Spencer Griffin's New Music Mondays

 here they are: "Bloodline" by Kaleo:  Perhaps one of the most guitar-forward of all the indie-folk/pop bands to come out of the past 10-ish years, Kaleo deftly weave folk-rock and blues-rock in a way that few bands do (sometimes even going for Zeppelin-esque hard blues-rock like "No Good"). Kaleo's latest song, "Bloodline," sounds like a cross between the world weary soulfulness of Hozier and the blues-y garage rock of The Black Keys! This song even has a cool (but brief) guitar solo to boot! The foreboding yet tantalizing sound of the song's title goes right along with how the song actually is! The mystery of "Bloodline" is so alluring, too! Is it about a friend, or an enemy? Both, perhaps?! The second verse of the song seems to tell all, with lines like, "There's nothin' left to hide/Now let me see your dark side/A friend is hard to find/When you're first in line." Is Jokull trying to get back at someone or trying...

 here they are: "At the Beach, In Every Life" by Gigi Perez:  From the shimmering "Sailor Song" to the ethereal "Chemistry," Gigi Perez is fast becoming a rising star in the indie-folk community, and it's not hard to see why! Her songs touch an emotional nerve in both lyric and music! Her latest, "At the Beach, In Every Life," continues her pattern of shiny indie-folk with vulnerable lyrics. It tells a bittersweet tale of betrayal but still wanting to see the person who wronged you just because things used to feel right with them.  "Everybody Laughs" by David Byrne:  Often known for being more funky than folky, "Everybody Laughs" is that rare song that shows the folk-y side of David Byrne (while still keeping a bit of the funk side intact). The song is also more warm than it is weird. We've come to expect the weird from David Byrne, but "Everybody Laughs" is a song that touches upon emotional truth. He's ...

 here they are: "Afterlife" by Alex G:  I overlooked Alex G when he first debuted on the adult alt radio scene with "The Runner" (I think a lot was going on in my life back then), but I've mellowed out enough since then that I'm ready to hear his latest tune, "Afterlife." I must say, I like what I'm hearing so far! Pop/rock beats wed to a string instrument that sounds like it could be mandolin all while feeling like a mellow day out on the lake while you listen to it? I'm all for it! "Afterlife" can mean different things to different people too. I mean Sharon Van Etten already came out with another song of the same title this year, but that one seemed to be more about a yearning hope to see someone after our mortal years end. In Alex G's song, "Afterlife" appears to be more of a metaphor for starting a fresh new life after a life filled with awkward mistakes. Seems pretty relatable to me! "@$$hole (When We First...

 here they are: "Elderberry Wine" by Wednesday:  Not to be confused with the lively Elton John song of the same name, Wednesday's "Elderberry Wine" is a sweet, reflective country-rock song with lilting vocals. Lead singer Karly Hartzman says in the song that "even the best champagne tastes like elderberry wine." Not sure exactly what she means by this, but it sounds interesting! "Everyday Magic" by My Morning Jacket:  After the psychedelic yet still reflective "Time Waited" from earlier this year, MMJ are back with a more free-spirited and funky song with "Everyday Magic"! The song is fun and has somewhat psychedelic imagery ("a ripple in the fabric"). It's also one of the more danceable MMJ tunes, which adds to its fun vibes! "Inept Apollo" by Nation of Language:  Our last song is a largely synth-driven tune with an interesting title! The lyrics seem somewhat cryptic, though from what I can gather ...

 here they are: "Clean Heart" by Perfume Genius:  After the surprisingly folk-rock-y "It's a Mirror," Perfume Genius are back to the trip-hop-y, breezy indie-pop they're known for with "Clean Heart." An interesting combination of instruments seem to combine here to make the song sound as affecting as it does! It almost seems like Nick Drake's "Northern Sky" if it relied more on keyboard than on guitar, and it's even in the same key as that song is (D sharp/E flat major). A lot of synthetic instruments here, as one might expect from Perfume Genius, but there's a very tinkly xylophone-ish sound oddly reminiscent of the Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood  intro that seems to run throughout the song and that kind of makes it what it is! Halfway through, as the song briefly gets stripped down to one instrument, there is a bit of guitar in it, but that part quickly gets clouded by the other instruments of the song. Michael Alden Hadreas...

 here they are: "Ancient Light" by I'm With Her:  I'm With Her is an all-female folk-rock supergroup comprised of Sara Watkins from bluegrass-rock group Nickel Creek, Americana singer/songwriter Sarah Jarosz (juh-ROSE), and Irish indie-folk-rocker Aoife (EE-fee) O'Donovan. So what do these three acoustic rock heavyweights sound like together?! Sweet and pleasant, like one might expect from any of these singers as solo artists, and with an infusion of acoustic guitar and fiddle, fitting to the country-rock and bluegrass-rock sounds most of them have. "Sparks and smoke rings fill up the night," the three women sing in harmony together during the chorus, following it up with the line, "When it catches, I'll be swimming in the ancient light." I'm not sure exactly what they mean by "ancient light," but part of the charm of this song and songs like it is how the interpretation of what they're talking about seems to be left up to...