By: Penelope Misceo
Arts editor
Although routinely similar to his past albums, Rex Orange County’s latest release is a testament to the unique sound he has developed over the span of his career.
Rex Orange County’s new album, “Pony,” is skillfully structured with a cohesive sound. Rex Orange County’s signature beats are put at the forefront of each track, making for a satisfying listening experience for long-time fans. Although the album doesn’t provide the listener with anything noticeably fresh, it is a strong representation of the pleasantly nostalgic sound for which Rex Orange County is acclaimed.
Alex O’Conner, known by his stage name, Rex Orange County, was born and raised in Surrey England. He came out with his first self-released album, “Bcos U Will Never Be Free,” on Soundcloud in 2016 and has since added two albums to his discography. As a celebrated artist of the indie-alternative genre, Rex Orange County is also known for his close collaboration with Tyler, the Creator on his album, “Flower Boy”.
Released by Sony Music, “Pony” consists of 10 tracks. The album was produced by Rex Orange County and Ben Baptie. The track “10/10”, was released as a single on Sept. 12 as a preview to the album, and is the first song on “Pony”.
The album’s biggest strength is its endearingly positive attitude. At its core, “Pony” is an album about love, and Rex Orange County impecibally presents this to the listener with his signature nostalgic sound. With lyrics full of hope and relatability, each track is pleasantly personal and unexpectedly optimistic.
This hopeful perspective is most clearly displayed on the track “It Gets Better.” The song cleverly takes the listener on a listener through the last couple years of Rex Orange County’s life as he describes finally finding his purpose. As he credits his girlfriend for this realization on the track, the song beautifully fuses the two main points of the album: love and hope.
Specific to Rex Orange County’s style, the simplicity of the instrumentals in “Pony” are perfectly placed and effectively serve their purpose: to accompany Rex’s vocals and lyrics, which are the focus of the album. Utilizing uncomplicated piano and guitar melodies and chords, the tune of each song is memorable and catchy.
This very simplicity is what makes “Pony” so eurythmic. Each track included on the album is necessary in creating one cohesive experience. Each song manages to match the overall flow of the album while having its own unique qualities. The 10-track length of “Pony” also proves to be the sweet spot in establishing the atmosphere of the album, as it is long enough for the listener to immerse themselves in the music.
The only disappointment of the album is its failure to truly showcase any qualities that are unique to “Pony” itself. While Rex Orange County does have his own distinct sound, this particular release didn’t feel like a new experience. Although new listeners will be impressed by the uniqueness of the album, long-time fans will feel as though they have already heard it before and be left wanting more.
“Pony” is a strong representation of Rex Orange County’s overall sound, and benefits from its charming optimism. While following the same general structure of its predecessors and leaves more room for fresh creativity, the album is skillfully curated and an overall entertaining listen.
“Pony” was released on Oct. 25 and is available on most streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music.
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