After three decades of simmering in Melbourne’s music scene, Jason McKee emerges as ReeToxA with his long-awaited debut album Pines Salad – a 14-track love letter to ’90s alt-rock filtered through modern sensibilities. Released on March 31, 2025, this carefully curated collection – produced by Simon Moro and featuring Aussie rock royalty like Jet’s Peter Marin on drums – delivers equal parts raw vulnerability and cheeky bravado, like Pearl Jam and Olivia Rodrigo jamming in a Melbourne pub.
The album’s title – a wink to Frankston’s slang for cannabis – hints at McKee’s unpolished charm, with lyrics that swing from heart-wrenching confessions (the grief-stricken lead single Bobbie, written during a jail stint after his mother’s death) to self-deprecating romantic misadventures (“I feel like a donkey in a thoroughbred show”, he croons on Amber). Tracks like these, some dating back to McKee’s teenage years, benefit from A-list musicianship (Michael Bublé’s bassist Kit Riley, King Canyon’s James Ryan) while retaining their garage-band soul.
Hailing from Naarm/Melbourne, McKee has been crafting songs since he was 15, drawing inspiration from the raw energy of Kurt Cobain and the pop prowess of Taylor Swift. After years of honing his craft, including a surreal encounter where he played a demo for Jeff Buckley in the ’90s, McKee is finally stepping into the spotlight. “Pines Salad” is the culmination of this journey, a labor of love produced by Australian heavyweight Simon Moro and featuring some of the country’s finest musicians: Kit Riley (Michael Bublé, Savage Garden) on bass, James Ryan (King Canyon) on guitar, and Peter Marin (Jet) on drums. McKee highlights the privilege of working with Australia’s musical elite, stating it “got the best results for my songs possible.”
The album’s title, “Pines Salad,” is a cheeky nod to Frankston slang for a bag of weed, setting the tone for McKee’s clever, unfiltered lyricism. The lead single, “Bobbie,” cuts deep, born from the pain of losing his mother while incarcerated. Across the record, many tracks wrestle with his self-described “confusion with women,” delivered with a raw honesty that is both relatable and disarming. A standout lyric from the track “Amber,” “I feel like a donkey in a thoroughbred show,” perfectly captures his outsider charm in a world often consumed by polished perfection.
McKee emphasizes that this is not a rushed debut, noting, “Finally, after 30 years of songwriting, I am able to release my music to the world.” “Pines Salad” is a carefully curated collection, with some tracks like “Amber” dating back to his teenage years, while newer cuts reflect his evolution as a songwriter who always prioritizes the song itself. The journey of “Pines Salad” kicks off with a music video for “Bobbie,” offering a visual glimpse into the album’s emotional core. This is rock with roots, heart, and a touch of mischief; ReeToxA is poised to shake up the scene, one cleverly twisted lyric at a time.
With ‘Pines Salad,’ ReeToxA emerges as a refreshing voice in the music scene, blending the raw energy of ’90s alt-rock with modern sensibilities. This album is a triumph of honesty and humor, showcasing Jason McKee’s evolution as a songwriter who isn’t afraid to confront his vulnerabilities while celebrating life’s quirky moments. It’s a compelling collection that invites listeners to resonate with McKee’s journey of resilience and self-discovery.
