"ALCOHOL" By ReeToxA

By By Karen Scott

It is unfair to create a description of the rebellious burst of Boyle and Story, scattered with fury. No one should have the right to define it. One could say, a piece of Alcohol is for sure the breakout title from his new album. One could call it a masterpiece. With his raw, abrasive personality, dark, edgy humor, and, of course, emotionally driven lyrics, it is no surprise that ReeToxA consolidates his place as the most primal and authentic of ‘self voice’ throughout the performing world.  You can voice your hidden feelings, your inner weaknesses, pour them over to the world, as long as it is to the melodies of “Alcohol.”

This "Alcohol" is a rambly, yet somehow charming, confession addressing issues like impulsiveness, social anxiety, and a touch of the false bravery that derives from alcohol consumption, one drink too many. It's a tale of a man who, if given the chance, would even realize that the custom he temporarily emboldened himself using the drink of choice, only to find himself the next day in the suburbs. To make things worse, he is poor, hiding from the reality of a hangover he didn't even realize remained within himself, and having to put himself through the torture of addiction as he has to go purchase another phone. Writing doesn't teach lessons, and this isn't one. It's about ReeToxA turning the mental chaos of a night out into a moment of raw humanity. Balancing with a touch of sarcasm, he criticized himself in writing and gave it to the masses as a gift. The gift is a piece of work that can be celebrated by all, as he and they, too, had a night of bold decisions they didn't regret. No, this piece isn't about the night. It's about the humanity in the raw regret one can chalk up to being self-awareness. It's a poetic work that can only be produced through the lived experience, crafted to get one out of the intoxicating, tricking, toying self. It's relatable.

“Alcohol” exemplifies the punk genre's immediacy and ferocious rage, grasping the listeners at once. Although its production features hard-to-miss coarse designs, it is clearly laid out. With the urgency of sharpened blades, guitars, along with the heavy thumping of the bass, are swept to the foreground of the mix. With an overt punk consistency, the drums relentlessly sustain the forward drive. Under the arrangement of the track, and fitting into the theme, is the soft undercloth of grunge. From start to finish, the song holds an impressive energy, lively, and capable of jolting the listeners up, off their butts, and out onto the floor. However, simplicity and straightforwardness in production do not mellow the executions’ joyful and triumphant essence, reflecting all of the inexperience, rawness, and earnestness on the artist’s card.

Of all the features that make “Alcohol” the riot that it is, the biggest one has to be ReeToxA himself and the vocal performance that takes center stage and holds nothing back. That theatrical snarling. You know the one; it takes a special skill to sound like they’re beaming so much one minute, and then snarling the next, all the while nailing that frustrating, swaggering, and humorous tone. There's so much growl in the performance that it feels like it was breathed in from a terrifying ordeal, and the story being told ends with a laugh. Frustration takes a backseat to the story, and ReeToxA is the perfect embodiment of that. It speaks to the core of punk: confidence, pollution and sewage, rebellion and self-awareness, and a good old-fashioned chaotically true truth. That performance stands with the arrangement's explosion as cathartic; it's the sound of someone with all their flaws describing them, flaws out in the open, and all the shame is burned away.  

If nothing else, it's truly one of a kind, and it's a prime example of why ReeToxA has so much support from his fans, and gives them all around the world something to believe in. He does so much more than write songs; he captures the humor and pain and makes real-life episodes in song, and it's like a snapshot that's a bit messy but feels real. It's a special moment; in the midst of the overwhelming need to stay polished, he gives a moment, a real cathartic one, to embrace all chaos. It's a true reflection of what it is to be a real punk, and the song lives as a great testament to that ability of his, with chaos and a hint of raw catharsis being a primary message. The song is a great tribute to the fact that being raw and reckless is good, and it captures the testament of punk flawlessly. It's great to see that the fans all around the world know this true reflection of him, and it stands the test of time wonderfully. For longtime fans and new listeners alike, “Alcohol” is an easy must-stream, a punk rock highlight that captures the heart of what makes the genre timeless.