If you weren’t aware, this past Sunday marked the first day of fall!
Out of all seasons, I would say fall is the most anticipated.
So many characteristics and generally iconic items surround the season so it’s no shock, especially with its inclusion of two holidays and how in a way it’s a warm-up for the similarly anticipated Christmas.
Fall also has such a distinct vibe and setting that it comes with. It has an overwhelming sense of all things pumpkin and cinnamon and general warmth and coziness.
In my head, the ideal fall setting is a warm-lit room cuddled up with a blanket and the perfect fall music playing.
And of course, the most important detail of that scene is the music.
Here are my coveted fall album recommendations:
When you feel that crisp chill in the air and notice the leaves turning you can hardly go wrong with playing some of Taylor Swift’s Red (Taylor’s Version). This album was released in the fall of 2021 so how can you argue that it isn’t for the fall?
From start to finish through its 30 total tracks this album radiates the season. The biggest stand-outs, however, are “The Last Time,” “Holy Ground,” “Nothing New” and “All Too Well (10-minute version)”. These songs capture the distinct feelings that come with fall and in such a beautiful way as well. They are the perfect songs to blast on a rainy night or while on the way to your favorite fall activity.
Now Red (Taylor’s Version) isn’t the only Swift album perfect for the season, her album Evermore is also unmistakably for fall. The whole general aesthetic of Evermore with its orange and gray color tones and deep melancholy vocals is exactly what comes to mind when I think of fall music.
Select songs even have a general eeriness to them perfect for the people who decorate for Halloween in August.
“I love listening to more spooky songs in the fall like Halloween movie soundtracks or generally creepy songs,” Jade Lodoen said.
The song “No Body, No Crime” is a prime example of that sort of spooky track.
“Ivy” and “Willow” also excellently capture that cozy vibe of fall and that tone sort of courses through the album in various ways.
Listening to this album feels like sitting in an Edward Hopper’s coffee shop painting Nighthawks which is also often associated with this season.
Another essential album is Stick Season by Noah Kahan, for the similar reasons of overall aesthetic and somber tone.
It even has a song titled “Halloween” so how could you argue with that? I like songs such as “Northern Attitude” and “She Calls Me Back,” they capture the feeling of autumn perfectly while also giving a slight juxtaposition with their more upbeat production, but they remain true to the seasonal vibe with the sad lyrics.
As a side note, Noah Kahan has so perfectly captured the folk genre and in a similar way captured the fall aesthetic that comes along with it.
For the last full album recommendation I can’t go without mentioning the self-titled album Harry Styles, more commonly known as HS1.
This album is the epitome of that chill in the air. Similarly making it the perfect album to transition from fall to winter. This album is for the early September mornings and cold November nights with tracks like “Meet Me in the Hallway” and “From the Dining Table”. It feels as if you’re sitting there yourself with Styles as he writes the album by the fireplace.
It almost feels wrong to listen to this album outside of the cold months and I would be lying if I said I don’t wait all year for September to roll around so I can finally have it on loop.
All these albums go perfectly together as you get ready for sweater weather and I can’t recommend them more!
“I’ve recently noticed that in the fall I have a more nostalgic music taste and I’ve been listening to a lot of grunge and that type of music,” John Hatcher said.
An honorable mention however for me is The Smiths as I find myself always going back to them this time of year and they’re ideal for long car rides and calm nights. “Bigmouth Strikes Again” and “Back to the Old House” are some of my favorites from them and great to have in the background of a cozy evening.
I’ve come to recognize that for most fall can be such a close and personal time of year and everyone has their way they celebrate the iconic season and these albums can act as a great soundtrack.
