The autumn season seems to pass quicker than it can be enjoyed. Pumpkin patches and orange leaves are too quickly covered by months of cold to ever be fully experienced. There is a fleeting nature to the season that feels bittersweet.
So, while we still have a few more weeks of fall, here are some albums you should be listening to in order to romanticize the autumn weather while we still have it.
Everything So Far – Pinegrove
Pinegrove’s Everything So Far collects the early work of the band and their influence on the crossover between genres like emo, country and guitar-driven emo rock. Moody guitars, drums and lyrics drive the album, particularly on tracks like “Unison” and “New Friends.” The album benefits from an unpolished and relaxed nature that replicates the bittersweet reflection of the changing of seasons.
Artists like Dead Calm and American Football similarly emulate the expression of youth found within this record and emo music alike.
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot by Wilco
Wilco has had a profound impact on music for decades. Released in 2002 after a famously turbulent recording process, the record combines warm folk-rock melodies with dissonant electronics, fractured lyrics and an underlying sense of unease. There is a blend of both folk and Americana music that creates a warm and cozy atmosphere. Lead singer Jeff Tweedy has a voice perfectly suited for the atmosphere the album creates. “Jesus etc.” and “Heavy Metal Drummer” capture these aspects of the album well.
Capacity by Big Thief
Big Thief’s Capacity is the second studio album from the indie rock band, released in 2017. The record combines folk-inspired guitar with Adrianne Lenker’s distinct vocals and thoughtful lyricism. Much of the record carries a sense of nostalgia, reflecting on the past while acknowledging the difficulty of understanding it. The album balances complex guitar riffs with quiet moments throughout the record, while the production allows for each individual aspect of the song to shine independently.
Stranger in the Alps by Phoebe Bridgers
Stranger in the Alps is Phoebe Bridgers’ first full-length studio album from 2017. Though much of Bridgers’ music carries the same solemnity found within this record, this first one explores an isolation and coldness evoking feelings of the transitionary stage between fall and Winter. “Scott Street” and “Motion Sickness” are guitar-driven tracks with themes of memory and nostalgia, while “Killer” and “Funeral” explore a harrowing sense of isolation.
While less mature and developed than Bridgers’ albums that follow, the feelings that Stranger in the Alps captures benefit from a more stripped-back production focusing on thoughtful lyricism.
Pink Moon by Nick Drake
Nick Drake’s Pink Moon is a 1972 classic folk album with a stripped back sound. The record is brief, running just under 30 minutes, but its minimal production gives each song a distinct sense of intimacy. Tracks like “Place to Be” and “Things Behind the Sun” explore themes of isolation, change and self-reflection. There is a quiet melancholy throughout Pink Moon that feels especially fitting for the colder, darker afternoons of late autumn.
Caveman Wakes Up by Friendship
Friendship’s Caveman Wakes Up brings together elements of country, folk and lo-fi indie rock. Lead singer Dan Wriggens has a deep, growly voice that sits atop the music, driven heavily by guitars. Tracks like “Love Vape” and “Betty Ford” have a brightness that suits autumn and the cold days when the sun shines.
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Whether it’s a familiar record or something new, hopefully these albums give way for you to sit with the changing weather a little longer and appreciate the changing of the season before it changes once again.