Spencer Griffin's New Music Mondays

 here they are: "Barbaric" by Blur: Damon Albarn and co really outdid themselves with "The Narcissist," possibly their biggest alt-rock chart hit since "Song 2" in 1997! The bittersweet majesty of that song was something no one saw coming, but it still became one of the biggest alt and adult alt radio hits of the summer! With fall approaching, we get the more upbeat and summery-sounding "Barbaric." Its skittering sound falls halfway between synth-pop and power pop. Don't be fooled by its fun sound, though. The song is actually about a breakup that occurred in Christmas, of all things! The title of the song refers to the breakup itself and how Damon feels about it. "Break Free" by Dave Matthews Band: If this sounds like an older Dave Matthews Band song, that's 'cause it is one...kinda. "Break Free" was written 17 years ago, but never released on record until now. The lyrics to the song are more interesting than the ...

 here they are: "It's Fine" by Bethany Cosentino (from Best Coast): The country-rock style might be a new thing for the mostly surf, punk, and power pop influenced Bethany Cosentino from Best Coast, and her striking out on her own might be too, but her trademark attitude, thankfully, remains the same on "It's Fine," her latest song. The title of the song, first of all, seems to be dripping with sarcasm. It seems to serve as a facade for how she really feels about life, and if the opening lines are anything to go by, she's clearly frustrated, not  fine! The song's mellow, countrified vibe is a good counterpoint to how she's really feeling, though, using a technique that people like Ryan Adams, Jenny Lewis, and Conor Oberst have all now used for decades. If you're breaking up with someone and writing about it in song, perhaps one of the best ways is to be subtle about it, and although Bethany is currently a novice at this, she'll probably h...