After four years out of the game, Colorado band OneRepublic comes back strong with uplifting lyrics and catchy melodies in their third studio album, “Native.”

Lead singer Ryan Tedder has been away from the band lately, making his mark behind the scenes in the music industry.  He has written for and produced some of the biggest names on the radio, including Adele, Gavin DeGraw, Maroon 5 and Kelly Clarkson.  However, the band got back to work in 2012 and has put out a 12-track record full of big sounds and more meaningful lyrics than previously heard on their first two albums.

In the music industry today, many artists fall by the wayside because of their inability, or unwillingness, to adapt and evolve with the ever-changing Top 40.  What is significant about “Native” is that OneRepublic has been able to morph with the times. 

Their premiere album “Dreaming Out Loud” was defined by prominent piano notes and simple arrangements, but they have come a long way with their style and have proved they are able to innovate and create the best possible listener experience. 

The album opens with “Counting Stars,” which blends Tedder’s signature falsetto with a heavy bass drum and a catchy chorus.   Sounding like a crossover between an Imagine Dragons and Michael Jackson song, this track is a good representation of the versatility you will find on the album.

The lead single “Feel Again,” was released back in August to raise money for Save the Children’s Every Beat Matters campaign. (Fun fact: a human heartbeat was actually used in the making of the song). The band was hoping to make a difference instead of simply putting out more music. This partnership with Save the Children was a great way to do just that. Tedder said a lot of inspiration for the song came from gospel melodies and harmonies, which make this very different from every other song he’s written. 

The song peaked at No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 but gained immense popularity in Europe, making its way to No. 9.

The rest of the album contains a great variety of sounds, but there are also tracks like “Au Revoir,” which remind us of OneRepublic’s pop rock roots. The orchestral instruments and piano-central nature of this piece is how Tedder and co. have made their mark and built a strong fan base. 

OneRepublic did not disappoint with their latest release. The uplifting lyrics are refreshing in a time when the radio is inundated by gloomy tales of heartbreak and suffering by artists such as Adele and Taylor Swift. I believe they will pick up a lot of fans because of their new and interesting style.  

Bottom Line: Third time’s the charm.  

Overall Grade: A-