Wednesday, 24 July 2013

One Republic- Native Album Review


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Album- Native

Artist- One Republic

Breaking out into the music scene with their 2007 “Apologize” that was successfully remixed by Timbaland, One Republic have been a steady staple of the music scene with their infectious pop rock sound and upbeat kind of vibe paired with powerful hooks. This latest third studio album has been eagerly anticipated and potentially presents a change for the band, but is it a record that allows the band to continue to have success, or is it the end of the road?

Track 1- Counting Stars

Opening the record with this track sets up the euphoric and powerful sound of the record nicely. Here we find frontman Ryan Tedder singing about forgetting the material things of life and living in a dreamlike state of bliss, bringing an inspiring ideology that fits into One Republics persona. Vocally Tedder’s tone really sets the mood of the track and makes the dream like quality that the band is going for that but more believable, with only the pre chorus section being a moment where the vocal stumbles a little. The chorus is a simple chant along kind of quality that is a strong hook but isn’t extremely catchy, however the rhythm of the chorus does have that catchiness, and the bridge with its gospel like fast paced chanting makes for a strong final section. In terms of the production I was really happy with the way that the track starts out simply with a vocal, as this adds a little sense of drama and gives gravitas to what is being sung, even if it is a little cliché. Mainly the production is light with its flute like synthesisers, strong piano melodies and steady drum beat that give a happy tone to the track, even if it is not a strong sound.

3.5/5

Track 2- If I Lose Myself

The records second single is one that can easily sound like it is a euphoric love affair, but was surprisingly inspired by frontman Ryan Tedder’s latent fear of flying and tapping into that moment of fear when a plane goes down but also finding comfort in that the person next to you is having the same experience. Lyrically this comes through powerfully in the verses in terms of the life flashing before you tone, with the chorus being a powerfully simple, hook driven section that is extremely powerful and catchy. The vocals of the track are really strong, with the layering of the vocals in the chorus really giving the song a euphoric sensibility that is also backed powerfully by the chant along bridge section that makes for a get up and lose yourself finish. The tracks production is really strong, with simple but subdued and cool drumbeats and a strong electronic base that keeps in tone with the bands previous work but also shows how they are pushing themselves sonically, with the post chorus dance pop sections being particularly catchy enjoy the music moments. A great choice for a single and just an all-round great track.

5/5

Track 3- Feel Again

The first track of the record that was unveiled before the album’s release is a rousing, up tempo number with prominent gospel influences and a universal feel good message that is given potency by the tracks relation to the charity “Save the Children”. Lyrically the track is about coming back into your own and embracing life, with Tedder playing the role of a lonely man who learns to love again. The track has been compared to Florence+ the Machines “Dog Days Are Over”, and it is easy to see the comparisons, as the sound of this track with the percussion laden production of big drums, rousing guitars and tight vocal harmonies are of a similar style. But vocally Tedder brings a lighter quality to this track, and although up tempo and uplifting, the song also has a delicate and chilled edge that emphasises the bands eclectic musical palette.

4.5/5

Track 4- What You Wanted

A more mid tempo sound comes in the form of this steady paced but big sounding electronic based number. Here we find Tedder simply speaking of how he will do anything for this person, but only if that is what they wanted, and in terms of placement on the record it is cool in terms of kind of giving us a narrative, in that now he feels again he will do anything for this person. The track is clichéd but also has a light and strong tone with a twofold happy but subdued tone, almost implying a dark edge to what Tedder is singing potentially. The production is strong with a heavy bass and forceful drum beats that are backed by strong electronic undertones and make for a powerful sound that gives a note of sincerity to the track. The sincerity is also helped by the vocal performance, with Tedder placing nice stresses on the end of lines and giving a little bit of fragility in terms of vocal tone.

3.5/5

Track 5- I Lived

From the moment this track began on my first listen it really grabbed by attention, and it’s a strong example of how One Republic are amazing at crafting uplifting, hook laden pop tracks that you can really just love. The track is one of those anthems for the young and has a simple but strong lyrical message, with Tedder singing about how he hopes he and you can one day sing about how in life you owned every second of life and just really lived every day. It’s a clichéd message, but with the overall sound of the record the band can pull it off and loose the cheesiness of what they are saying. Rather they just create a rousing track which features cool synthesised beats and heavy drums that make for an uplifting tone. The guitar melodies of the verses compliment the verses really well and exemplify how the chorus for One Republic is definitely the core of the track. And vocally Tedder is very on point, with the harmonies of the chorus being particularly strong and the only issuing being the use of “o woah” in the bridge which are just a bit too stereotypical.

4/5

Track 6- Light It Up

Described by Tedder as the song that makes the band feel cooler, this is definitely the rocker, razor sharp moment of the record and is more gritty in tone and so offers a nice bit of diversity to the previous tracks. With big drums and great guitar riffs the track does indeed very cool and the stripped back, more natural sound is a welcome sound. Lyrically the track is all about just having fun and the hook very much symbolises the idea of reckless abandonment. However although the track is strong in sound the song’s lyrics are a little clichéd, and vocally the track is perhaps not helped by Tedder as his light tone clashes with the deeper sound, with the harmonization sounding over processed. However the track is saved at the end by a great guitar modulation that will get you exciting, and so it does work as the band’s opening the show number in its own way.

3/5

Track 7- Can’t Stop

This track is seemingly saved by producer Jeff Basker, as the band of spoken of how it almost didn’t make the album as it sounded not right on the record, until Jeff came in. The track definitely does sound different to their other songs, with harsher drum beats and a slightly darker tone. The song finds Tedder singing about how he can’t stop thinking about this relationship and how it is hurting to think about it. The songs mood is strong and the hook is very catchy, with the high key voice of Tedder’s bringing out the fragility of the track in a very nice way. However overall the song is a bit hit and miss vocally, as you can kind of enjoy it but at the same time it borders on annoying and feels over processed, particular when set against the production, which is easily the best part of the track as the overall fragile ideology is beautifully offset by the booming bass and cool piano melodies.

3.5/5

Track 8- Au Revoir

This down tempo number is dark and delicate side of One Republic that shows off the soulfulness of their music very nicely and exemplifies their powerful ability to create great songs. As far as the lyrical quality of the track goes, this is very much a simple heartbreak song that describes the breakdown of a relationship and the wish that something could happen to change this state. The message is simple but somehow doesn’t feel boring, and this is probably due to the production of the track with it’s steady drum beats, light violin instrumentation and small pockets of guitar riffs that just give that sombre, I am hurt tone but also make for a nice chilled listen. However, the vocals of the record are once again something where the band is let down a little bit, as Tedder’s strength lies in a higher key and so the song doesn’t perform to its full potential.

3.5/5

Track 9- Burning Bridges

This mid tempo pop ballad number is another state of heartbreak in which the listener can find Tedder singing about how he knows that he and this girl aren’t met to be and he now just wants to let go of those ties that bind them. Vocally here we find Tedder back on form, with the singer himself stating that this probably the song in which he “sings” the most. And this can be powerfully heard, with the songs hook being a strong declaration and the chorus being a powerful moment in which Tedder goes into a crazy high key. And with the simple but strong production with the cool electronic undertones and more prominent drum beats and guitar riffs, this definitely feels like a One Republic track and works well on the record in reminding us where this band has come from.

3.5/5

Track 10- Something I Need

Describe by Tedder as being the pub song for the band in terms of its closing time feel, this is a deep number that flips the idea of only living once and instead speaks lyrically of how you only die once and so Tedder wants to make sure that the person he dies with is the person he really wants to die with. The verses have a strong living life kind of imagery, whilst the hook is a rousing hook that does indeed sound like a great drunk singing kind of hook. Vocally Tedder is good and does have that kind of I’m just living for life kind of feeling, with the harmonization in the chorus having that great collective, people getting together and celebrating feel. The song starts off with simple acoustic guitar before being joined by drum beats and a more upbeat, forceful sound, and so by the end you will probably get caught up in the revelry, even if the statement is still a bit cliché. 

3.5/5

Track 11- Preacher

Inspired by Tedder’s relationship with his grandfather, who was a preacher, the lyrics of this track do have a touch of an autobiographical feel and tell the listener of how basically Tedder learnt many lessons through this man and how you can always count on faith. Vocally the track is really strong, with the contrast of the more delicate verses complimenting the powerful chorus, particularly when the choir joins Tedder in the background and the gospel influence really comes to the fore. The delicate strings and strong bassline give a steady but powerful rhythm and allows for the message of the track to come through more. However the problem with this song is that particularly lyrically as well as other ways it’s to stereotypical, and so it’s not an exciting listen.

3/5

Track 12- Don’t Look Down

The final track is a short affair that is very synth heavy and finds Tedder’s vocals heavily Auto Tuned to create and almost extra-terrestrial like sound as a whole. The track is quite lyrically sparse, but those lyrics that are present find Tedder singing to this person and singing of how they can’t look down, perhaps because they are so on top of the world and in love. The vocals of the track are also in this sense quite sparse, but are powerfully distorted to create a lasting impression. And the synth based, quite dominant production makes for a powerful finish to a record that has perhaps been all about being bold.

3.5/5

Final Review

Many people highlight the second studio album as one of the most difficult musical offerings for any music artist, but the third studio album is also equally as difficult, as you have to really kind of maintain a sense of longevity. After a kind of long wait from their previous record, One Republic have definitely produced an album that can ensure longevity as it is a bolder record that is sonically variant from previous efforts and shows that they are progressing as a group. The only problem with this record is that each track is good but as a whole the record can feel a little bit too similar and dragged out, and so it hinders its brilliance.

7/10

Best Track- If I Lose Myself

Worst Track- Preacher

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