Rhett Repko - Thnx For The Ride (2018)

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Written by Wendy Owens, posted by blog admin

Rhett Repko’s new seven song EP Thnx For The Ride capped an active 2017 for this impressive musician, writer, and performer. His previous EP release About Last Night occupies a much clearer singer/songwriter niche than the new release, but he sustains the same level of excellence that’s defined his work from the outset with this new release while taking his music in a distinctly different than before. Thnx For The Ride is an outright rock and roll album – there’s some acoustic guitar present with the release, but there’s no question that electric guitar dominates these songs and Repko proves to be credible in that mold. He has an outstanding band accompanying him on this seven track journey. Lead guitarist Stefan Heuer, bassist Dan Gallagher, and drummer Tom Bryant is a crack musical unit who are never flashy without cause and give Repko’s songwriting the added spark it deserves.

The EP opener and title song “Thnx for the Ride” announces the collection’s intentions. Repko clearly wanted a gripping, immediate sound and this tune doesn’t disappoint as “Thx for the Ride” features shake you by the lapels rock thunder along with some deft shifts in time signature and tempo the band flawlessly pull off. “Please Don’t Laugh” is a little closer to straight forward rock than the opener, but there’s the same high degree of musicianship pushing things forward that distinguishes the title number. Repko’s vocal here stands out as one of the best on the EP and he mixes emotive phrasing with high energy in a way ideally suited for these songs.

A songwriting high point arrives with the track “It Ain’t Coming From You”, and Repko fans the caustic flame of heartache burning inside this song with an impassioned singing performance. Guitarist Stefan Heuer contributes some important harmony vocals throughout Thnx For The Ride, never vying with Repko for supremacy in the mix, but rather strengthening his already fine delivery. The song is musically compelling, as well, particularly during its surprising second half. “And I Told Her So” is probably Stefan Heuer’s finest moment as a guitar player on this EP and his lead work late in the song immeasurably adds to its final impact. The lyrics are exceptional, once again, without ever overreaching and Repko’s vocal ranks with the earlier “Please Don’t Laugh” as one of his best moments on Thnx For The Ride.

The brisk pacing of “Learn Your Name” allows for a number of stuttering tempo changes, yet the song never goes astray and has genuine commercial appeal to go along with its unimpeachable rock spirit. The finale “Make Me Right” is a fiery curtain for the EP and serves as a musical exclamation point for everything that’s preceded it. Rhett Repko’s written and recorded quite an explosive little rock release with Thnx For The Ride and it’s intriguing to wonder where his Muse might lead him from here.

Rhett Repko - About Last Night (2017)

OFFICIAL: www.rhettrepko.com/

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Written by David Swafford, posted by blog admin

With pop music essentially compromising bubblegum versions of electro/techno in the 2000s, it’s about time someone takes the genre back in time.  We don’t even have any Springsteens or Mellencamps these days.  If you want guitar, you’ll have to sail heavier waters.  Rhett Repko is one of the few exceptions to the 2017 rule of thumb.  Here is a guy that writes catchy, easy on the ears tunes with melody that also happens to play guitar in addition to featuring a lead guitarist in his band.  Someone get the smelling salts for I may have faint.

Repko’s debut release About Last Night may have some extreme pop traits, most notably felt on the “November Rain” styled acoustic/string masterpiece “About Last Night” and he may go totally mad with his acoustic guitar on closer “Bye Bye Baby,” but the rest of this album is a very fair division of pop with rougher, hard-rock edges.  It won’t challenge Black Sabbath or Deep Purple for the throne, yet if you interviewed Repko about his music he’s probably a bigger fan of those bands than anything currently going.  Heck, the man likes both Nirvana and The Beatles, so we know he’s got an ear for real rock. 

“Were You Ever Really Mine?” showcases the wide gamut of influences on the EP; acoustic guitars glisten, Beatles’ leaned multi-part vocal harmonies give the songs legs and hooks to run with, the rhythm section is always utilizing spicy rock n’ roll grooves and the lead guitar fires away on riffs and solo-oriented counterpoints.  There’s a great blend of influences here and they are all at work in different parts of the song.  The same can be said of “Inside of Me” though on this tune in particular, Repko polishes off his surfboard and hangs 10 on a California beach rock wave not heard very often in 2017.  “On the Run” furthers the singer/songwriter’s forays into soft acoustics given some fiery passion by plugged in riffs and lead guitar interjections. 

As a collection of songs, Repko’s EP works well more often than not.  It would be interesting to see how he streamlines the influences in the future but as it stands there is a lot to work with Rhett’s repertoire and he keeps things from falling into boredom by making sure the dichotomy of vibes is always changing.  If you like your pop with hard guitar meat and bubblegum catchiness, this will be your new go-to.