As the weather cools and the leaves fall from the trees, there is no doubt that the fall season is approaching.
Every year around this time, I find myself searching for the perfect album or playlist to listen to to fully transport myself into that cozy yet dreary fall spirit. If you find yourself in a similar situation, go put on your favorite fall sweater, get comfortable, and listen to these 10 albums.
1. Stranger in the Alps – Phoebe Bridgers
Phoebe Bridgers’ 2017 album perfectly emulates the fall spirit; it is equally as comforting as it is depressing, much like the season. Listening to this album always reminds me of the start of the school year, and unfortunately, also the beginning of the inevitable seasonal depression that always returns at this time of year.
2. Either/Or – Elliott Smith
One of my all-time favorite albums, Elliott Smith’s Either/Or is the perfect collection of songs to reflect the empty feeling often associated with the fall season. Smith tells you a story of his life and mind throughout the album which is most relatable and appreciated during the fall weather.
3. Hozier (self-titled) – Hozier
A perfect mix of both upbeat and slow songs, Hozier’s debut album reflects the transitions we all go through moving from the exciting and bright summertime to the darker and chill autumn. This is the perfect album to listen to while picking apples, visiting a pumpkin patch, or doing any other fall activity.
4. Masterpiece – Big Thief
There is something about lead singer Adrienne Lenker’s voice that just sounds like fall to me. Although I think all of Big Thief’s music is the perfect indie vibe for fall, Masterpiece is a great place to start and is, in my opinion, their best album.
5. Humbug – Arctic Monkeys
Humbug is by far Arctic Monkeys’ most underrated album. This album appeals to those more into faster-paced rock music as it shies away from the depressing and slow vibes of many of the other albums on this list. Even though the songs on this album sound more exciting than some of the others in this list, there is still a dark and autumnal energy to it that feels like fall.
6. Red – Taylor Swift
Red is the perfect album to listen to for that nostalgic fall feeling. So many of the songs on this album are classic to almost everyone’s childhood. Whether you listen to the original album from 2012, or the re-recorded version from 2021, this album is guaranteed to put you in the fall mood.
7. Patched Up – Beabadoobee
The cover of this album is literally Beabadoobee sitting in a pile of orange leaves, surrounded by trees in the fall. I’m not sure how an album could possibly scream that it’s fall any clearer. As it consists of only seven songs, Patched Up is a quick and easy listen to easily transport you into the fall spirit.
8. Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? – The Cranberries
The Cranberries are another musical group that just sound like fall to me in a way that I can’t explain. Their 90s alternative rock sound is ideal for the gloominess of fall weather. This album is perfect for walking around outside and taking in the sights of the fall foliage.
9. Twilight Saga-Twilight Complete Soundtrack
The dark, blue-toned visuals of Forks, Washington in Twilight is exactly what I picture when I imagine fall weather. Not only will watching any (or all) movie(s) in the Twilight saga put you in the fall spirit, but listening to the angsty and dramatic soundtrack will have the same effect.
10. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness – The Smashing Pumpkins
Honestly, the title of this album (and the name of the band) perfectly describes the fall season. The intense feeling of melancholy is one we all experience the most during fall and is one that is expressed throughout this album. This is the perfect album to listen to while feeling gloomy and dramatically staring out the window, watching the leaves fall from the trees.
