirs and an orchestra on ‘All This Time’, while ‘Secrets’ is drowned in unnecessary cellos.

There are nods throughout to the likes of Coldplay, Radiohead, U2 and The Killers. You can argue that it’s more than a tad contrived in its appropriation of so many familiar styles, but there’s no denying Tedder’s way with a tune and ability to skillfully blend stadium rock with R&B