Spencer Griffin's New Music Mondays

 here they are: "Guess I'm Fallin' in Love" by Spoon:  A new single from Spoon AFTER they put one out last week?! I guess some bands like dueling singles!! Anyway, "Guess I'm Fallin' in Love" functions as the more melodic, new wave-y, psych-pop counterpart to the more blues-garage-y "Chateau Blues," so perhaps that's why Adult Alt radio has gravitated more towards this one (though the two songs seem to almost be neck and neck at this point). The song still has plenty of indie/alt irony to win over fans of more mainstream alt stations, though. Even the title of the song is headed by the word "guess," indicating uncertainty as to whether Britt Daniels even wants to fall in love in the first place. It's like he's trying to fight off affection at the same time he's trying to accept it.  "I'm Not Ready for the Change" by Nation of Language:  NOL's previous single, "Inept Apollo," was synth-la...

 here they are: "Aerial Troubles" by Stereolab:   Stereolab have been active for over 35 years, but this marks the first time I've really gotten to hear one of their songs! Though I don't know their material too well, I did get the impression from hearing about them that they mixed the bittersweet side of 1960's pop music with more avant-garde aspects of music, and "Aerial Troubles" seems to be confirming that this is indeed what Stereolab sounds like! The Anglo-French indie outfit whisper and sing playfully over swirling synths and sprawling harpsichords that sound like they came straight out of an obscure French avant-garde romance film! If any song screams "French hipster," this is it! Not that anyone asked, of course. "Chemistry" by Gigi Perez:  Last summer, we were introduced to Gigi Perez, whose indie-folk sound seemed to contrast with her fast-spreading TikTok fame. Where her "Sailor Song" was more or less straight up...

 here they are: "Can't Believe We're Here" by J. Mascis:  Like a lot of his solo stuff, the Dinosaur Jr. frontman's latest song leans more towards folk-rock than noise-rock (except maybe during the guitar solo part), but it still contains the raw, ragged sense of honesty and world weariness he is known for. The song seems to be a lament about a relationship he has gone through, with the titular "we" referring to him and his partner. Typical Dino Jr./Mascis disillusionment with life here.  "From the Start" by Laufey:  Look out, Bjork! Another eclectic Icelander is on your path, and her name is Laufey (pronounced like "lay-vay"). Laufey has earned comparisons to other charmingly weird (or would that be weirdly charming?!) women in indie-folk-pop of the 2020's such as beabadoobee and Mitski, and with her unpredictable yet super catchy combo of indie-folk and bossa nova (of all things), it's easy to see why she has been compared t...