Spencer Griffin's New Music Mondays

 Here they are: "Lonely in the Future" by The Strokes:  If you thought The Strokes' previous single, "Going Shopping," critiqued the modern world, "Lonely in the Future" punctures and wounds it, in both the best and worst ways possible! Julian Casablancas tells us right from the start that he "did that yesterday, when [he] was a kid." Of course, we know Julian wasn't literally a "kid" yesterday, but as criticism towards many modern entertainers ranging from John Legend to Josh Groban to The Weeknd to Harry Styles mounts through the first verse (and even contemporary phrases, like "YOLO"), he's basically telling us that modern life is overrated and kind of empty, hence the line, "it's lonely in the future." Over the song's funky space-age post-punk revival sound, "Lonely in the Future" is essentially telling us that the "future" is isolating us more than it is truly connecting u...

 here they are: "Coast" by Snocaps:  With Waxahatchee, Katie Crutchfield focused mostly on roots-y, country-ish sounds. With Snocaps, she seems more intent on bringing back the sounds of women from '90s alt-rock! Snocaps latest song, "Coast," gives off vibes of Liz Phair, PJ Harvey, The Breeders, Garbage, Cardigans, Luscious Jackson, and more. Fitting to its alt-rock spirit, "Coast" also has a minimalist lyrical approach (no chorus, 2 and a half minutes, less than 20 lines, repeating chord sequence throughout). The title of the song also seems like it has a double meaning, referring to both location and to its verbal use as a slangy synonym for "relax" ("I never could just coast"). Dry-witted, frustrated angst takes center stage here! "Future Soul" by The Tedeschi-Trucks Band:  As a blues-based band, it's only natural that Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks would have some rock and roll chops, but they've never rocked...

 here they are: "Bloodline" by Kaleo:  Perhaps one of the most guitar-forward of all the indie-folk/pop bands to come out of the past 10-ish years, Kaleo deftly weave folk-rock and blues-rock in a way that few bands do (sometimes even going for Zeppelin-esque hard blues-rock like "No Good"). Kaleo's latest song, "Bloodline," sounds like a cross between the world weary soulfulness of Hozier and the blues-y garage rock of The Black Keys! This song even has a cool (but brief) guitar solo to boot! The foreboding yet tantalizing sound of the song's title goes right along with how the song actually is! The mystery of "Bloodline" is so alluring, too! Is it about a friend, or an enemy? Both, perhaps?! The second verse of the song seems to tell all, with lines like, "There's nothin' left to hide/Now let me see your dark side/A friend is hard to find/When you're first in line." Is Jokull trying to get back at someone or trying...