One Republic packs a punch on "Native" (via Wikimedia)

The band hit us hard with their mega-popular breakout hit "Apologize" in 2007 (6 years ago... time flies!) and clearly aren't stopping any time soon.

Today, OneRepublic finally released their third album, "Native," after a long hiatus period since their second album "Waking Up" which came out in 2009. 

With their sound bigger than ever and a stronger emphasis on instrumentals, it's clear that they're trying to appeal to wider audience, both nationally and internationally.

OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder stands out per usual with his smooth vocal falsetto and emotion. With 14 tracks and 3 acoustic versions of songs, the album is very refreshing and really well-balanced.

The album's singles, "Feel Again" and "If I Lose Myself" are definite stand-outs. "Feel Again" is an intricate power ballad. Parts of the song, which is the soundtrack for the Save the Children PSA campaign, were inspired by the heartbeats of Guatemalan children in need.

"If I Lose Myself" goes in a very different direction, as it's a bit slower and is very dance-y, especially in the chorus.

The opening track, "Counting Stars," shows a unique side of the band as it's more folksy and highlights Ryan's lower register. The lyrics in the song, and really throughout the rest of the album, are very thoughtful and creative.

Fans might also be surprised by how personal and moving some of the tracks are. "Preacher" is a slow ballad about Ryan's life as the child of a preacher growing up, and "I Lived" is a thoughful but simple song about giving advice to his child, which right away sounds like a more upbeat version of "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack.

There's a solid combination of up-tempo tracks ("Something I Need," "Light it Up," and "Life in Color"), low-key vulnerable songs ("What You Wanted," "Can't Stop," "Something I Need," and "Something's Gotta Give"), and power ballads that really showcase Ryan Tedder's vocal ability ("Burning Bridges," "Au Revoir," and "Don't Look Down").  The three songs made acoustic that finish out the album, "If I Lose Myself," "What You Wanted" and "Burning Bridges" are all crafted beautifully and have a really nice sound.

Overall, the album takes some risks lyrically and compositionally that are all completely worth it. "Native" is definitely a stand-out album and arguably OneRepublic's best work to date. It is many years in the making, but fans will be happy with the result.

Read more of NT's album reviews here.

Reach Staff Reporter Mara Hyman here.