"WHO CARES?" Review

Alexander James O'Connor, who goes by the stage name Rex Orange County, has released his long-awaited album WHO CARES? Consisting of eleven songs, the album is a whole thirty-nine minutes and fifty-nine seconds long. Rex only includes one feature on this album, “OPEN A WINDOW” (feat. Tyler, the Creator), but the well-known artist Benny Sings helped Rex create the album. Like most of his previous albums, the feel of WHO CARES? is upbeat yet somber and uses classical instrumentation. Although all of his albums are very similar, they separate themselves from one another based on the place that Rex was in his life when he was curating his albums. For example, before writing this album, Rex ended his relationship with his long-term girlfriend, Thea.

As one listens to the album, either in order or on shuffle, one will experience a roller coaster of emotions. His songs go from somber to upbeat then back to somber to end the songs with a classical melody. This is meant to show his own emotions and how they can be high then low. By the title WHO CARES? and the lyrics of the songs, we assume that he is trying to find out if anyone truly cares about him. In his song “7AM” he asks himself, Once again, should I pack up or stay? As many do, he wants to leave before anyone before anyone else can leave and hurt him.

Even though most of his songs on the album are total hits, there is sadly a failure. The ninth song on his album “MAKING TIME” felt very monotone and boring. I wish that there was a little more variety in this song.  Everybody wants to call this a “no-skip” album, but it is not that. “MAKING TIME” is the only song on this album that I would consider skipping. The rest are creations of a musical genius. 

If you do listen to WHO CARES? from start to finish, not on shuffle, he is telling you the story of being in love with a girl from the beginning of the crush to being hurt in the end. The story starts with “KEEP IT UP” which is before he fully finds that this girl could be something to him. Rex opens up about his social anxiety and depression while telling himself that he is strong enough to “keep it up and go on.” Later, in his song “AMAZING,” Rex is infatuated with this girl and advises her not to “change a thing; [she is] amazing.”

Overall, Rex has created a beautiful work of art for many to enjoy. He has released many more albums, so if you find WHO CARES? to be your taste in music, you should check out his other albums here.

By Kate Tocci