OneRepublic: 'Say (All I Need)'

OneRepublic have failed to impress since their humongous 2007 hit 'Apologize'. The follow-up single 'Stop And Stare' pushed the same anthemic buttons, but lacked the 'wow' factor, while the album Dreaming Out Loud was a thoroughly drab affair. 'Say (All I Need)', the LP's opener, epitomises the band's lifeless and tiresome style.

Lead singer Ryan Tedder, a man who's crafted hits for everyone from Leona Lewis to J.Lo, undoubtedly knows his way around a recording studio, but his production skills have a tendency to smother the life out of his own songs. We're not asking for Pete Doherty-style rough-around-the-edges indie, but 'Say' sounds horribly mechanical and too calculated to actually enjoy. With lyrics drippier than a leaky tap and Tedder's vocals painfully devoid of charisma, the results are distinctly average.


> Click here for our review of OneRepublic's album