OneRepublic - 'Stop And Stare'
Oh great. Snow Patrol take a year off and NOW look what's happened. Here's OneRepublic with the same musical bag of tricks, only buried under even thicker layers of production sludge. And the interesting thing about this situation is it's very obvious that this is going to be a big hit. So pointing out the very clear similarities in style, tone, content, sound, point, usefulness and, and EVERYTHING is just going to irk the people who like it, and there's clearly quite a lot of them/you about.
After being soundly criticised last time for only giving the band three-out-of-five and saying they ended 'Apologize' like Coldplay ended 'In My Place' (neither of which are particularly terrible things to do in a music review. Just ask Enrique Iglesias), I've decided to give in and give the band a hearty slap on the back for a job well done. I mean why bother making trouble for yourself?
After all, this is clearly going to be another chart smash, why not join in the fun? It might be really comfy up there on that gravy train. I may even put my special gravy wellies on, so's not to spend the rest of the day smelling of wet meat. And if I take a slice or two of bread with me, I've got my lunch sorted out too.
So, here's a list of seven things which are AMAZING and not ENTIRELY DERIVATIVE OF OTHER THINGS about this song.
1: The way the melody basically consists of two or three tiny fragments of tune, which get repeated over different chords.
2: The enormous wobbly reverberations going on behind the band, as if they are playing in an enormous cave.
3: That metronomic, tick-tock feel, where the acoustic guitar and bass pound away at every beat with equal vigour. This gives the chorus all of its power. That's why the producers of American teen dramas really love songs like this. Not that there are any, of course. This is the only one.
4: When was the last time you heard a song which started quietly, got really REALLY LOUD, pulled back for the second verse, EXPLODED INTO ENORMOUS CACOPHONY, and then ended all quietly again? That's practically unheard of in this day and age.
5: Whale-noise guitar in the background. It's what the e-bow was invented for.
6: Oh I don't know. Something about the swoony hugeness, I dare say...
7: They do like that 'In My Place' ending, don't they?
There. Now please don't get aggressive again. I tried REALLY HARD. Here, have two extra stars, I'm off for a Bisto butty...
Download: Out now
CD Released: March 10th
(Fraser McAlpine)
Comments
i think ur song is class love amy xx
he he he! You're probably right not to stick your neck out. Thanks for the laugh!
hope you enjoyed the butty!
I'm not gonna criticise the so-called-critic (who all generally tend to be miserable with little appreciation for different music genres anyway), but I will say that the album as a whole is brilliant. But of course it all depends on what you like...
One republic's debut album is mainly Ryan Tedder's work; and you can tell they are actual interpretations of his own life experiences.
Ok, lets not get all pretentious about this...it is after all just a music album. If you are going to give it a critique though, best to put it into perspective.
Ryan Tedder has never made secret of the fact he's influenced heavily by british bands past and present - and for all the critics complaining about it all sounding too much like Keane, Coldplay or U2...uhh..isn't that what we call a 'kind of music' in the most basic sense?
No two songs on the album are alike, and yes sometimes you get a hint of U2, or Keane or Colplay, but hardly like one all the time. All these bands are very successful at producing big singalong light rock songs (which Tedder also admits to loving), and if you don't like it, then that's all fair and good. If you do though, then what's the issue?
What I will say though, is that the songs vary so much on the album that I have to dispute they follow the rule of little sound to loud chorus etc...I could name at least five songs on that album that rule nowhere near applies.
I'm fairly critical of new bands, and their likeness to other bands; but the one thing about one republic that cancels out any likeness to other bands is the lack of pretentiousness...they admit their influences, and those influences come through the album. In all though, Ryan Tedder is extremely smart in how he still makes the album sound completely their own...
[It's not an album review, it's a single review. They got three stars. That's 60%! - Fraser]
I wrote a fairly substancial comment but doesn't seem to be posting.
[It's up now. Sorry about that. - Fraser]
Just to say, its fair enough if you don't like that sort of music, but I think its a bit of a generalisation on what the songs on the album are like.
It's not 'more of the same' with respect to coldplay, keane and U2 (which ryan tedder has happily admitted being influenced by)...but more like 'similar kind of music'. You might hear hints, but each song is quite different from the rest, so it makes for a fairly individual sound in their own right.
Great album; like the lack of pretentiousness from this already fairly big american band...but if it's not your cup of tea, then I'm inclined to say thats down to personal taste rather than the quality of the album, which I reckon is fairly high.
Getting a bit tired of critics having a go at this wonderful band. So they make music that is actually listenable and not so pretentious that they have their own heads shoved up their bottoms (along with some critics).
Anyone who has seen OneRepublic live and that includes anyone who witnessed that ashtonishing Duffy cover on Jo Wiley's Live Lounge will know the towering talent that is OneRepublic, and if there's any criticism of Ryan Tedder's business brain, it's that he's far too honest with what he's aiming for. The same thing as ALL bands are - to reach and affect people with their music in an accessible way, it's just that Ryan tells it how it is. I applaud him for that, it's a refreshing outlook, and I don't think there is any doubt that Ryan and OneRepublic will be around for a very long time.
Sarcasm noted, as if you simply HATE songs that have any mass appeal??? While it's not in keep with all the trendy indie-bands right now in the UK (thank God)- I actually "appreciate" the fact that these guys aren't trying to be Radiohead or just make noise. Great melodies, great lyrics, classic songwriting- I think radio could use alot more of this band, would you rather have Soulja Boy or more girl groups? For an American rock band- I'm impressed
-J
[Haha! I'm not sure you can accuse me of hating songs with mass appeal AND suggest I have an over-fondness for girl groups, Jonathan. Unless you mean that I only like the girl groups who don't have mass success. - Fraser]
"and for all the critics complaining about it all sounding too much like Keane, Coldplay or U2...uhh..isn't that what we call a 'kind of music' in the most basic sense?"
The problem with more bands sounding like Coldplay is that even Coldplay sound too much like Coldplay. And yeah I like them for that because it's the kinda music you can use as background noise to stop silence bugging you when you're studying without it distracting you too much... it's so monotonous that you don't really hear it...
hi ya i luv 1 republic can u send mi a pic on mi email thanks luv ys bi.