introvertwhy ? – jfk blue
The verdict
“jfk blue deliver nearly seven minutes of blistering big band blues rock that earns every second”
'why ?' is a song about love won and love lost, and at six minutes forty-nine seconds it has the room to explore both sides of that story. this is a re-release, originally put out at the end of 2019 and just finding its feet when covid swept it away along with everything else. we're glad it's back out there, as it's a real stunner. there are few bands making music with this much scale and swagger anymore. the arrangement is huge, layered with brass and guitar and driven by a rhythm section that knows how to build that vibe. it's an authentic, hard-won piece of work.
jfk blue are a seven-piece blues rock band from london, england, led by singer-songwriter and lead guitarist stef allsebrook. they've carved out a reputation for their organic, collaborative approach to songwriting, all seven musicians in a room together channeling observations about life and love into something bigger than any one of them could make alone. their second album is on the way, and this single makes a strong case for it. that kind of commitment to craft, refusing to compromise the vision, is rare and worth celebrating. a gem.
thank u for making this jfk blue 🎺
maybe love's a crime – downtown mystic
The verdict
“downtown mystic delivers a brilliant slice of heartland rock, blending vintage warmth with hooks sharp enough to cut”
'maybe love's a crime' arrived october 9, following the mystic highway road trip ep, and it takes a surprising turn from what came before. the track leans into classic american rock'n'roll with a modern edge, blending storytelling with vintage guitars and analog warmth. there's a stunning, bar room quality here which makes it an absolute fave this month. the arrangement is tight, the performance is even better, and this would be so good live. buffalo springfield meets rockpile is the reference point, and it fits. it's a charming, brilliantly fun single.
downtown mystic is the alter ego of american rocker robert allen, based in toms river, united states. the project has built a reputation on that 'vintage yet modern' sound, with a rhythm section that includes steve holley on drums and paul page on bass, alongside max weinberg and garry tallent of the e street band. the music has landed on over 250 tv shows and films, including the voice, american pickers and networks like fox, espn and mtv. we're not surprised, this one's a gem.
thank u for making this downtown mystic 🎸