Stories of a Stranger

What a difference a year makes. Nearly 365 days ago, O.A.R. entertained a jam-packed crowd of island-vibe-loving college students who bowed down to this grassroots group like gods. Now, the band heads into their Feb. 19 show at the IU Auditorium trying to prove that although their CDs are now wrapped by an Atlantic Records label, they can still rock. \nTheir new CD has prompted criticism from avid fans who view the new CD Stories of a Stranger as a move to copycat other bands with a push towards becoming a mainstream powerhouse. O.A.R. is fielding criticism similar to what Dave Matthews Band received after releasing Stand Up, a slower-paced album with a slight change in musical direction.\nO.A.R., which started as a high school band, released their first album The Wanderer before they had entered college. After releasing seven CDs, headlining over 300 shows a year and hitting record Internet sales on the Billboard Music Charts, it's no surprise the Auditorium will again be packed for this crowd favorite. Banking on their live success, the band released two live albums Anytime Now (2002) and 34th and 8th (2004).\n"O.A.R. has great upbeat music and I especially like their live albums," says freshman Matt Storie. "I've been to a few of their shows including when they opened for Dave (Matthews) and it was just amazing."\nFrontman Marc Roberge and his fellow Maryland natives showcase their musical inspirations with melodies with hints of U2 -- strength vocals amid saxophone wails, sharp guitar strums and intense drum rhythms.\nFor years, O.A.R. has grown in popularity with college crowds, but has steadily remained out of the radio spotlight and under the radar of music moguls. While fans across the boards have always hoped for O.A.R.'s success to grow, many never expected it would come with a shift from the band's expected Bob Marley-inspired reggae beats.\n"I was pretty disappointed with O.A.R.'s new CD," says junior Marissa Treasure. "I'm used to listening to their CDs all the way through, but the pop stuff really turns me off."\nBut while some students have found themselves abandoning the group, others are still staying devoted to the band despite all the changes. \n"It's a new style for them you know, a lot of people are upset they are going in a different direction, but I still love most of the songs," Storie says. "I know people are straying away from it now because they're more mainstream and it's on the radio, but it's still music I like."\nAs a band that thrived on word-of-mouth and file-sharing publicity in the same manner of Phish and Dave Matthews Band, the band backed their decision to work with a big-name label by saying it would give them an opportunity to expand their music and try and explode into a tough market.\n"Love and Memories," the CD's first single released, has been one of O.A.R.'s first to make its way onto the radio wave's playlist. The song features a rock beat unlike any song O.A.R. has ever played, rivaling melodies of a mix between John Mayer's "Bigger Than My Body" and Matchbox Twenty's "Bright Lights." The video for "Love and Memories" has made its way onto VH1, a sign that whether followers are pleased or angry with the pop melodies, music executives are taking note.\nBut can a band famous for its lively, head-bopping, crowd-pleasing beats still bring their A-game and wow an anxious crowd despite a change in their musical direction? \nMany of the fans say it depends what kind of set list O.A.R. brings with them, and whether they plan to balance their new music with throwback favorites.\nRachel McWaters, who created an O.A.R. Facebook group, says while she doesn't listen to the band as much any more, she'll be at the Auditorium hoping the band can still deliver. \n"I just like that it's different and fun," she says. "With their music, you can run around and dance to it. It's upbeat, good music that you can sing along with and it makes you happy."\nTreasure, who will also attend the show, says although she doesn't really like the new album, she hopes the songs will be better live.\n"That's what they're known for," Treasure says. "Live shows where they get really into their music. I guess we'll just have to wait and see"