To be honest, I'm not sure what made me buy this album. I guess I'd heard "All the Right Moves" and dug the overall sound [heavy on the drums, touches of cello, etc.]. I don't own "Dreaming Out Loud", but of course I've heard the singles from it [Apologize, Stop and Stare, All I Need] many times on the radio. I wasn't *quite* sure what to expect when I bought the follow-up, "Dreaming Out Loud". After I listened to it the first time, I needed a few days to let it sink in before I could form an opinion.

Well, after owning and listening to this album for several weeks now, I am absolutely in love with it. It's like one of those great movies that you can watch over and over and discover something new about it every time. One Republic blends everything good from the history and various genres of music and creates work that is both current and catchy, while being complex, touching and [ultimately] classic. I'm struck by how their songs can be simultaneously funky and symphonic, inspirational, and achieve a depth that you would NEVER, EVER find on the vast majority of pop albums out today. They leave "artists" (and I use the term lightly) like Britney Spears and Black-eyed Peas in the dust, and rise to the ranks of true musical icons like U2. In fact, the title rack "Waking Up" could FLAWLESSLY slip into a place on any U2 album and fans of either band would not be disappointed.

What I'm noticing with the [few] people who don't care for this album and gave it only 1 or 2 stars is they are likely used more mainstream "pop" albums, and "Dreaming out Loud" (based on the singles released) was a little more of the radio-ready/traditional/safe type of music people are accustomed to hearing. However, "Waking Up"(in my opinion) goes deeper and further than that, and really shows off what Ryan Tedder and the group are capable of, which is nothing short of musical genius. What you have here is a band whose success is not anchored by having a hot lead singer or hot single you can blast at your next party - they are the real deal, they understand music as a whole (as evidenced by the vast variety of artists Tedder has produced songs for), and I hope they stay around for a looooong time, because they deserve to.

Favorite tracks:

Good Life - you can't listen to this song and not feel happy

Secrets - one of those classic power ballads that will get stuck in your head

All This Time - sweet and emotional love song that builds to a BEAUTIFUL instrumental break towards the end

Marchin' On - inspiring, great beat, gets me to push a little harder on the treadmill

Everybody Loves Me - funky, Southern-rock infused ditty satirizing self-absorbed people

I'm really loving this album. I loved their first one, and love this one just as much, if not more. Each and every song is an extraordinary musical experience. To get the full effect of the album though, it really helps to listen to it all in sequence. Each song helps strengthen the others. It's almost like a live show more than a CD. Awesome job OneRepublic!!!

I'm not that big on the music industry, especially since the industry has converted to hip hop and the last decent group that I jumped into were groups like Train and Owl City. However, I'll be the first to admit that Rock and Alternative Pop looks to be coming back. While OneRepublic's debut album wasn't all that great, they managed to kick it up a few belts and produced one of the best albums I have heard in a long time.

OneRepublic's "Waking Up" has more than a few good songs on it. With such tracks as "All the Right Moves," "Secrets," "Good Life,"

Fear" and "Made for You" are all good tracks that deserve a listen to.

If you're looking for an album to purchase and one that doesn't have the obligatory 2 good songs and the rest are crap then give this album a try. It's rare that an album that comes along and features more good songs on it than bad songs. If you're a fan of groups like Train, Owl City and Five for Fighting, then give these guys a try. It's well worth it.

After a very tough year and a sequence of accidents and incidents that finally made me crash emotionally, I was recently diagnosed with depression. Feeling lonely and helpless I struggled for over 4 weeks to shake it off, reason with myself and get myself back to normal again.

I received this CD in the mail yesterday from a mystery friend who seemed to have noticed me from a distance that I had shut myself out from the world but needed help. There was no note, no name of the sender but the music and lyrics said it all... touched my heart heart, and uplifted my sprits. For the first time in months, I woke up feeling positive, hopeful and ready to open myself to world and find the joy and love for life again. I had never heard of this group before, but this is music that touches the soul. It made me feel loved and really woke me up to a world full of love, kindness and beautiful souls - just the way I knew it before.

I hope my mystery friend reads this and knows how thankful and deeply moved I am. The holiday season is upon us and amidst all the celebrations there are many who a lonely and have no one to celebrate with. If music is one of their passions, this CD is just the perfect way to pay it forward and make someone feel loved. I am awake now and ready to spread the love and the joy of music again. Having experienced the healing with this precious gift of soul stirring music, the only way I can truly thank my mystery friend is by pay it forward. I hope anyone who has read this review will feel inspired to do the same after reading this... if it did we are "Marching on...". Love n peace to all.

One Republic's "Waking Up" was a refreshing surprise. Brilliantly written modern urban-rock songs that demonstrate rock is not going to die quietly. In fact, I believe One Republic has set the standard to how modern rock should be played today. Each song brings an interesting concept to the listener; with enough twists and diversity that balances the musical hooks just enough to keep the CD on the art-rock side of the equation rather than candy-pop.

The song tracks blend into each other, very much like a concept album; but, there is an inconsistent sound production throughout the CD. Not as bad as Brian Eno's miserable production qualities (IMO) heard on Coldplay or U2. In those recordings, the vocals are buried into the music. One Republic's singer, Ryan Tedder, can be clearly heard.

The first time I heard "Good Life" was on "The Voice," when Tedder sang it with contestant Beverly McClellan and I loved the song along with their performance. Another side note, Ryan Tedder co-wrote two great songs on Adele's 21 CD (Rumour Has It and Turning Tables). He is a superb songwriter.