“WHO CARES?” is the fourth studio album released by English singer and songwriter Alexander James O’Connor, known by the stage name Rex Orange County. When COVID postponed his highly anticipated “Pony” tour, O’Connor wasn’t mentally prepared for the sudden loss of opportunity according to the Daily Beast. Nonetheless, this paved the way for O’Connor to travel to Amsterdam to meet his long-time friend and collaborator, Tim van Berkestijn, or Benny Sings. Together, the two musicians created the full album in 12 days. The sudden flip from fast-paced concert life to casual recording days created an album born from simple calmness and understanding of the world around him. 

“It’s [about] removing myself a little bit from [the album] being such a deep lyrical thing,” O’Connor said in an interview with the Daily Beast. “I’m trying to leave it up to people’s interpretation a little bit more.”

This 11 song album is a culmination of various loose ideas combined to create a sound reminiscent of his past records, albeit less enthusiastic. “WHO CARES?”’s balmy summer vibe and subdued energy epitomizes feelings of teen spirit. Furthermore, his unique vocals and relatability prove to be enough to avoid cliché and create addictive ballads. 

The most striking part of the album is O’Conor’s carefree persona that shines through every song, with this newfound attitude being reflected not only in his uplifting beats, but also in his lyrics. Messages of encouragement on the opener “KEEP IT UP” state, “I never give myself respect / Most of my life I’m asking why / But anytime I give it a try, I say / Keep it up and go on.” These insightful lyrics offer listeners a sense of hope towards the future after a long period of disarray in the world. 

In addition to O’Connor’s improved outlook on life, it’s safe to say that he’s also perfected the formula for writing and delivering exceptional love songs. “ONE IN A MILLION” is a prime example of O’Connor successfully leaning towards his pop-heavy roots by weaving together swooning lyrics and raw emotions to depict his head-over-heels admiration for a professed lover. Lyrics such as, “You don’t ever do no wrong to me / I wish that I could just say the same” hints at O’Connor’s dedication towards self improvement which can be heard sprinkled throughout the album. Later O’Connor croons: “I’ve fallen for you, I’m dazed and confused / Insane with what you’re doin’ to me.” This feel-good song contains the ultimate blend of strong beats and catchy choruses, making it the most prominent song on the album, perfect for beach side drives with good company.

The highlights throughout the first half of the album quickly spiral downward into repetitive phrases and shallow lyrics as the album draws to a conclusion. For instance, on the last track of the album, “WHO CARES?”, O’Connor states the repetitive phrase, “Who cares?” 10 times throughout the two and a half minute song, ultimately leading to messages that are so overused, listeners fail to recognize the true meaning behind them. The album covers standard topics that span from heartbreak to the price of fame, yet O’Connor fails to tie the scattered themes together, making for a few well-produced songs among a mass of aimless tracks.

“WHO CARES?” is a fast-paced album that lies comfortably under 40 minutes, making it perfect for a casual listen. While the album fails to show O’Connor’s growth as an artist, he stays consistent with his songwriting capabilities, accomplishing his initial goal of ignoring external pressures and staying true to his musical roots, which appears to be his main focus on the album. For an album labeled “WHO CARES?”, O’Connor’s stays on-theme by disregarding what others think, and instead focuses on finding happiness within the turbulent world around him.

Rating: 3/5