Spencer Griffin's New Music Mondays

 here they are: "Carolina Rain" by Rhiannon Giddens:  One of the few musicians I know who can swing easily between soul and bluegrass, Carolina Chocolate Drops' lead singer, Rhiannon Giddens, hasn't had an adult alt radio hit since 2015's soul/blues-influenced "Black is the Color." After a little over a decade, she has returned with a song that owes more to the bluegrass-influenced stuff she started with in Carolina Chocolate Drops. Even the title of the song seems kind of quaint and country-ish. "Carolina Rain" is a wistful song dominated by banjo and fiddle with very light percussion buoying it in between. Rhiannon's sweet, soothing vocals weave a story about both nostalgia and travel. A lot of nature-like imagery in this song, too, especially during the chorus, which mentions whippoorwills, fireflies, and sorghum cane. Makes you feel like you're in the Deep South just listening to it, doesn't it?! "Good Times//End Times...

 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!! "Archbishop Harold Holmes" by Jack White:  This is a song that encapsulates rock music of the '70s in so many ways! The main riff of the song resembles Sweet's "Ballroom Blitz," it sounds like a Led Zeppelin song in its overall presentation, and any number of other bands from the era could easily be compared to it! What sells this song, perhaps, even more than its music, is the hammy vocals Jack White pulls off on it! He sounds like a deranged preacher trying to sell what he believes in as passionately as he can to his audience! The title of the song also brings preachers to mind, so perhaps that's what Jack White was going for there! "Carousel Horses" by Christian Lee Hutson: Nothing says "indie" like Phoebe Bridgers and Maya Hawke guesting on your song, right?! Well, that's exactly what you should expect to hear on Christian Lee Hutson's "Carousel Horses," which starts out with a propulsive indie r...