
Onerepulic knows the main rule to making a great pop/rock song. Kill 'em with the chorus. If you listen to a lot of music, then you could probably pick out a Ryan Tedder song from the bunch. That's not really a bad thing, but he does have a distinct style, and while it gets tiresome when projected on other artists, it sounds right at home with this band. This album has all the ingredients that Onerepublic fans are familiar with. Killer strings, emotional inflection in the vocals, great musical variety, and big choruses. If you're looking for something completely different than Dreaming Out Loud, then you will be disappointed. With that being said, Waking Up is a better album. And a damn good one at that.
1. Made for You - A solid opener with an amazing piano breakdown in the middle. It's a good song, but they could have done without the choir at the end. Still, it was a neat intro for the next song.
2. All the Right Moves - This lead single is a good song with a catchy chorus. It's not the best song on the album by a long shot, but it's another solid tune.
3. Secrets - This song is everything you would expect from Onerepublic. Still, it's a hot song and one of my favorites. It's got a big, anthem like chorus and is sure to be a crowd pleaser at concerts, with hands waving in the air.
4. Everybody Loves Me - Roll the windows down and feel good to this one. It's got an edgy guitar, and it has the band veering away from their typical sounds that they've become known by. My mom heard this song and said "That doesn't sound like them!". Really like this one, and I played it to death when I first heard it.
5. Missing Persons 1 & 2 - This is tough to judge as one song because of the huge beat switch in the middle. It's pretty much like 2 songs in one. The first half is brilliant with an almost ethereal feel to it. The second half is cool with the new beat, but not as effective.
6. Good Life - This was my favorite song on the album before another took over that mantle very recently. But I love this song! It's so feel good and hopeful sounding, and the whistle going throughout is awesome. Love the chorus to pieces!
7. All This Time - This song right here. F**king beautiful!!! Favorite song on the album. It's very reflective and perfect for driving to. When the strings come in on top of the piano and drums in the middle, it's like magic. Big chorus. I can see lighters waving in the air to this song.
8. Fear - After such a high, we had to come back down to Earth unfortunately. I'm not saying this is a bad song, but it's not nearly as effective as it's trying to be. It just didn't do it for me.
9. Waking Up - The title track is one of the best! The guys get a little up beat for this one with a great chorus before coming down to some amazing instrumentation to ride out the track. Love it!
10. Marchin' On - Really strong track with a simple, pulsing bass drum going though the whole thing that'll have your heel tapping up and down. I'm sounding like a broken record now, but it has another big, catchy chorus.
11. Lullaby - I'm not saying this is a bad song, but I think they could have seriously come up with a better track to end the album on. This and "Fear" are the most skippable tracks on the album.
Onerepublic did what they should have done on their sophomore album. Come with the sound that fans have come to know and love from them, while at the same time, showing growth in other areas. There are many good songs on this album, a few of them even excellent, and while it isn't anything mind blowing, I'm glad to have it in my collection for when I need great road music.
Score: 8/10









