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...

Atlanta-born indie rock outfit Last Relapse broke a 13-year hiatus last year to share their devastatingly patient single, “In My Place.” Reunited and unhurried, the band proves that letting a track simply breathe is sometimes the boldest creative move. By skipping the click track entirely, they capture a delightfully human, swaying waltz pulse that pulls you in long before you realize you are drowning...