Spencer Griffin's New Music Mondays

 here they are: "Bloodstream" by Alyssa Grace:  Armed with a spacious acoustic guitar and a powerful voice, Alyssa Grace makes a striking debut with "Bloodstream." The song's seemingly simple sound contrasts with its commanding presence and dark yet relatable lyrics. The subject of the song being in Alyssa's "bloodstream" refers to how she finds it hard to let go of her previous relationship. Obviously, different people feel different ways about their own past relationships, but "Bloodstream" is still a very relatable song since some things are hard to let go of! "California Sober" by Iron & Wine:  A gorgeous song, as per usual from IAW, "California Sober" doesn't seem to feature the exotic alternate tuning that "In Your Ocean" from earlier this year did, but it is probably capoed, and it seems to feature an arrangement of notes that's complex even by IAW standards. Sam Beam's lyrics are abstr...

 "Fool's Gold" by Buffalo Traffic Jam:  By now, a song like this might be considered a throwback song! A Mumford and Sons-ish galloping rhythm, a bluegrass-y vibe similar to Trampled by Turtles, and a voice like the lead singer of Caamp all combine into one bluegrass-rock tune on "Fool's Gold" by Buffalo Traffic Jam! The titular "fool's gold" seems to be numbing ways of distracting oneself from the difficulties of life, such as drugs. In other words, things like that are just a crutch. They may seem like "gold," but they're really just another way of saying "I'm OK" when you're really not. This song is like an Americanized Mumford and Sons going through a revelation that nothing in life is as it seems! "In Your Ocean" by Iron & Wine:  The sublime, alternately tuned folk-rock sound on IAW's latest song, "In Your Ocean," makes it sound like it was an outtake from an earlier album they di...

 here they are: "My Love" by Hannah Jadagu:  One of a growing number of "bedroom pop" artists (think Lana Del Rey, Lorde, Billie Eilish, etc.), Hannah Jadagu makes her debut on this blog on a dreamy, synth-driven track called "My Love." Though the song itself is sweet and buoyant, the question of whether this is a love song or a track about someone who wants to fall in love but can't seem to do so is left to interpretation.  "Palm Readers" by Palmyra:  So far, Palmyra have been a mild success story on adult alt radio with their Americana-tinged "Arizona." "Palm Readers" has a bit more of an intimate vibe than the countrified "Arizona" did. Acoustic guitar once again dominates, but the drums are more subtle this time and there's more noticeable piano on here too. There's still a bit of a country-rock wanderlust in this song ("81 back to Richmond/I drive all over Virginia"), but for the most part,...

 here they are: "All in Good Time" by Iron & Wine (featuring Fiona Apple):  Perhaps the first Iron & Wine song that focuses more on piano than guitar (at least initially), "All in Good Time" is an endearing, sweet duet between the folk-rock songsmith and the piano-based feminist alt-rocker. Though I've never known the two to have a romantic connection with one another, this does seem like a romance song. It seems to talk about how through thick and thin, Fiona and Sam (Iron & Wine) have survived it all and that they'll always be there for one another. How sweet! "Keep Going" by Guster:  After four years, indie-folk-pop/rock sensations, Guster, have released yet another album with a lead single that focuses more on synth than guitar. Unlike the goofy tones of their previous single, "Overexcited," "Keep Going" goes in the more sweet, mellow path that Guster are known for. "Keep Going" is more of an atmospheri...

 here they are:   "Be Yourself" by Wilder Woods (featuring The War and Treaty):  A song featuring two powerhouses of neo-soul oughta be a good one, right?! Well, if you're into soul songs that are slower, than yes. The piano that introduces the song gives off strong "Lean on Me" vibes, and given the song's lyrics, perhaps there's good reason for this. The song is basically affirmation for the listener that it's okay for them to be who they are. You're in a judgment-free zone with Wilder Woods and The War and Treaty! The song is a bit less energetic than the usual fare for either band, but it does work here! "Burial Ground" by The Decemberists:  Jangle-pop has always been a specialty for The Decemberists, but their latest song, "Burial Ground," is even more jangle-pop-y than their usual stuff! Perhaps part of this is due to the presence of The Shins' James Mercer on the track, who also typically specialize in jangle-pop. Th...

 here they are: "Crumble" by The National (featuring Rosanne Cash):  "Crumble" marks the second time on The National's latest album where they've collaborated with a female musician. Previously, they collaborated with pop star Taylor Swift on "The Alcott." For "Crumble," they went more classic country with the Man in Black's daughter, Rosanne. As a result, the song sounds more country than The National typically does while retaining the typical indie sound The National usually go for. The song is a downbeat track, like many National songs are, but there's something oddly nostalgic about this one that most National songs do not have. An interesting collaboration, to be sure! "Get Back" by Margaret Glaspy: Not to be confused with the Beatles track of the same name, Margaret Glaspy's latest song, "Get Back," lacks the blues-y muscle that most of her other songs do, but her distinctively raspy yet melodic vocal...