Who Cares?

by Rex Orange County

Overview

English singer/songwriter Alexander O'Connor, aka Rex Orange County, has garnered acclaim for his low-key brand of '70s-style AM pop, a vibe he continues to perfect on his artful and heartfelt fourth album, 2022's Who Cares? On past albums O'Connor has showcased his knack for making hummable piano-driven songs that smartly evoke the classic work of artists like Elton John and Randy Newman, but with nods to contemporary indie rock and hip-hop influences. Recorded in the Netherlands with the similarly AM pop-influenced Benny Sings (Tim Van Berkestijn), Who Cares? is a perfect amalgam of O'Connor's throwback instincts, marked by sun-dappled melodies, orchestral sections, woody bass grooves, and a cloudy-day sadness that feels decidedly post-millennial. What's particularly compelling this time out is just how good the songwriting is. It feels like O'Connor is reaching out to his audience, crafting songs that manage to frame his own emotions in bigger, more broadly relatable ways. It also doesn't hurt that these are hooky, thoughtfully constructed anthems that have the vibe of modern standards. "One in a Million" is an earthy R&B cut that brings to mind Al Green, at the same time "7AM" soars with an ebullient Paul Williams-esque melodicism. Similarly, "Open a Window" (featuring Tyler, the Creator) conjures '70s Stevie Wonder, while "The Shade'' wouldn't sound out of place on a Fleetwood Mac album. Thankfully, all of Who Cares? sounds exactly like Rex Orange County coming into his own. ~ Matt Collar

Product Details

Release Date:	03/11/2022
Label:	Rca
UPC:	0194399225110
Rank:	12564

Tracks

1. KEEP IT UP
2. OPEN A WINDOW
3. WORTH IT
4. AMAZING
5. ONE IN A MILLION
6. IF YOU WANT IT
7. 7AM
8. THE SHADE
9. MAKING TIME
10. SHOOT ME DOWN
11. WHO CARES?

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Rex Orange County   Primary Artist,Drums,Piano,Vocals,Keyboards,Mellotron,Percussion,Synthesizer,Glockenspiel,Guitar (Acoustic)
Benny Sings   Bass,Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards,Guitar (Electric)
Tyler, The Creator   Vocals,Featured Artist
Joe MacLaren   Bass

Technical Credits

Benny Sings   Arranger,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Drum Programming,String Programming,Orchestral Arrangements
Joe LaPorta   Mastering
Ben Baptie   Mixing,Vocal Engineer
Vic Wainstein   Vocal Engineer
Tyler Okonma   Composer
Tom Archer   Mixing Assistant
Braulio Amado   Illustrations
Rex Orange County   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Aidan Zamiri   Photography