ReeToxA releases debut album "Pines Salad"

ReeToxA, the alias of longtime songwriter Jason McKee from Melbourne's southeast, brandishes some jaded wit and a sense of relief that the rock 'n' roll record "Pines Salad" is finally out in the wild. This 14-track debut, which comes in almost 52 minutes, is a blurting blast of conviction drawing on three decades of rock 'n' roll and soul-searching poems.

"Pines Salad" is a catharsis and a collection of moments, memories, and mistakes filtered through music. McKee has evolved a nostalgic and cutting-edge presence from the dirty echoes of the '90s to today's melodic hooks. Picture Pearl Jam sharing a pint with Olivia Rodrigo at a Melbourne dive bar, and you're halfway there.

McKee's special storytelling voice, sometimes self-deprecating, sometimes gut-wrenching, and always honest, is the central core of "Pines Salad." Polestar's single "Bobbie" is the anchor of the album's emotional heft, written in the aftermath of his mother's death in a holding cell. That vulnerability is present throughout the album, notably on the standout tracks "You" and "Call," where McKee's voice bleeds with yearning and contemplation.

With track titles including "Papa Loves Ladyboys" and "BPD vs BiPolar," McKee mixes the heavy with humor and unfiltered commentary, underpinning his outsider allure. His favorite line from the song Amber, "I feel like a donkey in a thoroughbred show," neatly encapsulates his position in the well-burnished world of today's music, that of raw, unvarnished truth-teller.

The album, produced by the legendary Simon Moro and featuring Australian heavyweights Kit Riley, James Ryan, and Peter Marin, sounds mature and it's indie to the core. It's an album that follows the truth. ReeToxA's "Pines Salad" is a confessional packed with guitars, hearts, and plenty of chaos.

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