Five fall albums everyone should listen to
Music is as essential to fall as pumpkin spice as Halloween.
I don’t think it would be crazy to say that my favorite season is fall, as it’s when I can finally pull out my favorite sweater and slip on my thrifted Uggs. Between the perfect weather, the beautiful autumnal colors and Halloween of course there’s no contest that fall is the best. And besides scary movies, I find music puts me in the fall mood the fastest.
“Comedown Machine” by The Strokes
I would be remiss to not include an album by The Strokes on this list. It was difficult to narrow down the most “fall” album from their discography, but I kept coming back to “Comedown Machine” for its fun energetic tracks mixed with slower, more thoughtful songs. Tracks such as “Tap Out” and “Welcome to Japan” are perfect for those warm fall days; while slower tracks such as “Call it Fate, Call it Karma” and “Chances” fit those cold rainy autumn nights flawlessly.
“Helplessness Blues”by Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes’s second studio album “Helplessness Blues” is the perfect fall album. My personal favorite track is “Bedouin Dress,” the guitar chords make the song feel like you’re dressed up for an October Renaissance Festival. The whole album elicits the feeling of seeing the first leaves turn orange and knowing that it’s finally fall.
3. “Vampire Weekend” by Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend’s 2008 self-titled debut album perfectly fits those warm fall walks and spending hours at a cafe. The songs remind me of laying in my sun-warmed bed after a bed at school, no worries beyond figuring out a Halloween costume. The fifth track “M79” has this sonic mix of indie drum beats and violins which makes it feel right out of a Wes Anderson soundtrack. I can still remember the first time I listened to the album, it was my freshmen year of highschool, which feels so so long ago now, but I instantly fell in love with Vampire Weekend and their sound.
4. “Bon Iver, Bon Iver” by Bon Iver
Bon Iver is the undisputed king of autumn music. He is featured on the “Twilight” soundtrack and Taylor Swift's sister albums “Evermore” and “Folklore.” Every song on this album is an earworm and instantly makes me want to whip up a hot coco and rewatch “The Lord of the Rings” (director’s cut only). Iver’s use of piano, guitar and strategic drums make this a must-listen to. The album reeled me in and kept me in the world Iver creates in his music.
In my favorite Iver song “Towers” he sings, “For the love, I’d fallen in / In the swampy August dawn / What a mischief you would bring young darling!”
5. “So Tonight That I Might See” by Mazzy Star
“So Tonight That I Might See” is my personal favorite Mazzy Star album. David Roback and Hope Sandoval’s 1993 project blends delicate acoustic melodies with Sandoval’s breathy vocal delivery. The dark and tragic themes of the album fit perfectly with those damp and foggy fall days, when all you want to do is wallow in your warm bed.
As the weather gets colder and the nights lengthen you can definitely find me sipping on a warm beverage with my earbuds in listening to my fall playlist on repeat.
