The best albums for cooler weather and cozy sweaters. My credentials: I listen to a lot of music, and that’s pretty much it, but I promise these are all perfect albums. Also, these are all from essentially the same era of music, but what can I say? It was the time of fall bangers.
The Beatles: Rubber soul
Released in 1965, this album was a distinct departure from The Beatles’ previous records, but held true to the playful, almost-childlike essence of their sound that originally captivated their massive audience. Ushering in the experimental age of The Beatles, Rubber Soul isn’t afraid to get weird. The songwriting is often seemingly- nonsensical, but comforting none-the-less, proving that you don’t always have to rely on lyricism to create a well-loved piece of music. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are moments of brilliantly-crafted word choice that evoke vibrant imagery (bonus points because some of it is in French). Some of my favorites on the record include: “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)”, “In My Life”, and “Nowhere Man”. The entire album sounds like a sunny day in early October, so I suggest just hitting play and going for a walk.
Carole King: Tapestry
Could this list ever be complete without the voice of Gilmore Girls? I think not. This 1971 release lends many of its melodies to the show with a monopoly on autumn ambience, and is therefore closely associated with witty banter and too much coffee. With a heavy focus on complex lyricism and direct ties to a central, overarching theme, Tapestry is undoubtedly a contemporary masterpiece. It even received a feature on Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums Of All Time, landing the number 38 spot. My favorites on the album are: “It’s Too Late”, “You’ve Got a Friend”, and “Where You Lead” (although the album version is slightly different than the featured track on Gilmore Girls). In my opinion, this is one of the few truly no skip albums.
fleetwood Mac: Tusk
After the overwhelming success of their 1977 release, Rumours, Fleetwood Mac was tasked with the impossible feat of maintaining their relevance by continuing to produce music while keeping a sense of artistic integrity and authenticity. Their solution was Tusk, an experimental, strikingly-long collection of diverse, musically-interesting songs. It resolved one half of their dilemma, while gloriously failing to satisfy their audience. Despite this, Tusk endures as a beloved album amongst an entirely different demographic of music listeners. It’s edgy, aggressive, and at times, intentionally abrasive, but it gets in your head and sticks there; it feels like Halloween, 40 degrees, and thunderstorms. The use of a full marching band ensures that Tusk has the one thing Fleetwood Mac could never live without: drama. Some of my favorite tracks are: “Storms”, “Tusk”, and “Over & Over”, but honestly, every song on the album is my favorite.
The cranberries: everybody else is doing it, so why can’t we?
The first studio album from The Cranberries, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? boasts more than just a long title. With several hit singles and massive critical acclaim, this 1993 release redefined the quickly-growing alt scene of the 90s and cemented The Cranberries’ place as alternative stars. Frontwoman Delores O’Riordan’s unmistakable voice and insightful lyrics blend seamlessly into the band’s harder rock sound to create the perfect in-between of chill pop and classic rock. Its singles “Linger” and “Dreams” are popular features in many fall favorite movies and TV shows, so the sounds of the album are familiar and comforting. My favorites from the album are: “Sunday”, “I Still Do”, and “Linger”.
These albums and many more really help to indulge in the coziness and nostalgia of the fall season. Without music, fall could never live up to its true romanticized potential, so go for a drive or a walk and give these albums a listen.