Spencer Griffin's New Music Mondays

 here they are: "Dancing on the Wall" by Muna:  This song smacks of '80s pop influence, but there's something urgent and somewhat dark about this song that wouldn't get in your run-of-the-mill Madonna or synth-pop song (this song seems to be influenced by both). On the subject of '80s pop, "Dancing in the Wall" is not like "Dancing on the Ceiling" by Lionel Richie. "Dancing on the Wall" is not a song where the singer playfully dances somewhere where a person wouldn't ordinarily be seen dancing. In fact, "dancing," in this case, is a metaphor. It's really a song where Katie Gavin is being rejected by a lover and left "dancing on the wall" as a result (fending for herself without a leg to stand on).  "Donnie Takes the Bus" by Fantastic Cat:  A throwback to late '60s/early '70s roots-rock, "Donnie Takes the Bus" by Fantastic Cat is probably going to become a fave among people wh...

 here they are: "Eternal Love" by AVTT/PTTN (The Avett Brothers and Mike Patton):  Did you ever think that a member of a rock group as heavy as Faith No More would get together with a group as roots-y and bluegrass-y as The Avett Brothers?! Well, now they have!! The song is mostly in the Avetts' direction of bittersweet bluegrass-rock, but the surprise synth solo in the middle is likely Patton's idea. The Avetts have done plenty of reflective songs, but it's a fresh new road for Mike Patton. The coolest part?! It works wonderfully for him! Well, for both of them, really. Such a reassuring song for these increasingly dark times! "Loser" by Tame Impala:  Not to be confused with the Beck song of the same name, Tame Impala's "Loser" is an interesting tune. It takes Tame Impala in a new direction with a fresh funk-rock sound! The song's sound is somewhat reminiscent of "Fame" by David Bowie. Beneath the song's funky heartbeat l...

 Love is in the air...and so are 8 new songs!! Here they are: "Ghosts Again" by Depeche Mode: Depeche Mode are not known for writing love songs as much as they for writing songs that decry politics, religion, and pretty much anything central to human affairs that has the potential to both divide and unite us, but "Ghosts Again," just in time for Valentine's Day, is a love song. Well...sort of. It's an elegy of sorts to their recently departed keyboard player, Andy Fletcher, who passed away last year. It is both surprisingly upbeat and surprisingly pristine for a DM song while still maintaining the dark vibes that the now legendary pioneers of goth-rock have become known for. The song is almost U2-ish with the exception of its constant use of keyboard, but even the keyboard has a more soothing sound than the more synth-y stuff that DM usually go for. It is as mournful as it is celebratory, and this is exactly how the surviving members of the group intended fo...