Listening to the new DownTown Mystic EP, "Mystic Highway", is a bit like finding an old, perfectly worn-in roadmap in the glovebox of a brand new car. It has the feel of something essential, something foundational, yet it’s being used to navigate a landscape of blindingly modern anxieties. Robert Allen, the architect behind this project, isn’t just playing classic rock; he's conducting a seance...

Raquel Ramos really mixes it up on her single "Advice," drawing from what feels like a whole generational Rolodex of music. You've got that 90s alt-rock edge, some pure pop earnestness, and hints of R&B soul woven through it. And the song itself (from Ramos, who used to be Sirena Sol) doesn't hit you softly; it feels more like the surprise of finding a...