By Ethan Goddard
For as long as I can remember, fall has been my favorite season. The leaves start to change color, Halloween is around the corner, and finally—finally—the weather isn’t so damn hot. But one of my favorite parts is that some of my favorite albums finally begin to feel more “okay” to listen to/play in public. I know that sounds bizarre, but look, there’s just some albums you’ll never catch me listening to in certain seasons. Like I’m not gonna listen to Haruomi Hosono’s “Pacific” in October, and I’m definitely not going to listen to “Punisher” by Phoebe Bridgers in the middle of July. That just feels sacrilegious!
Nonetheless, now that the sun is clocking out earlier and the crewneck-beanie combo is re-emerging, here are a few of my go-to fall records to keep your music taste cozy.
I wanted to start this list off with something that’ll immediately determine how judgy some of y’all are, and that’s Madison Beer’s sophomore album “Silence Between Songs.” I could not say enough about how great this record is! The opener “Spinnin’” immediately throws you into a soundscape that feels like a stormy day. The cover used on the physical media is a terrible representation of sound, the streaming cover is MUCH more fitting. I’d definitely recommend checking it out if you want a beautiful, emotionally-charged rollercoaster of an album.
2. Vampire Weekend – “self-titled”
Before Vampire Weekend was the indie powerhouse they are today, the New York group were initially considered a gimmicky band. The lyrics were pretentious and hyper aware, the soundscape felt uptight (thanks to the usage of harpsichord/other baroque-adjacent instruments), and the presentation felt ripped straight out of an ivy league school. But over time, that became the charm of the group! Everything that I listed above is seen at its finest throughout their debut record. As someone who never went, let me tell you, this record is GREAT for romanticizing college–the campus life as leaves begin to fall, homework, mass debt, it’s all there! And it’s much cheaper than college too!
3. Modest Mouse – “The Moon & Antarctica”
I mean… what’s there to say about this record that hasn’t already been said? Modest Mouse’s 2000 record “The Moon & Antarctica” plays an important role in their catalog. To some, it’s considered their last “good” album. To others, it’s considered the first album that steps away from their raw indie rock sound and into a more radio friendly sound. Regardless of what you think, it seems everyone can agree that this album rocks. And to someone who may not know where to start with Modest Mouse, I’d recommend this one. From there, you can choose to move forwards or backwards.
4. “Licorice Pizza” (original soundtrack)
To close this list out, I wanna give a bit of a two in one by recommending not only the soundtrack, but also Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2021 movie “Licorice Pizza.” The entirety of the movie takes place in the 70s, and emits a warm energy through its visuals and music choices. When zooming in on the music however, you’ll find an excellent selection of iconic 70s R&B, rock, jazz, and more! If you want a bonus recommendation as well, check out the lead actress, Alana Haim’s band, HAIM, and their 2020 studio album “Women In Music pt. iii”. VERY fall coded if you ask me.
There’s plenty of albums I consider “fall records” that didn’t make my list. But these are good starting points. Each one emits an immersive atmosphere. Whether that’s a stormy afternoon as leaves fall through the cold breeze, or something cozier than a warm cup of coffee, each one adds to the perfect fall day.
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