DownTown Mystic: E Street Legends, Restraint Wins

The On E Street Remix offers a certain feel—memories stained by alcohol, speakers emitting static, concrete under foot. In contrast, Dowtown Mystic is as comfortable as your favorite old splattered T shirt when you enter into the music. You are about to experience something new from Robert Allen.

Robert Allen is seeking after something unlike anything else seen recently—something which has great substance; he wants to experience something called "muscle memory." This type of memory is found inside the residue of cigarettes and the fuzz of old cassette tapes; it is also found in late-night recordings made by musicians who keep evolving regardless of the time of day.

Next, there is a transition into a call-to-action when you introduce to "Mighty" Max Weinberg, Garry Tallent and the rest of the band—as legends?—more importantly, as architects who build a rhythm section second to none. When they are added to the track "Way To Know", the whole project changes—it becomes more urgent—it cannot be dated—it feels like you are walking down a street that exists now.

The unexpected thing isn’t only how uncommon it is for them to collaborate on a record outside of the E Street circle, but there is also a level of restraint in doing so. There's true groove, tension, and release without any over-the-top excess.

The song designs such as "Hard Enough" and "And You Know Why" are designed to be intentional; providing radio play, but also allowing you to listen on your long ride home. The video imagery supports this same concept — dirty, humane, and unfiltered.

When most of the market is looking for things that are lightning fast, DownTown Mystic is playing for the long term, and it’s paying off.