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