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Pony (Rex Orange County album)

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Pony
A white-colored background of the artist looking up.
Studio album by
Rex Orange County
Released25 October 2019
Recorded2018–2019
Studio
Genre
Length33:58
LabelRCA
Producer
Rex Orange County chronology
Apricot Princess
(2017) 		Pony
(2019) 		Who Cares?
(2022)
Singles from Pony
  1. "10/10"
    Released: 12 September 2019[5]
  2. "Pluto Projector"
    Released: 17 October 2019[6]
  3. "Face to Face"
    Released: 23 October 2019[7]

Pony is the third studio album and major-label debut by the English musician Rex Orange County. It was released on 25 October 2019, through RCA Records. The album was entirely recorded at Strongroom Studios in East London, with an orchestral recording at Air Studios, and solely written by Rex Orange County, who produced all the songs with Ben Baptie.[4]

Lyrically, the album explores human emotion, and takes inspiration from personal struggles Rex Orange County faced following his rise to prominence between 2017 and 2018. Pony was supported by three singles: "10/10", "Pluto Projector", and "Face to Face". The album received favorable reviews; with both criticism and compliments directed towards its lyrical content. It debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200, marking his first entry on the chart. The album reached the top ten in five other countries, including his native country, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

Background

[edit]
Rex Orange County (pictured in 2019) at Air Studios

Rex Orange County rose to prominence throughout 2017 and 2018, selling out his first four shows in the United States, visiting festivals such as Primavera Sound and the Panorama Music Festival, and contributing to the American rapper Tyler, the Creator's fourth studio album, Flower Boy (2017). Rex Orange County revealed information of a follow-up to his second studio album, Apricot Princess (2017), in an interview with Billboard on 15 February 2018, stating he was slowly working on it, and that he wanted to write about subjects he did not cover much, claiming it was because "some of the best songs aren't actually love songs".[8] Little information about the project was revealed throughout 2019. He released the stand-alone single, "New House", on 14 February 2019, which was his first release since 2017.[9]

On 4 September 2019, Rex Orange County began to tease his third studio album, tweeting "REX3".[10] On 12 September 2019, he revealed through Twitter that he would be releasing a new single, "10/10". The song was released the same day, as the album's lead single.[11] He officially revealed the album's title, tracklist, and artwork on 19 September 2019, alongside its release date of 25 October 2019, and a tour to support the album.[12] On 16 October 2019, he released a video on social media, showcasing the recording of the orchestral section for the album's second single, "Pluto Projector", at Air Studios.[13]

Composition

[edit]

Musically, Pony is an indie pop,[2] jazz,[3] and neo soul record[4] which includes influences of rock.[14] Lyrically, the album primarily explores Rex Orange County trying to figure out who he is as a person,[15] while also exploring human emotion,[3] and documents the struggles he faced throughout the years prior to the album.[2]

In an interview with Hot Press, Rex Orange County explained the album's title was chosen because he "just [liked] the word." Stating that it was hard to adjust to pressure from his newfound commercial success, he did not want to make the same music from his early beginnings, due to him being younger at the time. He wanted to deliver something he would love, while not straying away from his older music.[16]

Promotion

[edit]
Rex Orange County performing in Denver, Colorado during The Pony Tour in January 2020.

Singles

[edit]

On 12 September 2019, Rex Orange County premiered "10/10" on BBC Radio 1 with Annie Mac.[11] The song was officially released the same day, alongside its music video, as the lead single from the album.[17] The song peaked at number 68 on the UK Singles Chart.

"Pluto Projector" was released as the album's second single on 17 October 2019.[18] The song peaked at number 7 on Billboard's Hot Rock Songs chart.

"Face to Face" was released as the album's third and final single on 23 October 2019.[7] The song peaked at number 86 on the UK Singles Chart.

Performances

[edit]

Rex Orange County performed "10/10" for the first time on 24 September 2019, alongside a cover of "I Don't Care" by Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber for BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge.[19] On 11 October 2019, he performed "10/10" for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[20] He performed "Pluto Projector" live at Rak Studios on 23 November 2019.[21] In his debut appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, he performed "Face to Face" on 8 January 2020.[22] On 18 March 2020, he performed "Pluto Projector" and "Always" alongside two other songs for NPR's Tiny Desk concert.[23] He appeared at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend music festival on 24 May 2020, performing "Pluto Projector".[24] On 30 September 2020, he released an extended play consisting of live performances of songs from Pony and his other two projects, Apricot Princess and Bcos U Will Never B Free (2015), recorded during a show at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City.[25]

A live performance of the album's closing track, "It's Not the Same Anymore", was released on 5 March 2021, following an increase of the song's usage on the social media app TikTok.[26]

Tour

[edit]

Rex Orange County announced a tour in promotion of Pony, entitled The Pony Tour, on 19 September 2019, which visited the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States. The tour began on 13 November 2019, and ended on 27 February 2020.[27] Tour dates in Asia were announced in December 2019, but were cancelled in October 2020, due to concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.[28]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.4/10[29]
Metacritic76/100[30]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[31]
American Songwriter[32]
DIY[2]
Financial Times[33]
The Guardian[15]
NME[4]
The Observer[34]
Pitchfork5.0/10[35]
Q[36]
The Times[37]

Pony received generally favorable reviews from critics upon release. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 76, based on 11 reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.

Hannah Mylrea from NME rated the album five out of five stars, writing that it was a "dazzling follow up to Apricot Princess," and that although the world might be "miserable" and "going to shit," Mylrea wrote that it would not be possible for the listener to listen to Pony without "feeling a little bit more optimistic about the future."[4] Elly Watson expressed similar views in DIY magazine, describing it as "equal parts heart wrenching and hopeful".[2]

Giving the album an average 3 out of 5, Tara Joshi at The Guardian described the album as "jaunty and engaging", though Joshi expressed that "Pony meanders, seemingly unaware of its purpose".[15]

Luke Levenson from American Songwriter rated the album four out of five stars, writing: "His unique pop prosody and production skills, more sophisticated than ever in Pony, foretell that his sound will continue progressing to new creative heights, with the heft of catchy pop music and the inventiveness of its growing indie subgenre."[32]

Commercial performance

[edit]

Pony debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200, earning 70,000 equivalent album sales, being boosted by a concert ticket and album sale redemption. The album debuted behind Post Malone's Hollywood's Bleeding and Kanye West's Jesus is King.[38]

Track listing

[edit]

All songs produced by Rex Orange County and Ben Baptie.

No.TitleLength
1."10/10"2:26
2."Always"3:17
3."Laser Lights"2:11
4."Face to Face"3:39
5."Stressed Out"1:46
6."Never Had the Balls"3:56
7."Pluto Projector"4:27
8."Every Way"2:13
9."It Gets Better"3:32
10."It's Not the Same Anymore"6:26
Total length:33:58

Personnel

[edit]

Credits for Pony adapted from AllMusic.[39]

  • Rex Orange County – vocals, guitar, bass, drum programming, drums, Fender Rhodes, keyboards, organ, percussion, piano, producer, saxophone, strings, synthesizer, vocoder, woodwind
  • Ben Baptie – guitar, drum programming, brass, saxophone, woodwind, strings, percussion, production, mixing
  • Sally Herbert – arrangement, conducting, strings, violin
  • Pino Palladino – bass
  • Michael Underwood – clarinet, flute, saxophone, woodwind arrangement
  • Nick Barr – viola
  • Natalia Bonner – violin
  • Seb Brooks - viola
  • Ian Burdge – cello
  • Reiad Chibah – viola
  • Calina de la Mare – violin
  • Louisa Fuller – violin
  • Richard George – violin
  • Ian Humphries – violin
  • Oli Langford – violin
  • John Metcalfe – viola
  • Steve Morris – violin
  • Tom Pigott-Smith – violin
  • Rachel Robson – viola
  • Tony Wollard – cello
  • Chris Worsey – cello
  • Amy Stewart – string conductor
  • Haydn Bendall – string engineer
  • Johnny Woodham – trumpet
  • Choir: Karima Abdi, Ayana Ahmed, Abdul Akbari, Zainab Al-Shammary, Mahad Ali, Retaj Almataj, Ghena Alshteiwi, Emily Amoura, Junaid Attoh, Vihan Bhudia, Nelu Dobie, Adelina Gherman, Luke Halpin, Mosda Hisharizada, Sarah Jabir, Isa Khalid, Salam Al Lakod, Lisa Marie Massiah, José Mendes, Vanessa Prilogran, Gabi Sandru, Farah Siddique, Houda Warsama, Mohammad Zalghara
  • Thea Morgan-Murrell – backing vocals (track 6)

Production

  • Bráulio Amado – design, illustrations
  • Madeleine Pfull – paintings
  • Tom Archer – assistant
  • Nathan Hoffeldt - assistant, mastering
  • Natasha Canter – assistant
  • Alex Ferguson – assistant
  • Ted Jensen – mastering

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[52] Silver 60,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Kenneally, Cerys (19 September 2019). "Rex Orange County announces new album Pony". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e Watson, Elly (25 October 2019). "Rex Orange County – Pony". DIY. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Milross, Hayley (24 October 2019). "Rex Orange County's Pony lays bare human vulnerabilities with colour and beauty". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e Mylrea, Hannah (24 October 2019). "Rex Orange County – 'Pony' review: eclecticism and hope delivered with dazzling charm". NME. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  5. ^ Reilly, Nick (13 September 2019). "Listen to '10/10', the new single from Rex Orange County". NME. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  6. ^ "Rex Orange County Shares 'Pluto Projector'". NPR. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  7. ^ a b Darville, Jordan (23 October 2019). "Rex Orange County shares new song "Face To Face"". The Fader. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  8. ^ Leight, Elias (15 February 2019). "Meet Rex Orange County, the British Singer and Tyler, The Creator Collaborator Who Is In For A Huge Year". Billboard. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  9. ^ "Rex Orange County Is Back With New Song 'New House'". DIY. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  10. ^ English, Laura (13 September 2019). "Rex Orange County Gets Real On New Track '10/10'". Music Feeds. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  11. ^ a b Di Iorio, Michael (12 September 2019). "Rex Orange County to release new song '10/10′ tomorrow". Tone Deaf. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  12. ^ Minsker, Evan (19 September 2019). "Rex Orange County Announces New Album Pony and Tour". Pitchfork. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  13. ^ Working on Pony at AIR Studios. Rex Orange County. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  14. ^ Renshaw, David (26 September 2019). "The 20 best rock songs right now". The Fader. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  15. ^ a b c Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (25 October 2019). "Rex Orange County: Pony review – chatty raps of a heart-bruised softboi". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  16. ^ Juengling, Selina (19 December 2019). "Interview: Rex Orange County on his new album Pony, toxic masculinity and self-doubt". Hot Press. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  17. ^ Aniftos, Rania (12 September 2019). "Rex Orange County Is Getting Better on '10/10′: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  18. ^ Kenneally (17 October 2019). "Rex Orange County shares tender new track "Pluto Projector"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  19. ^ Gwee, Karen (25 September 2019). "Rex Orange County covers Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber's 'I Don't Care'". NME. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  20. ^ Mamo, Heran (11 October 2019). "Rex Orange County Gives a '10/10′ Performance on 'Fallon'". Billboard. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  21. ^ "Spotlight: Rex Orange County Returning To New Zealand In September". Under the Radar. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  22. ^ Renshaw, David (8 January 2020). "Watch Rex Orangr County play 'Face to Face' on Ellen". The Fader. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  23. ^ Carter, Bobby (18 March 2020). "Rex Orange County: Tiny Desk Concert". NPR. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  24. ^ Graves, Shahlin (27 May 2020). "Watch: Rex Orange County, Haim & Declan McKenna x Radio 1's Big Weekend 2020". Coup de Main Magazine. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  25. ^ Krol, Charlotte (30 September 2020). "Rex Orange County shares 'Live At Radio City Music Hall' EP and tour documentary". NME. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  26. ^ Riddell, Rose (5 March 2021). "Watch: Rex Orange County performs 'It's Not The Same Anymore' live". Coup de Main Magazine. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  27. ^ Renshaw, David (19 September 2019). "Rex Orange County announces new album and 2020 tour dates". The Fader. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  28. ^ Singh, Surej (13 October 2019). "Rex Orange County's Asia tour in support of 'Pony' album has been cancelled". NME. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  29. ^ "Pony by Rex Orange County reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  30. ^ "PONY by Rex Orange County Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  31. ^ Collar, Matt. "PONY – Rex Orange County". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  32. ^ a b Levenson, Luke (5 November 2019). "With 'Pony,' Rex Orange County Shows New Creative Heft". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on 8 November 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  33. ^ Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (25 October 2019). "Rex Orange County: Pony — thoughtfully constructed songs". Financial Times. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  34. ^ Joshi, Tara (27 October 2019). "Rex Orange County: Pony review – jaunty and engaging". The Observer. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  35. ^ Gaca, Anna (25 October 2019). "Rex Orange County: Pony". Pitchfork. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  36. ^ Cooper, Leonie (December 2019). "Rex Orange County: Pony". Q (405): 110.
  37. ^ Hodgkinson, Will (25 October 2019). "Rex Orange County: Pony — honest songs from a sophisticated musical mind". The Times. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  38. ^ Caulfield, Keith (3 November 2019). "Kanye West's 'Jesus Is King' Arrives as His Record-Tying Ninth Consecutive No. 1 Debut on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  39. ^ PONY - Rex Orange County | Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 20 July 2021
  40. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Rex Orange County – Pony". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  41. ^ "Rex Orange County Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  42. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Rex Orange County – Pony" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  43. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Rex Orange County". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  44. ^ "2019 44-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  45. ^ "Charts.nz – Rex Orange County – Pony". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  46. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Rex Orange County – Pony". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  47. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  48. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  49. ^ Caulfield, Keith (3 November 2019). "Kanye West's 'Jesus Is King' Arrives as His Record-Tying Ninth Consecutive No. 1 Debut on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  50. ^ "Rex Orange County Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  51. ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  52. ^ "British album certifications – Rex Orange County – Pony". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
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