Waking Up (2026 vinyl reissue)

OneRepublic

UMe Recordings, 2026

http://www.onerepublic.net

REVIEW BY: Tom Haugen

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 10/09/2026

If you've been waiting for OneRepublic's sophomore album, Waking Up, to get pressed on vinyl, you're in luck. Spread across 2 slabs of vinyl, this 2009 hit album sees the quintet in form and with some guests in mix, too.

“Made For You” starts soft before mesmerizing piano and Eddie Fisher's thumping drums enter the pop fueled climate, and “All The Right Moves” follows with Zach Filkins' buzzing guitar that suits the frisky drums and Ryan Tedder's adaptable pipes.my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

Moving along, “Secrets” invites Dave McGlohon's well timed backing vocals to the radio hit that always reminded me of a more pop-rock focused Blink 182, while “Everybody Loves Me” carries an infectious beat that makes great use of Brent Kutzle's bass and invites singing-along.

In the middle is where “Missing Persons 1 & 2” and “Good Life” reside. The former enlists Kutzle's graceful cello and hypnotic keys with backing ambience. The latter welcomes Noel Zancanella's programming to the the upbeat, dance floor ready anthem.

On the back half, “All This Time” sees Wil Malone arranging the strings that The London Studio Orchestra executes in the intimate landscape, and those strings follow into the heartfelt and poetic “Fear”, as well as soaring and arena ready rocker that is “Waking Up”.

The last couple of tunes don't depart much from the rest of the bunch. “Marchin On” layers the voices precisely in a soft versus louder formula, and “Lullaby” is indeed bare and cozy in its pretty demeanor.

You get options for colored vinyl and a alternate cover for this reissue that's been remastered. First and foremost, this album carries all the hallmarks that fans love about OneRepublic, i.e. the infectious pop-rock, powerful wordplay Tedder's emotive singing and the band's giant hooks that have made them global superstars.

Rating: B

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