AMG Review of Waking Up

Stephen Thomas Erlewine
All Music Guide

OneRepublic adds many production flourishes to their second album Waking Up: sawing strings, children's choirs, minor-key piano, cavernous U2 reverb, long ponderous instrumental sections of piano and orchestra duets, a title track that bears echoes of the Killers. Despite all these new additions, OneRepublic’s calling card remains Ryan Tedder’s blend of atmospheric modern rock and rhythmic modern R&B affectations, creating a coolly slick collection of power ballads of love lost and won.