Spencer Griffin's New Music Mondays

 here they are: "Classical" by Vampire Weekend:  The title to this song, of course, does not describe Vampire Weekend's music. That being said, though, "Classical" is  a song that illustrates the rich musical diversity that Vampire Weekend has to offer, perhaps more than any other song so far in their already vast catalog! The song manages to simultaneously sound like baroque pop, jazz, rock, synthpop, and soul, all stirred up into a tasty musical gumbo! The word "classical" in the title might just take on more than one meaning, also. There's the obvious element of classical music (even though that is not present in the song sound-wise), but "classical" here also refers to societal castes and how fragile they are. Lyrically, "Classical" seems to be about how, when different cultures clash with one another, they cause each other to collapse. A very heady topic for a very trying time in human history! "Daisy (Shine a Light)...

 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...