Alexander James O’Connor, better known as Rex Orange County, has returned with yet another banger album, The Alexander Technique, featuring 16 songs that explore themes such as depression, self-love, and loss that resonate with both those who do not have specific music preferences and fans of indie and pop.

O’Connor released The Alexander Technique on Sept. 6, 2024, after a two-year break following his last release, WHO CARES. As a prominent bedroom pop artist who produces music from home, O’Connor has wowed the world several times with albums like Apricot Princess, which peaked at number eight in Billboard’s independent albums category, and Pony, which hit number three in Billboard 200 at its peak.

In the album’s first song, Alexander, O’Connor narrates his experiences with going to his doctor for back pain. He begins with a somber piano solo, then launches into a story of his doctor, who told him stress and life’s events are the reason behind his back pain. 

“And you see, you have these issues, and you struggle to relax.” 

His subsequent frustration towards his doctor is relatable, as he wants his problems solved directly instead of through a roundabout solution. As he continues to think about it, O’Connor realizes that his back pain results from his day-to-day routine, which he resists changing. 

 “I may be using my back pain to distract from the pain of life.”

To wrap up, he concludes that sometimes people would rather deal with more straightforward issues like getting medication for back pain than confront the core dilemma of changing bad habits. This relates to the album’s name because The Alexander Technique is a self-development skill used in alternative medicine, which encompasses a range of therapies considered unorthodox by traditional medicine. It teaches people to change long-term habits such as poor posture, which causes unnecessary tension in everything you do.

The catchiest song in the whole album is “2008” because of its creative beat, complementary background music, and contemplative lyrics. If you like Alternative or Indie music, this is your song.

“I was gonna be here somehow. Do not wanna say, “I knew it”, but I did my young self proud.”

By following his dreams of entering the music industry, O’Conner praises himself for sticking to what he loved. This shows O’Connor wants his listeners to pursue their passions, while also reflecting on what he needs to do to preserve his well-being.

“So I’m taking it slow. I’ve been moving much too fast.”

As O’Connor self-evaluates his activities and thoughts and their effects on his health, it can be inferred that he wants the listener to do the same. Taking care of yourself is especially pertinent to students, as stress from maintaining grades in class and participating in extracurriculars significantly affects their mental state. Sometimes, you just have to take a break from the stressors in everyday life and treat yourself as a reminder that not everything is about toiling away in academics and sports.

Some other honorable mentions in this album include “Guitar Song”, which speaks to listeners about vulnerability and the quest for peace of mind, “The Table”, a song about the deeper meaning behind everyday objects, and “Jealousy”, a story about growing up and learning to let things go.

At the end of the day, what makes this album and O’Connor himself so impressive is the deep self-reflection they carry and how applicable it is for students and young adults in an era where mental health is emphasized so much. The Alexander Technique contains music that not only tells a story but also gets personal to remind listeners of the importance of self-maintenance, while breaking the stigma around talking about mental health.

While I’m not the biggest fan of Rex Orange County’s music style, his touching lyrics are simply brilliant.

Score: 8.5/10