Rex Orange County released his fifth studio album, “The Alexander Technique” on September 6th, possibly one of my favorite albums this year. Seeing him back making music after his 2 year sabbatical makes me happy, and considering what happened in 2022, (if you don’t know, Google it,) it’s nice to see him back.

Considering what he went through, this project had deep themes of mental health, therapy, and self-healing. It reminded me a lot of “Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers” by Kendrick Lamar but in a different genre and font. Rex expresses his journey through attending therapy, looking back on relationships, becoming a better person, and finding himself over time.

Although this album might not be his best, it’s still great. It’s a little slow-paced, and slightly less enjoyable than his other albums, but keeps that same consistent quality from all of Rex’s other projects.

Alexander, (Rex’s actual name by the way), named this album “The Alexander Technique” because the Alexander Technique is, (as Google puts it,) a “method of rediscovering natural balance and poise through thinking in activity” which is kind of a neat play on words because it has his name, and his album is about the same thing – balancing himself mentally. He posted on Instagram how he used his version of the Alexander Technique to help himself not fall into the same depression cycle, and to get back to being productive.

Some tracks that have been repeated on my Spotify are “Pure,” “4 in the Morning,” and “2008.” The song “2008” is the most unique one to me, because it displays Alexander reaching back on old memories of being a carefree kid at ten years old, (the age he was in 2008,) and realizing that he wishes he still feels that way. He specifically remembers being in the backseat of his mother’s car, listening to music like Nas’ “Illmatic,” Kanye West’s “808’s and Heartbreak”, (my goat referenced?), and Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, T.I., etc.

This track is huge towards the theme of the album. He here explores not only what his inspiration for making music was, but it also shows how throughout the album, (specifically in the last track “Finally,” Alex discovers a way to channel his ten-year-old self again after battling with depression and seeking a way to feel complete again, though therapy and self-healing.

Another song that holds great meaning was track 10, “Carrera.” Here, Alexander describes how in 2022 he was “in [his] prime” before the allegations that were placed upon him, selling out shows after his very successful album “WHO CARES?” (My favorite album by him.) The song explores how the “pandemonium” due to the allegations ruined his career, but as he looks back, he ponders: “But what does it mean to be in your prime?” Near the end of the song, Alex gets the news that his charges were dropped, and the relief he felt, but he stresses about whether his career is still alive.

If you are looking for another album to listen to, check this one out for sure. It’s not perfect, but it holds such strong meaning, more than any of his other projects. 

I’m Anthony MacFarlane, and now we go back to news. Just kidding.