As summer comes to an end, there are still plenty of things to look forward to: cozy sweaters, the beautiful fall colors and pumpkin spice everything. It’s also a perfect time to give your fall playlist an update to match the cool weather and changing leaves.
“From Eden” by Hozier
This song from Hozier’s 2014 self-titled emulates fall energy, from the folk-rock instrumentals to the gentle background vocals. Hozier’s incredible songwriting, coupled with a beautiful tenor voice and slight Irish accent, feels like a cool fall breeze that carries the first autumn leaves off their branches. “Honey, you’re familiar // Like my mirror years ago // Idealism sits in prison // Chivalry fell on his sword.” Check out his most recent album, “Unreal Unearthed,” for an enhanced fall soundtrack this season.
“Iris” by The Goo Goo Dolls
This ‘90s alt-rock classic epitomizes the flannel-wearing energy associated with both fall and the decade it was released, making it a perfect pick for a day where the weather itself seems full of angst. “And I don’t want the world to see me // ‘Cause I don’t think that they’d understand // When everything’s meant to be broken // I just want you to know who I am.”
“Spooky” by Classics IV
Jazz definitely has its place in the autumn scene; better yet, this song comes with a bonus Halloween vibe to get you excited for pumpkin season. “Just like a ghost, you’ve been a-hauntin’ my dreams // So I’ll propose on Halloween // Love is kinda crazy with a spooky little girl like you.”
“Ripple” by The Grateful Dead
This song is exactly what comes to mind when walking outside in the fall, admiring the foliage and cherishing the beautiful weather. You can never go wrong with a coffee in hand, leaves crunching under your feet and the Grateful Dead in your headphones. “There is a road, no simple highway // Between the dawn and the dark of night.”
“Peach Pit” by Peach Pit
If a song could encapsulate the feeling of apple picking from an orchard on a crisp fall day, it would be this one. Told through the lens of a tragic love affair, “Peach Pit” captures the distinct tranquility of autumn that no other season possesses. “Not much is hidden underneath // A rocky heart for breaking teeth // And apple core’s cyanide seed.”
“Georgia” by Phoebe Bridgers
Bridgers may be appropriate for any season, but something about the minimalistic vocals and poignant mood on this track seems to capture that elusive fall ambiance. “And if you find me // Will you know me? // Will you take me // Or will you fall?”
“Salad Days” by Mac DeMarco
This song, though deceptively sad, reflects the feeling of summer slipping away and being thrown headfirst back into the school year. “Missing Hippie Jon, salad days are gone // Remembering things just to tell them so long.”
“Only In My Dreams” by The Marias
Indie pop is arguably a staple of the autumn experience, so instead of streaming Girl in Red for the hundredth time, listen to the rest of this EP from Puerto Rico-based group The Marias for a fresh new sound this season. “I’d rather stay inside your dream // If I could disappear beneath the leaves.”
“Empty” by Ray LaMontagne
Folk music is a perfect representation of the fall weather, atmosphere, and the feeling of nature slowly falling asleep for the winter. The album “Till The Sun Turns Black” and this song in particular display the beauty of this feeling. “She lifts her skirt up to her knees // Walks through the garden rows // With her bare feet, laughing.”
“Half a Person” by The Smiths
On a day when the seasonal blues hit and you just want to curl up with a book and a cup of steaming hot tea, the Smiths have exactly what you need. “Call me morbid, call me pale // I’ve spent too long on your trail // Far too long, chasing your trail.”
“Stayback” by Omar Apollo
A true ‘cuffing season’ anthem, you’ll probably want to focus more on the head-bopping instrumentals and melody instead of the lyrics. “It’s not that bad, took all that I had to forget about you // You know I’ve been feeling you since way back // But I couldn’t even make the words to say that.”
“Ketchum, ID” by boygenius
Another perfect song for a stroll in the woods, the vocals and beautifully contrasting harmony of boygenius will put you in a pensive mood. “I am never anywhere, anywhere I go // When I’m home, I’m never there // Long enough to know.”
“Dreams” by The Cranberries
Something about the catchy guitar riff and the emotion in lead singer Dolores O’Riordan’s voice seems to compliment the image of leaves falling and the smell of rain. “Oh, my dreams // it’s never quite as it seems // ‘cause you’re a dream to me.”
“Dorothea” by Taylor Swift
Swift is truly one of the most versatile artists of our generation, and it wouldn’t quite be fall without representation from her critically acclaimed folk-pop album “evermore” on your playlist. “Hey, Dorothea // Do you ever stop and think about me?”
