Fall is all about change. The leaves shift to their autumnal hues, most schools go back in session, and even the air changes as it becomes a bit crisper and chiller each day. All of this environmental change makes fall the perfect time of year to update your playlist!
A perfect fall playlist is always a wide variety of sad music, upbeat music, and lyrics about beginnings and ends. Here is the eclectic mix of albums that I will be shuffling this fall, and I think you should too!
- Moondance by Van Morrison
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Northern Irish musician Van Morrison’s records were commercial flops until the release of his third, soft-rock album Moondance in January of 1970. It’s a relatively short album, as most albums were in the late 60s and 70s, containing only 10 songs and running for 38 minutes and 54 seconds. Morrison wrote this album after moving to upstate New York with his wife, and that influence makes the vibes of this album simply perfect for fall.
Highlights from this album include:
- “Into the Mystic”
- This is the most popular song on this album, and for good reason. It’s a romantic, guitar-centered tune, as Morrison plans to “sail into the mystic” with his lover.
- “And It Stoned Me”
- A hopeful ballad that discusses the overwhelming presence of nature and life, perfect for listening while taking in the gorgeous landscapes that fall brings.
- “Into the Mystic”
- The Art of Loving by Olivia Dean
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Last fall, Olivia Dean dropped her sophomore album, The Art of Loving, and skyrocketed to fame. Featuring 12 tracks with a runtime just over 34 minutes, The Art of Loving beautifully combines soul and pop with nuanced lyrics about the ups and downs that come with loving someone else. Its mellow, jazzy undertones are perfect for the fall, when you aren’t quite ready for the rich, soulful music of winter, but need to somewhat let go of the upbeat, pop summer vibes.Â
Highlights of this album include:Â
- “Lady, Lady”
- This song, all about hope in a time of change, is perfect for this transitory period of the year.
- “I’ve Seen It”
- A beautiful song that reminds us that love, actually, is all around us, and the “more [that we] look, the more [that we’ll] find.”
- “Lady, Lady”
- Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You by Ethel Cain
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Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You is the second studio concept album by artist Hayden Silas Anhedonia under her pseudonym Ethel Cain. Like Cain’s previous album, Preacher’s Daughter, it details the fictional tale of Ethel Cain, a Midwestern girl who falls victim to multiple recurring tragedies, ending in her gruesome death.Â
Willoughby, however, takes us deeper into Cain’s story, with most songs serving as a prequel to the events of Preacher’s Daughter. Both albums are extremely morbid, well over an hour long, and are a blend of Americana, pop, indie, and rock, making them perfect for the transition between seasons.
- Lost Weekend by Phoebe Bridgers
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After a six-year drought, alternative indie singer/songwriter Phoebe Bridgers released her third studio album, Lost Weekend, this past August. The album is akin to Bridgers’ previous releases, providing excessively melancholy lyrics with innovative production. It features 16 new tracks, which run for about 52 minutes. This album’s spooky vibes make it perfect for pumpkin season as Halloween quickly approaches!
Highlights from this album include:
- “The Governors Waltz”
- The apathetic lyrics “she took my place in that bed on that stage,” and “she can pretend to be me” from this song caused the internet to speculate over potential bad blood between Bridgers and singer Gracie Abrams, who both dated Irish actor Paul Mescal.
- “Bobby”
- A surprisingly upbeat song for Bridgers, “Bobby” is a sweet love song focusing on her dedication to her partner of 3 years, Bo Burnham.Â
- “The Governors Waltz”
- Waiting to Spill by the Backseat Lovers
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The Backseat Lovers released their sophomore album, Waiting to Spill, in October of 2022, following their hit debut album When We Were Friends (2019). Waiting to Spill is an alternative/indie rock album containing 10 songs that run for 47 minutes and 32 seconds. While the band’s genre remains indie rock, many of the songs on this album are a bit slower and mellower in comparison to their previous work, making it easy listening in a season of so much change.Â
Highlights from this album include:
- “Close Your Eyes”
- “Close Your Eyes” is another timely song about change and transition, matching the current switching of seasons.
- “Words I Used”
- A dramatic ballad about wanting someone’s approval, with piano crescendos that bring the fall vibes.
- “Close Your Eyes”
These are just a few highlights from truly exceptional albums, and I hope some of these songs can make their way onto your playlist this fall!
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