Fall is objectively the greatest season (contrary to the claims of some), though the ambiance is often difficult to pursue in Colorado when summer leads to a sixth-month winter. Music with fall vibes is paramount to capturing the essence of this fleeting period. So, I put together a list of four of my favorite albums that epitomize the woodsy feelings of this Earth’s supreme time of the year.
Fleet Foxes’ eponymous album embodies the spirit of fall like nothing else. I first listened to this album freshman year during a color walk through my neighborhood. From the cautious strums of Sun It Rises all the way through the acapella echoes of Oliver James, the album grabs the listener’s attention and holds it close until the very end.
An indie folk fantasy, Fleet Foxes is the perfect accompaniment to a stroll amongst the trees or an early morning homework sprint. The dreamy vocals are fortified by dynamic string arrangements. If you listen closely, you can hear tonal shifts in the instruments, harmonizing with the soaring vocal arrangements produced by this iconic band. Though Fleet Foxes’ entire discography could be considered appropriate for this season, their debut album is almost pure in nature, untouched, and victorious.
If upbeat folk isn’t quite your taste, try Port of Morrow by The Shins. Released in 2012, this album served as a major comeback for The Shins, who hadn’t released music for five years. With influences ranging from Neutral Milk Hotel to rock icons The Stone Roses, the music has a familiar yet fresh feeling. The double-tracked vocals perfectly complement the percussion-ruled instrumentation.
Listen to this album while walking to your next class, and you’ll feel the power only a self-assured teen can wield. Perhaps you’ve already heard their classic single Simple Song, a chart-topping hit that feels like a late-night drive with your best friend. Regardless, the album is a fascinating listen, using electronic instrumentation and heavy layering to create a captivating sound. The extensive discography of The Shins can be daunting for a new fan, but this album is a wonderful introduction to the world of early 2010s alternative rock.
Blue by Joni Mitchell is an iconic album on its own, but in the context of fall’s beauty, it’s simply unmatched. Mitchell’s voice is sweet yet raspy, singing tunes fit for a misty afternoon drive or sobbing on the floor of your middle school bedroom. Incited by past relationships and a vacation in Greece, the album expresses itself through augmented chords and creative note placement.
Emotionally intense revelations about life and love are perfectly relevant to the coming of fall. Folky, raw, and timeless, this album is perfectly dark in tone and subject. The forever awe-inspiring A Case of You demonstrates Mitchell’s stirring lyrics with perfect poignancy. So the next time you find yourself craving the taste of tears, put on Blue and allow yourself to be swept away.
For a more lowkey ambiance, try Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill by Grouper. Though the title is macabre, the record is divinely moody. Psychedelic pop may not be everyone’s first choice for an autumn-esque album, but Grouper is able to sway even the most dedicated skeptic. White noise is present at several points throughout the album, applying a liminal, reflective lens to the scene set by producer Liz Harris.
Laying on my back, staring into the dark, I listened to this album for the first time in eighth grade. Forced to reckon with my own adolescence, I quickly realized that what I was listening to was more than music; it was an artist’s statement. If Mitski’s Class of 2013 is the cathartic soundtrack to your midnight sob-fest, Heavy Water/I’d Rather Be Sleeping is more of a taking-the-long-way-home sad kid anthem. Introspection is sure to accompany a night spent with this album.