ReeToxA is the creative vehicle for Melbourne-based songwriter Jason McKee, and his latest project, Soliloquy, is the definition of a long-game release. McKee first began sketching out the ideas for this record as far back as 1997, but life including a prison stint and the loss of his mother consistently sidelined his musical ambitions. It was not until the forced stillness of the pandemic that McKee finally revisited a massive archive of demos, narrowing down a sprawling six-album concept into this twenty-six track double album. The name ReeToxA itself is a nod to McKee’s time in recovery, and that raw, unfiltered spirit of reflection permeates the writing. Recorded with ARIA-nominated producer Simon Moro and a seasoned backing band, Soliloquy serves as an emotional excavation that blends 90s-inspired alternative rock with sophisticated orchestral flourishes.

Track-by-Track

REETOXA

The self-titled opener features thumping drums and gritty guitar work that establishes the album’s alternative rock foundation with a heavy and uncompromising energy. It sets a dark but inviting tone for the rest of the journey.

INSATIABLE

This track follows as a driving piece that leans into the hunger of creative obsession. It matches McKee’s husky vocals with an urgent and restless tempo that keeps the momentum high.

AKAROA

This serves as one of the more atmospheric moments on the record. It uses reflective undertones and spacey production to pull the listener into a more introspective and quiet headspace.

BOTTLE

This stands out as the oldest track on the album, dating back to 1997. It acts as a grounded and authentic bridge between McKee’s past and present while focusing on themes of dependency and the passage of time.

DANCING WITH LOU

The song provides a mid-tempo groove that balances a certain noir rock aesthetic with steady and purposeful percussion. It feels like a late-night stroll through a rain-slicked city.

THRIFT SHOP DRESS

This is a lighter and more cinematic track driven by lively riffs. The instrumentation paints a vivid and almost cheeky picture of a fleeting attraction that feels refreshingly upbeat.

THE LISA SONG

This track is a personal character study that showcases McKee’s ability to turn specific memories into relatable melodic rock. It highlights his strengths as a narrative songwriter.

GOWN

This song reaches significant emotional depth as it deals with growth and the literal or metaphorical shedding of old skins. The production builds slowly to mirror the weight of the lyrical themes.

TRUCE

The track offers a sonic breather that slows the pace of the album. It emphasizes the weary and lived-in quality of McKee’s vocal delivery, making the performance feel incredibly intimate.

JOSEPHINE

This song leans toward the storyteller side of the album by focusing on narrative detail and character development. It chooses subtle instrumentation over sheer volume to get its point across.

JADE EYES

This track opens the second half of the project with a focus on clean melody. It features a notably brighter guitar tone that provides a brief contrast to the grittier tracks.

ALCOHOL 2

As a direct sequel to the earlier themes of the album, this song deals honestly with the recurring cycles of addiction. It is a vulnerable and unvarnished look at a difficult subject.

DEMAND PERFECTION

This is a hard-hitting commentary on the internal pressures of the creative process. It captures the struggle to let go of a project that has been decades in the making.

ERICA AND THE STARS

The song introduces more of the orchestral depth mentioned in the album background. It creates a massive and expansive soundscape that feels both grand and personal.

TIMOR LESTE

This track marks a pivot toward global storytelling that begins with gentle piano. It eventually swells into a lush and string-heavy arrangement that feels genuinely cinematic.

STARE AT THE SEA

This is a classic coastal rock track that feels synonymous with McKee’s Australian roots. It captures a sense of open space and the meditative quality of the ocean.

SCHITZO WALTZ

The song provides an experimental moment with a shifting time signature. This rhythmic complexity perfectly reflects the restless and scattered themes explored in the lyrics.

LOVE KEEPS BURNING STILL

This track acts as a resilient anthem that brings the energy back up as the album nears its final stretch. It serves as a reminder of persistence in the face of hardship.

YOU DESERVE BETTER THAN ME

This is a brutally honest and self-deprecating ballad. It highlights the record’s complete lack of pretension and McKee’s willingness to be seen in a raw light.

PURPLE VEIN

The track is gritty and dark, returning the listener to the heavier alternative sounds of the opening. It provides a surge of intensity before the album begins its final descent.

DRESS ME UP

This is a mid-tempo track with a focus on identity. It explores the various masks people wear in daily life and the difficulty of showing one’s true self.

WAR KILLER

As one of the most intense tracks on the disc, it features grinding guitars and a menacing delivery. This song ramps up the tension significantly as the finale approaches.

GIRLS ROCK

This is a punchy and high-energy track that breaks up the heavier emotional themes. It injects a pure rock and roll spirit into the late-stage tracklist.

WAKE UP LUCY

The song is a melodic and slightly psychedelic track. It serves as a final bridge toward the end of the journey, blending traditional rock with more experimental sounds.

STRONG

This is a powerful late-album highlight that serves as a statement of survival. The production strips back the noise to focus entirely on the weight and truth of the lyrics.

ALRIGHT

The closer provides a sense of hard-won resolution. It leaves the listener with the feeling of finally arriving at a place of peace after a long and turbulent journey.

Final Thoughts

Soliloquy is a massive undertaking that succeeds because Jason McKee has distilled these songs over nearly thirty years, leaving very little fluff behind. The project feels like a life archive rather than just a collection of songs, and the textured production avoids a sterile and over-polished sound to favor raw honesty. It is an ambitious effort that rewards the listener for sticking through the entire twenty-six track experience.

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