Music serves many purposes but mainly it is a good mood changer or suitable for creating a specific atmosphere. With all of that considered, when was the last time you threw a CD into the stereo and knew right from the start that the music you were hearing was going to make you smile and be a truckload of fun? Well I have just the right prescription from the rock ‘n’ roll doctor, the name is Downtown Mystic.
Standing Still is the third and likely the best recording to date for the band. The band consists mainly of Robert Allen (vocals, lead & rhythm guitar, acoustic, electric 12 string & piano), Steve Holley (drums & percussion) and Paul Paige (bass). The Downtown Mystic sound is created with vintage guitars and analog recording that draw from a foundation of rock, blues and country to formulate a distinctive Rock-Americana sound that is played with lots of heart and energy.
As the musical door opens we go right out the “Backdoor”, which serves as an endless stream of old fashioned rock ‘n’ roll energy. The track puts you right in the middle of some shanty town bar with people dancing and laughter everywhere. The story may not have a happy ending but the music makes up for that situation with incredible bursts of rockin’ guitars supported by a solid layer of rhythm. Then when you hear “Modern Ways” kick up its heels with an intro that would fit the sound of a Chuck Berry hit, you know this band means business when they tell their stories. Every track serves up a heaping helping of the same and it raises the roof without sacrificing the overall production values, you hear every instrument precisely. The mix is not muddy at all; it’s crisp and clear with vocals that are gritty yet totally understandable. For this listener this is the kind of recording that has all the elements to satisfy my musical tastes with plenty of juice to keep me going long after it’s all over.
Standing Still is a great listen and anyone interested in hearing some good rock with influences from county and blues (which essentially is Americana) will be quite pleased with this CD. You get 13 tracks of unpretentious spirited music with personality and an endless flow of energy that is simply irresistible.
Key Tracks: Backdoor, Sometimes Wrong, Rise And Fall
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck
June 13, 2010
