There are defining moments for every musical artist, albums from The Beatles’ “Abbey Road” to Beyoncé’s “Lemonade” collect the essence of an artist’s sound while delivering genuine and powerful lyrics. For Rex Orange County, that defining moment is the recently released album, “Pony.”
Hailing from Haslemere, Surrey, England, 21-year-old Alexander O’Connor gained internet fame after self-releasing his album “bcos u will never b free” on SoundCloud, an internet music platform, under the name Rex Orange County. Since then, O’Connor has worked alongside artists like Tyler, the Creator and Randy Newman and released a second studio album, “Apricot Princess,” as well as several other singles.
Falling under the indie-pop category, Rex Orange County has grown steadily since his debut in 2016. In the two years since a studio album had been released, Rex fans had been anxiously awaiting the album and after the wait it is safe to say that they were not disappointed. Receiving positive reviews from media outlets “Pony,” released on Oct. 25, showcases both the breadth of lyrical work and music styling Rex Orange County has.
With the release of the first single of the album, “10/10,” Rex combines an upbeat tempo with lyrics of lost friendships and feelings of disjointment and discontent creating a raw yet hopeful theme that carries on throughout the rest of the album. The subsequent single releases of “Pluto Projector” and “Face to Face” displayed two totally new sides of Rex Orange County. Building upon the soulful style he had already been known for displaying, “Pluto Projector” incorporates a string ensemble which adds an extra layer of tension bringing a climax to the entire album.
In many ways this album is a sort of goodbye to the old. In the final track of the album “It’s Not The Same Anymore,” Rex Orange County acknowledges the passing of time and comes to terms with it, a nod back to the second track of the album “Always” which speaks to the fear of holding on to something that is not there anymore. Despite this new chapter songs like “Never Had The Balls” and “Laser Lights” keep in line with Rex’s already established vibrant tone and endearing lyrics, the stuff that keeps fans coming back for more.
Though the overall theme of the album seems to be growth and transitions, the one overall complaint that could be had is the fact that at times the transitions between the songs seem a bit disjointed. While some may find this to be a likeable trait others may find the constant switch up to be a bit irritating, and yet without it, the entire point Rex seems to try to be making may get lost.
Rex Orange County is notorious for being pretty open with his fanbase, through his work and through his social influences. The album “Pony” takes this transparency to a new level, propelling both Rex Orange County’s music and career forward. As artists grow and evolve it is generally a source of excitement for content and a fear of the change that may come. Time and time again, Rex Orange County has shown that being able to grow and evolve leads to bigger and better things. This is the case for the new found classic, “Pony.”
Image from Rex Orange County via YouTube
