Well not exactly, but you remember bands such as Creed, Nickleback, the Goo Goo Dolls, Good Charlotte, Hootie and the Blowfish and Matchbox 20?  Of course you do, for better or worse (more worse than better).  Well if you combine all of these band's songs, it will sound remarkably similar to One Republic's new album.  It is called manufactured American pop rock.  More appropriately, and depressingly, it is American Christian pop rock.  If the CD's acknowledgements are anything to go buy, you would be surprised at the extent of the Almighty's 'hand' in the production of this album.

Unfair maybe, but for the English audience familiar with the song, "Apologise", that by sheer miracle managed to reach the top-five UK singles chart, I am sure you know what I am talking about.  I wonder what would happen if you put Nickleback and One Republic in the room together.  One shudders at the prospect of a "jam-on" between the two bands.  Disappointingly, there is no doubt that you will be hearing more of One Republic in the next few years, on the airwaves, MTV, advertisements and even, God forbid, movies.

One Republic's lyrics are particularly offensive, with such gems as the following permeating throughout their offerings:

"I swear it's you,
I swear it's you (I swear it's you),
I swear it's you that I've waited for,
And I swear it's you,
I swear it's you (I swear it's you),
I swear it's you that my heart beats for,
And it ain't gonna stop, just won't stop".

Brilliant stuff. 

One Republic are really in danger of entering the realms of John Lennon's song writing ability there.  Despite this, it hurts me to say it but songs such as "Prodigal" are blandly appealing.  Well maybe that is, until you hear it on the radio one hundred times in the space of four weeks (by which time you will want to reach for your ipod and find a better place).

This is an album for the screaming teenage fan-base of One Republic only.

 3/10