In Rex Orange County (AKA Alexander O’Connor)’s newest album, which came out Friday, Sep. 7, “The Alexander Technique,” O’Connor uses his experience with back pain as a metaphor for his avoidance of his internal struggles, taking listeners through a journey of self reflection and discovery. For reference, The Alexander Technique is a medical practice that advises incorporating intention into daily movement as a way to remedy back pain with mindfulness. Just as the Alexander Technique calls for self awareness in movement, O’Connor describes his process of discovering himself by becoming more in tune with his emotions.
The first time I heard the album, I was in awe of how up-close and personal the album got, as well as amazed by the heart-tugging melodies, catchy jazz beats and magical strings characteristic of Rex Orange County.
His first song “Alexander” leans more on the spoken-word side of music, lending more focus to the vulnerable lyrics and storytelling. He paints a picture with his lyrics, describing his visit to the doctor for back pain. Listeners are left alone with a calm piano melody, given the space to explore the personal details O’Connor is sharing. He expresses his anger when the doctor suggests his back pain is caused by deeper-rooted issues, such as addiction and stress, but closes the song by thanking the doctor for bringing O’Connor’s struggles to attention.
Throughout the rest of the album, O’Connor takes listeners through his own life experience. This is an especially unique focus for O’Connor, as the large bulk of his previous songs focus on love. Beginning on this new, introspective strand, he talks about his childhood in songs such as “2008” and “Guitar Song.” Both songs were released early, perhaps intended to introduce readers to O’Connor’s coming-of-age story before listening to the rest of the album, which focuses on his current lifestyle.
What sets this album apart in terms of lyrics is the sheer intimacy lent to listeners, covering O’Connor’s gratitude for attending therapy, living in the moment, and appreciation for the unique stories of every stranger he passes by.
I think his most interesting song is “Sliding Doors” where he uses the metaphor of a sliding door to symbolize the importance of savoring each moment and being grateful that life has connected you to the people you love. When listening, I was able to put the song in perspective, thinking of those closest to me and how grateful I was that in a world of over 7 billion people, I somehow ended up with them.
In his preceding album, “WHO CARES?” O’Connor introduced a more upbeat feel to his music, contrasted by the soulful, jazzy feel of the album before that, “Apricot Princess.” With themes of mellow feels and youthful excitement in his first two albums, O’Connor has truly done it all.
So, coming into this album, I didn’t know what to expect.
Upon first listen, a few songs stood out to me. “One Of These Days” is an example. In this song, O’Connor sings over what I believe is one of the most powerful uses of string instruments in his career (second to at least “Pluto Projector” widely popular due to its enchanting strings). He artfully creates an upbeat yet soul-scraping track for his lyrics, promising himself that he will end up right where he needs to be eventually, “one of these days.”
“Much Too Much” is another standout, and perhaps the best example of the new style O’Connor has adopted. Here, all of his past styles converge to present a new era of Rex Orange County. With the mellowness of “Bcos U Will Never Be Free,” the jazziness of “Apricot Princess” and the use of strings seen in “Pony,” “Much Too Much” is a masterful representation of O’Connor’s musical evolution.
Overall, “The Alexander Technique” truly represents a fresh moment in O’Connor’s career. The musicality is at an entirely new level than what has been seen before, and the vulnerability in the lyrics demonstrates how much this project meant to O’Connor. It is clear that the album was created with intention and care, as the Alexander Technique advises when confronting pain. O’Connor presents a raw, unfiltered presentation of who he is, and all the album asks is for listeners to truly lend an ear to what he is saying.
