DownTown Mystic is taking us back to where it all started. The New Jersey musician, also known as Robert Allen, is a veteran roots rocker who has been entertaining the Northeast for more than five decades. The Static Dive readers have followed the past five years of that journey, since the release of his 2019 single “The Wish”.
That track introduced a multi-talented singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer who has been deeply ingrained in the legendary NYC and Jersey music scenes since the 1960s. Back then he was a teenage guitar slinger, sharing stages with the future legends of rock & roll. In the early 2000s Allen worked as a producer for other artists. One day while tracking a session for NJ band The Discontent, he took a break from the official session joined the band to record a few of his own songs. DownTown Mystic was born.
Rock’n’Roll for the Soul is the brand new album from Downtown Mystic, released worldwide via all major streaming services on February 9, 2024. The eleven-song set is a compilation of tracks that define the DTM roots-rock sound, including new mixes of the original six songs that started it all. Like previous releases, the album features plenty of Robert’s a-list friends including the Hall of Fame rhythm section of The E Street Band—Max Weinberg & Garry Tallent, Steve Holley & Paul Page from Ian Hunter’s Rant Band, and PJ Farley & Steve Brown of Trixter.
DTM starts things off with a trio of love songs that pair a jangly guitar college rock vibe with Allen’s signature roots rock energy. “Turn Around and Go” adds a bit of U2 to the mix with an infectious anthemic riff refrain. “Dead End Space” and “Think a Little Louder” follow, leaning in on some 70-style radio-ready harmonies and hooks.
“And You Know Why” is a heartbroken torch song peppered with some simple but tasty lead guitar in the verse that brings to mind some of Adrian Belew’s solo pop work. Three tracks from that original session follow, rockers “Lost And Found” and “Think it Over” are followed by an acoustic take on Robert’s soulful soliloquy, “Soul’d Out”.
After dropping the rocking love song “Redemption”, DTM dips into his 60s roots for the psychedelic chillout “Gongs of Karma” followed by a barn burner ode to a fallen Stone, “Brian Jones”. The record closes on the last-call acoustic heartbreaker, “Last Teardrop”.
REF: Static Dive
Sacramento’s K-ZAP 93.3 FM plays DownTown Mystic–All part of 50 years of Rock, Blues and More, 24-7 on our station’s stream at K-ZAP.ORG/LISTEN/
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