New Music Review

Thursday, April 7th, 2022 New and exciting music reviews

Dylan Berman

Feature Editor

The new album “WHO CARES?” by Rex Orange County, born Alexander James O’Connor, is an upbeat, lush and catchy indie pop album, showing huge amounts of artistic growth from the artist when compared to his previous works. The album lives up to the idea of its title, full of carefree lyrics, about personal growth and self reflection. O’Connor sings extensively about his anxieties and personal shortcomings, but frames them in a context of acceptance and attempting to improve.

“I’m gonna be a better man someday,” he sings on the track “7AM,” along with the line “I got used to failin but I’m not dumb.”

The album also features several adorable love songs. “You don’t ever do no wrong to me, I wish that I could just say the same, but it’s okay I’m trying to do whatever it takes to believe I’m enough, and hope you agree,”

O’Connor sings on the album’s sixth track, “ONE IN A MILLION.”

The way O’Connor explores love, positivity and insecurity feels heartfelt, even if it’s bit surface level.

The album accompanies its lyrics with catchy indie instrumentation. It’s brimming with fun bass lines, gorgeous string sections, bouncy piano chords and clean simple percussion.

The project’s second track has an amazing feature from Tyler the Creator. His laid back flow and deep voice fits with the track’s rich instrumentation, and contrasts nicely with O’Connor’s singing.

This album doesn’t do too much to set itself apart from current trends in the genre, but if you’re looking for something pretty and fun, check this one out. I give this album a seven out of ten.

WHO CARES?

Rex Orange County Album cover of “WHO CARES,” by Rex Orange County

Crash

The album “Crash” by Charli XCX is a powerful modern pop experience

As spelled out by the album’s opener, in which Charli sings “I’m high voltage self-destructive, end it all so legendary,” the album is taking the listener on a tour of the singer’s impulsive lifestyle.

This is explored through songs about ex’s, partners and people who aren’t quite either.

There’s some legendary break up anthems on this project, such as “On Repeat,” with lines like “You missed the chance of a lifetime, when you’re lonely, are you ever thinkin’ bout the magic in me?”

This song’s bouncy synth and heavy percussion under XCX’s powerful vocal performance make it one of the album’s best tracks.

This album is similar to the sound of XCX’s last project “How I’m Feeling Now,” featuring pop melodies and synth, but with a healthy portion of distortion, glitchy breakdowns and experimental instrumentals.

This gives the album the fun familiarity of pop, but with more creativity than generic pop projects. “Crash” leans closer to mainstream pop, which makes it more boring.

The album is short, but it overstays its welcome by the final tracks. Despite this, the final song “Twice” is a good closer, The lyrics exemplify the careless attitude XCX is exploring on the album.

Although it is less unique than some of XCX’s work, I recommend this album to people who enjoy pop acts like Doja Cat or Ashnikko. I give this album an eight out of ten.