Spencer Griffin's New Music Mondays

 here they are: "Cold at Night" by The Mountain Goats:  A song that was released last month but that I'm just starting to get to know now...it only figures The Mountain Goats would release something on Halloween month, right?! I mean with titles like "Damn These Vampires," "Up the Wolves," and "Werewolf Gimmick," The Mountain Goats run the gamut when it comes to "spooky" titles and topics. "Cold at Night" fits right along with that. The song also has a bit more of a rock sound than fans of the Goats' normally folk-rock-y music might be used to, but it still lands roughly in that indie-folk-ish patch. I'm surprised there isn't "fandom rivalry" between The Mountain Goats and The Decemberists, given how both were mid-'00s indie-folk-rock groups who often sing about dark subject matter over sweet folk-rock-y melodies. "Cold at Night" totally lands in that Decemberists-ish spot with its tale ...

 here they are: "Another Dimension" by Daniel Donato (featuring Elle King):  If you're a fan of the "trippy country music" style The Grateful Dead became known for, you'll like this song! Daniel Donato is already a bit of a "cosmic cowboy," so to speak, and although Elle is more known for sassy tunes like "Ex's and Oh's," she did start out doing more country-influenced tunes, so she's no stranger to the style either. It's easy to assume from the song's swirly sound that "Another Dimension" has a title that's a drug reference, but beneath the surface? Well, it's actually even darker than you might expect (but also more reassuring)! It seems to be about how chaotic the world has gotten lately, but that there's an alternate "dimension" you can escape to where you don't have to face the conflict. "Break the Jaw" by Madison Cunningham:  A folk-rock-y song from Madison, as per us...

 Here they are, everyone!! Counting 'em down from 20 to 1: 20. "Rainbow" - Cage the Elephant 19. "Peaceful Place" - Leon Bridges 18. "Sinner" - The Last Dinner Party 17. "Classical" - Vampire Weekend 16. "Someday, Someday" - Pete Yorn 15. "Happiness" - The Heavy Heavy 14. "On the Game" - The Black Keys 13. "Sexy to Someone" - Clairo 12. "Home" - Good Neighbours 11. "Good Together" - Lake Street Dive 10. "Beautiful People (Stay High)" - The Black Keys 9. "Neon Pill" - Cage the Elephant  8. "Water Underground" - Real Estate 7. "Capricorn" - Vampire Weekend 6. "Heartless" - Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats 5. "Ice Cream (Pay Phone)" - Black Pumas 4. "Scared to Start" - Michael Marcagi 3. "Burial Ground" - The Decemberists 2. "Highway Queen" - Mt. Joy ....and...the number one song of the year...

 here they are: "Beaches" by beabadoobee:  I thought beabadoobee wouldn't achieve mainstream success again after the bubbly, Regina Spektor-esque song, "The Perfect Pair," made it onto both my local alternative station and  my local smooth jazz station about two years ago, but the eclectic indie sensation made huge waves yet again this year with her summer smash, "Take a Bite," which might mark the first time that she topped the adult alt radio charts, even though she has been featured on said charts many times before. beabadoobee seems to have a fondness for '90s alt-rock, and it shows on her latest song, "Beaches," which has echoes of some of the softer No Doubt songs like "Don't Speak" and "Simple Kind of Life." "Beaches" tries to rock out with its grungy distortion and its electric guitar solo towards the end, but it still very much a breezy, post-summer soft rock tune for the indie generation. The ly...

 here they are: "Creatures in Heaven" by Glass Animals:  Glass Animals have been around since 2015, but it was only about three years ago that they experienced their biggest success with the chill electro-reggae-rock vibes of "Heat Waves." "Creatures in Heaven" sounds a bit more like a typical electro-rock Glass Animals song without the reggae-ish rhythms that distinguished "Heat Waves" from their other songs, but Glass Animals still manage to captivate their audience with "Creatures in Heaven." "Heaven" in the context of the song seems to refer to a state of bliss for an undefined moment in time, and the "creatures" are probably the lead singer and either a lover or a close friend. The song's central message is likely about how you should appreciate the time you've got in life while you've still got it. "Eddie My Love" by Brigitte Calls Me Baby:  After the lively post-punk revival sound of BCMB...

 Green Day and blink-182 are BOTH back?! Say WHAT?! Not every day this happens (and I barely even like blink to begin with, but their latest song changes my opinion of them)!! The '90s are back, baby! Four other songs worth listening to here, too. Enjoy! "American Dream is Killing Me" by Green Day:  Green Day became the Clash of latter-day rock music with the release of American Idiot  in 2004, which expanded the formerly bratty punk-pop-rockers both lyrically and musically. "American Dream is Killing Me," the latest from the first '90s punk-pop group to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, continues where American Idiot left off. In addition to having a similar title to that album, the song also has similar themes with its dissatisfaction of the American government and politics. The song has a similar riff and rhythm to their '04 song, "Holiday" (which itself seemed to borrow heavily from The Clash's "London Calling,"...

 here they are: "Act Natural" by Margaret Glaspy: After 2016's one-two punch of gutsy, blues-rockin' adult alt radio hits "You and I" and "Emotions and Math," I never thought I'd hear from Margaret Glaspy again. Surprise! Seven years later, Margaret is back with a vengeance on the equally rockin' and equally gutsy "Act Natural." The song, like Margaret's previous two adult alt radio hits, explores the pitfalls of new relationships. Specifically, "Act Natural" centers around what it's like to be excited on the inside but calm on the outside when you have a new romantic relationship. I think we've all been there. "Francesca" by Hozier: If Hozier's adult alt radio smash from earlier this year, "Eat Your Young," could be aptly described as "creepy but catchy," then "Francesca" would probably best be described as a song that's powerful but sad. Probably the closest t...

 here they are: "After Midnight" by Phoenix (featuring Clairo): Phoenix have always been influenced by synthpop, but it's never been as obvious an influence on their music as it has with their latest song, "After Midnight" (not to be confused for the Eric Clapton song of the same name). Some of their later work uses a bit less guitar than their early stuff did, and this is no exception. Enlisting the help of fellow indie-pop sensation, Clairo, Phoenix churn out their most synthpop-y song yet with "After Midnight." Underneath this seemingly simple song, the phrase "Listen, it's illicit" is sung repeatedly, and so fast that it sound more like "listen, listen." "Classics" by Moon Taxi: So here's a song about...songs! The latest song from Moon Taxi starts out sounding like a children's toy piano version of John Lennon's "Imagine" before dissolving more into typical 2010's/'20s indie-pop a la C...