Spencer Griffin's New Music Mondays

 here they are: "Girl From the Record Shop" by Frank Turner:  It's rare to get a song these days that's under 2 minutes, but that's exactly what Frank Turner's latest song, "Girl From the Record Shop," is! The song's high-energy punk-rock vibes fit with how short it is, as most Ramones songs could probably tell you. The song even sounds a bit like The Ramones' cover of The Rivieras' "California Sun," albeit with more organ. This song is packed with music references, ranging from Motown acts to Radiohead to Queen to The Descendents! Music nerds, rejoice!  "Run Your Mouth" by The Marias:  I first discovered The Marias, believe it or not, with a Christmas song they did called "We're the Lucky Ones." About a year after that came their big alt and adult alt radio hit, "Hush," which was a sort of dark, scathing song that was equal parts electronica and rock. Flash forward a few years to the present, a...

 here they are: "Common Blue" by Warpaint:  It's been about 7 years since Warpaint last released a successful adult alt radio single, so I was pleasantly surprised to hear they were making a comeback! Where their previous single, "New Song," was mostly upbeat and synth-focused, "Common Blue" is a more melancholy song that focuses equally on synth and acoustic guitar. The title is not mentioned anywhere within the lyrics of the song, so I can only guess what it refers to, but perhaps it refers to the part where lead singer Emily Kokal asks, "Can you see the colors?" Lyrically, it is an interesting song that uses vivid imagery like colors and butterflies to refer to the brevity and scarcity of life.  "Highway Queen" by Mt. Joy:  It has been common for Mt. Joy to incorporate elements of folk-rock and psychedelic rock into their music, but so far, "Highway Queen" is the first time they've tried their hand at bluegrass! The...

 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: "Broken Man" by St. Vincent:  Like many St. Vincent songs, "Broken Man" is an invigorating, original composition that pushes musical boundaries! The song's minimalist two-note structure is both fear-inducing and alluring, and the song does add more notes towards the end, but not by much. The title alone of "Broken Man" should give you a hint of how it sounds. The sound is a bit less like the two Davids (Bowie and Byrne) that typically inspire St. Vincent's material and is more reminiscent of people like Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor, albeit in a way that's not nearly as aggressive as his material is. Highly worth listening to! "Good Together" by Lake Street Dive:  Neo-soul/blues-rock outfit Lake Street Dive have now been together for 10 years! Can you believe it?! So what are they doing to celebrate their success?! Releasing one of their most upbeat, happy songs yet! It's rare for Lake Street Dive not to have a...

 here they are: "Big Love" by Camera Obscura:  It's not that far to make the leap from folk-rock to country-rock since both rely on acoustic guitar as the central instrument, but Camera Obscura's "Big Love" isn't just a switch in sound. It's also a tribute to country legend, Waylon Jennings. So yeah, there's a reason there's a steel pedal guitar driving this song forward. Not exactly what I'd expect from a band who wrote a song about '80s alt-rock singer/songwriter, Lloyd Cole, but it does add new dimension to what little I know of their material! "Capricorn" by Vampire Weekend:  Vampire Weekend's latest song (whose title is synonymous with my birth sign) is a significant departure from the herky-jerky reggae-rock fusion they're typically known for. It might just be the first folk-rock song in their catalog! "Capricorn" centers around acoustic guitar, piano, and string orchestra. As an added bonus, "Ca...

 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: "Fly" by Chicano Batman:  Want somethin' funkaayyy?! Then Chicano Batman might just have the song you're lookin' for! Even the beginning of their latest song, "Fly," sounds like something out of an early Prince tune! Though Chicano Batman are typically influenced by rhythmic music to begin with, they haven't tackled funk yet (at least not to my knowledge), so this is a refreshing new direction for them to go in! The lyrics of this song also seem to be rather Prince-esque, dripping with lurid innuendo from start to finish meant to seduce the listeners. Chicano Batman, you got us right where you want us! "Her Way Out" by Big Head Todd and The Monsters:  The latest song from '90s jam band, Big Head Todd and The Monsters, "Her Way Out" seems like a Tom Petty song in both its rootsy-ness and the one-two punch of the power chords that punctuate each line. Big Head Todd and The Monsters apparently meant this to sound ...