Bcos U Will Never B Free is the debut studio album[a] by the English musician Rex Orange County. It was released free of charge on Bandcamp and SoundCloud on 4 September 2015, and officially on 7 November 2016.[2] Following its five year anniversary, the album was released on vinyl for the first time.[3]
| Bcos U Will Never B Free | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 4 September 2015 | |||
| Recorded | 2014–2015 | |||
| Genre | [1] | |||
| Length | 29:23 | |||
| Label | Self-released | |||
| Producer | Rex Orange County | |||
| Rex Orange County chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Bcos U Will Never B Free | ||||
| ||||
Background
editRex Orange County taught himself to make his own music at the age of 16, producing on the digital audio workstation Logic, and playing the guitar. Bcos U Will Never B Free was created between the summer of 2014 and 2015 on his bedroom floor, and was inspired due to "teen angst" according to Rex Orange County, stating that during the album's recording, he was "really angry", "kind of sad", and "self pitying".[4]
In 2020, Rex Orange County further talked about how the album was created, stating he felt he "had a lot [he] wanted to say." He said he didn't have a strong intention with the album and that he had simply felt determined to "make something and put it out to the world."[5]
Promotion
editSingles
editThe album's lead single, "Corduroy Dreams", was released to SoundCloud on 18 May 2015.[6] It has received a Silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry.[7]
The album's second single, "Japan", was released to SoundCloud on 25 June 2015.[8] Its music video was released on 12 November 2015, and shows Rex Orange County getting his head shaved.[9]
Performances
editRex Orange County held a live performance celebrating the album on 4 September 2020, performing a medley of the songs "A Song About Being Sad", "Belly (The Grass Stains)", and "Corduroy Dreams".[10]
Track listing
editAll songs written by Alex "Rex Orange County" O'Connor (with the exception of "Cape Fear", written and performed by Cosmo Pyke).[11]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Rex (Intro)" | 1:47 |
| 2. | "Paradise" | 3:37 |
| 3. | "Belly (The Grass Stains)" | 4:19 |
| 4. | "Corduroy Dreams" | 3:26 |
| 5. | "Japan" | 1:46 |
| 6. | "Portrait of Ned" | 1:53 |
| 7. | "Green Eyes, Pt. II" | 3:20 |
| 8. | "A Song About Being Sad" | 2:16 |
| 9. | "Know Love" | 4:01 |
| 10. | "Curfew..." | 1:44 |
| Total length: | 28:12 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 3. | "Cape Fear (feat. Cosmo Pyke)" | 1:11 |
| Total length: | 29:23 | |
Charts
edit| Chart (2020) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Charts (ARIA)[12] | 28 |
| UK Albums Sales Chart (OCC)[13] | 26 |
| US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[14] | 13 |
| US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[15] | 23 |
| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[16] | 49 |
| US Vinyl Albums (Billboard)[17] | 3 |
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Format | Edition | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | 4 September 2015 | 11-track free of charge | Self-released | |
| 7 November 2016 |
|
10-track | ||
| 4 September 2020 | LP | 11-track | RCA Records |
Notes
edit- ^ The project's status as a mixtape or a studio album has been largely debated. In more recent years, Rex Orange County and other sources count the album as his first studio album.
References
edit- ^ Pellegrino, Dante (30 January 2022). "Review: Rex Orange County - Bcos U Will Never Be Free". Above the Bridge. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ Rex Orange County: Bcos U Will Never B Free - Music Streaming - Listen on Deezer, retrieved 2020-08-25
- ^ "Rex Orange County to release 'Bcos U Will Never B Free' on vinyl for the first time". DIY. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
- ^ "Rex Orange County is An Old Soul Moving at Lightspeed". Pitchfork. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
- ^ Young, Alex (6 August 2020). "Rex Orange County's Bcos U Will Never B Free Receives First-Ever Vinyl Release". Consequence. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ "corduroy dreams - Rex Orange County". SoundCloud. Rex Orange County. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
- ^ "Rex Orange County - Corduroy Dreams". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ "japan - Rex Orange County". SoundCloud. Rex Orange County. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
- ^ Kest, Noah (10 February 2018). "Rex Orange County is More Than a Flower Boy Feature". 34th Street Magazine. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ Graves, Shahlin (5 September 2020). "Watch: Rex Orange County's 'Bcos U Will Never B Free' fifth anniversary performance video". Coup de Main Magazine. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ "bcos u will never b free by Rex". Bandcamp. 4 September 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ "Discography Rex Orange County". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
- ^ "Official Albums Sales Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ "Rex Orange County Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ "Rex Orange County Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ "Rex Orange County Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ "Rex Orange County Chart History (Vinyl Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 March 2024.