UPDATE: You can listen to this entire playlist here. Thanks Grooveshark!
As I was walking to work yesterday and I saw trees ablaze with the change of the season, I was listening to Fleet Foxes’ “Tiger Mountain Peasant Song” and it just FIT. Then it struck me that we always talk about “summer songs.” You know what they are, the fun, springy, poppy jams that color your warm evenings on the beach and backyard BBQs. I LOVE summer songs. But their time is in the summer, and news flash! It’s not the summer any more suckas. It’s autumntimes. Football, pretty leaves, cooling temperatures, and the looming holiday season require a different brand of music. I know what mine sounds like, but I want to know what your jams are for this special time of year. Because the leaves, they are a-changin’. Give me no more than 5 song selections.
Have at it.
Chase: Because like Abhed (from Community), I experience my life through a series of events that have already occurred in movies and tv; a good song must be the foundation for a good montage. For fall that means one thing, high school football. Not that I ever had any glory days on the gridiron but there is something about a Friday night in fall that makes you wish you were Tim Riggins, or if you’re Josh, Tweeder.
Anyway my song is…
My Hero – FooFighters – Anytime I hear this song, I immediately start picturing myself acting out the Steven Jackson Nike video, scoring the winning touchdown, and hopefully meeting Darcy Sears for
a whip cream bikini after the game.
Karla: 1)
Better Than Ezra – This Time of Year: This song is about nostalgia and
a perfect fall day. It reminds me of warm, fall Friday afternoons in college with pick up games and walks down DoG street when the leaves are changing.
2) Yo La Tengo – Autumn Sweater: one of my favorite thing about fall is sweaters. I think it’s a good fall driving song (also, awesome beat).
3) Bob Dylan – Girl of the North Country: the guitar in this song (off the album, not usually in live versions) sounds like crisp, falling leaves.
4) U2- October : this is a late fall song. like Bono sings: “the trees are stripped bare, of all they wear” Fall isn’t warm anymore and it’s almost winter. It’s the end of the season.
Sherman: With YouTube videos, that tend to be hilarious, and undermine the music itself, so watch or don’t watch according to your purposes.
Leaves That Are Green – Simon and Garfunkel- Fall is often a metaphor for mortality, what with all the leaves dying and coldness coming on. This forgotten track off Sounds of Silence lacks almost any subtlety in making that connection (“I was 22 when I wrote this song/I’m 23 now, but won’t be for long”), but Paul Simon’s straightforward, matter-of-fact singing and lyrics still manage to convey the wistfulness of time slipping away. Hello, hello, hello, hello/Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye/That’s all there is/And leaves that are green, turn to brown
Subterranean Homesick Alien – Radiohead- Speaking of wistfulness, the rebound track on OK Computer after the killer cacophony of “Paranoid Android” has the feel of a fall breeze, blowing leaves down the street. Like Fall, Thom Yorke evokes both nostalgia and longing for something else. But like Paul Simon and me on any temperate fall day, he’s not in any hurry to get somewhere else. Maybe Fall doesn’t only demand acceptance of that wistfulness, but enjoyment of it. I’d show them the stars and the meaning of life/they’d lock me away, but I’d be alright
Ev’ry Valley – G.F. Handel- Liturgically, Fall falls in the part of the Christian calendar when preparing for Christmas. In the Catholic Church, it’s the end of Ordinary Time when we read a lot of Revelation and talk about the end of the world, but also when we break into Advent and start doing the prophecies. The first act of Handel’s great oratorio, The Messiah, puts the words of the King James Version of the Bible to song in one of the finest vocal works in the English language. One of the best of the prophecy pieces is the Air for Tenor, “Ev’ry Valley,” taken from Isaiah and the basis of John the Baptist’s voice that cried out in the wilderness. It takes the longing and wistfulness from recognizing the world around you and transfers it to the hope for something better. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill made low.
BONUS: Because it’s awesome, the re-mix of the first act choral “He Shall Purify” used in Charlie Wilson’s War.
The Man Comes Around – Johnny Cash- Of course, the coming of Jesus may not be something good for everyone, especially not those who made a deal with the devil to win afantasy football game. In one of the last songs he wrote in his life, Johnny Cash wrote, the title track off his fourth album for the American label to address his final days and the final days he believed in for all of mankind. In the classic Cash way, he is both in earnest while putting the words of Revelation to song and somewhat carefree. Even without knowing that “Hurt” comes later on the album, you get the sense that Cash doesn’t have a clear conscience, but also that he welcomes Judgment, because, well, what the hell? And the whirlwind is in the thorn tree.
Last of the Mohicans Theme- Finally, Chase brings up football with fall music, and I feel there’s never been a more perfect blending of football and fall songs than the Nike commercial featuring Steven Jackson running to the theme from Last of the Mohicans. The music is that other fall wind (as opposed to the one Yorke sings in time with), the one that picks up leaves and swirls them around. And since I hate the movie, I am happy to associate this fine piece of music with something else, even if I have an evil corporation to thank for it. Why are we still paying so much for sneakers when you got little kid slaves making them/What are your overheads?
Aaron: I feel like I just got served. But I am happy with that. I want to listen to all of these musics now.
Oddly, Fall represents a time of renewal for me. I suppose that because it coincides (or did coincide) with the academic calender I consider it full of vibrant energy and possibility. Most of my songs therefore, are not about ending, but beginning.
1) Further Seems Forever – On Legendary
Whilst I was in England I would listen FSF with my window open to the courtyard of my dorm. This version of FSF was the first replacement of Chris Carraba (Dashboard Confessional) and one of my favorite versions of FSF. On Legendary speaks literally of this season: “Summer’s gone / And winter is never too far now.” To me, the arpeggio overlay is the auditory representation of leaves falling to the ground and the cresendo to –> “On the ground” is the visual example of s*** getting real. On my return to WM senior year, I again listened to the song, and then the cresendo represented the arrival of the respected members of d2e to the banner year of our education, one by one being added to the combustion that would later be known as the madison’s man-love explosion best typified by krdavi’s lemur-loving embrace.
2) Fleet Foxes – Blue Ridge Mountains
Enough said, really. A recent bachelor party convinced me of two things: Josh McCrea really is a ninja who can disappear, and Virginia is my favorite state in the fall.
3) Sigur Ros – Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
I listen to Sigur Ros whenever i feel up or down or whenever I want to feel anything. I’m consistently amazed at the soundscape they construct and I find myself mostly lost in music unless I stare at trees. Then it makes sense.
4) Pavane In E Minor – Debussy
The arrangement I have is for the classical guitar. I’ll destroy it’s beauty if I speak of it.
5) AFI – End Transmission
Ok, back to the whole energy motif I was trying to work into here. Afi’s newest album “Crash Love” is something I haven’t fully gotten my mind around, but that doesn’t matter when I’m driving. Because a good fall song is a good song while driving. I’ll go ahead and pick “end transmission” because like most AFI songs I never know what the hell they are talking about, but it sounds cool. I will point out afavorite line: “If there’s discretion that you’ve not abandoned, now’s the time.” I think that’s good advice for the kiddies. Throw reason to the wind and drive faster. That’s what I like to do in the fall.
Sherman: If for nothing else in this excellent post, AA deserves a medal for this sentence:
“To me, the arpeggio overlay is the auditory representation of leaves falling to the ground and the cresendo to –> “On the ground” is the visual example of s*** getting real.”
Greg: Well said AA, Sigur Ros makes anything better. I’ve been listening to them a lot when on the move or studying recently and usually it doesn’t feel out of place. The album Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust is comparatively cheery, so that helps too. “Festival” in particular is a great track, slow build but with a big payoff for the last 4.5 minutes. The video for “Gobbledigook” is literally a bunch of ridiculous naked Icelandians running around naked in the woods on what looks like a fall day but is probably summer there. Seriously, Fleet Foxes has to be the best answer to this question. ”Tiger Mountain” is so good. Folksie indie in the woods, it doesn’t get much better.
Bob Dylan, 4th Time Around. The whole of Blonde on Blonde is amazing and stands near the top of my favorite complete albums but I heard this song in particular while walking the other day. It would be cheating to put The Times They Are
A Changin for this.
Kevin: I love this post-it combines my favorite season with strong opinions on music. Now I had no idea how awesome fall was until I was 18 and in Williamsburg-so fall for me is a weird combination of things: sure death and oncoming winter, but really I love the crisper air, it’s still not raining and it also means football and the start of first term. So really my vibe is a strange mash up of introspective (winter) and hopeful party mode (summer). Two more factors: I did 80% of my best surfing in October in VA/FL which messes things up because surf music is traditionally summer oriented, but those who know, the atlantic sucks balls in the summer. I also think of fall/winter in music like movie reviewers do-summer is great, there are big productions that are anthemic in your careless party days but really disposable (think Michael Bay movie), fall is when the Oscar winners come out-they make you think and elicitemotional responses, they stay with you. So here is my list that combines-introspective winter, surf trips, what I think of grammy winners and college.
New/Grammy Winners/Cold air music:
1)
Pursuit of Happyness-Kid Cudi. Amazing album that came out last month. Perfect for walking around/driving with
a chill in the air and thinking about life to
a moderately upbeat, but perfectly executed rap song including ratatat and MGMT. Buy this.
2)
Black River Killer-Blitzen Trapper. Riding the folksy indie music train (why is that genre so good in the fall?). Awesome, creepy song. I think of an angry man in flannel with an acoustic guitar in the fall woods. This song is no good when the temperature is above 67 degrees. Also perfect for your halloween playlist before it devolves into
a drunken dance party. Also, they need
a grammy sometime.
WM Surf trip classic:
3)
Struck a Nerve-Bad Religion. This is on the album Recipie for Hate which has most their hits. You all heard this song drinking at the yellow house, tim and I always put it on. While the album is upbeat angry punk, this song is increadibly poignant and sad. perfectly executed by punk legends. I hear this and think of the van, windows down at dusk with
a little chill in the air, lost in the back roads of Pungo going from VA beach to Sandbridge to Hatteras every fall break with the boys, some beer, tents and boards. Epic.
Getting ready for winter:
4) Breathe-SIA. When the days are short and colder, I want to hear trip-hop with female vocals. I went with Sia, the vocalist of Zero 7, her voice can be haunting. This is a great song with a killer bass line/drums and her killing it on the vocals. Also see Portishead (all of it) and seth’s recent post on Florence and the Machine.
Moving back in, the college years:
5)
9mm and a three piece suit-Catch 22. Awesome upbeat ska classic in the hallowed halls of Maddy. This song, along with Quality control by J5 and G. Love albums are the anthems of beer pong in simmon’s and shermans place, asshole at maddy, simmons falling down things, stevo getting lost and general ridiculousness. Not one of the required sing alongs, but everpresent. That song would always make me think, damn I want to get back to VA and bail on Florida-now its
a bit more depressing because I still have yet to emotianlly acknowledge the fact that I’m not still
a WM undergrad.
I stayed within 5 songs!
Chris: Here’s my thoughts for fall:
Flaming Lips – My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion; it’s in the name
Flaming Lips – Vein of Stars; this always reminds me of camping, which is almost always in the fall.
Bob Dylan – Don’t think twice, it’s all right
Bob Dylan – Gotta Serve Somebody
Kris Kristofferson/Johnny Cash – Sunday morning coming down
Some of these I can’t really explain why they embody fall to me, but there it is.
Me: Ok, Here’s my Autumn EP:
There is something so beautifully pastoral about this song. His voice hits all the right, warm notes. If you haven’t listened to this while walking through your town/city/neighborhood watching leaves fall, you are really missing one of life’s simple, great joys.
This song for me is tied to many Saturday mornings gearing up for football games at the Alma Mater. It was the soundtrack of many golden mornings, noons, and nights during my senior fall semester. I have extremely fond memories of this song. It’s got that powerful sense of memory for me and it’s tied directly to a group of people I love at a certain perfect time in my life.
Beautiful, dripping tune. It’s a slow burning, jabbing anthem of breakup that just seems right when the seasons are changing. The song is so sparse, it’s a great song for the end of autumn. And I freaking LOVE the personification of clothes in this song, “I’m working hard on walking out, My shoes keep sticking to the ground, My clothes won’t let me close the door, Cause my trousers seem to love your floor.” Great jam.
A great song for any time of any year. Another slow burner, that rises to rock and then falls right back down again in just the most grandiose way Weezer has ever done anything. We all know “Buddy Holly”, “Undone”, and “Say It Ain’t So”, it’s just too bad we don’t all know this one. I think it’s the mashup of quietude and steady rocking that make this song so appealing. It also just evokes all of school and little interactions with new loves for me which makes me think of this time of year. Apparently I’m an autumn LOVA.
Ben Gibbard’s words just kind of spill out of his mouth in a way that necessitates blankets in the best way possible. But it’s not quite time to start the fire. I’m talking a song for those fading light days, fitting in the last picnic of the year overlooking some flowing water. The way the music builds in this song is just awesome. You don’t even notice how they go from voice+piano to voice+piano+guitar+drums. It just all melts together like the indian summer days and those first really cold nights of autumn.
(LOVE Squite’s “Sunday Morning Coming Down” choice)
Stephanie: This is a tough decision when limited to only a few choices… I generally separate my fall music into either classics that make me want to relax and jump in a huge pile of leaves, or those songs that get me pumped to run in the much cooler weather. So for softies my choices this fall are:
Bruce Springsteen- Walking in Memphis- My all time feel good song
Bon Jovi- Livin on a Prayer- Because fall = football, and Penn State Football = Bon Jovi
James Morrison- You Make It Real- Because who else would lay in a leaf pile to help me find the longest leaf stem ever?
For those times when I need a pick me up song:
Incubus- Earth to Bella- Out of respect for the release of the much anticipated
New Moon on Friday, but also because Incubus should be on everyones list.
Steve: Ok so I’ve compiled a couple…some older and some new.
1)
Fuel – Shimmer: Not really sure why this is
a fall tune. I think it goes back to when it came out. I think of Fuel as tunes to listen to at the end of summer as the warmth and colors of fall and spring fade into the crispness and deep oranges and reds of fall. “All that glitters in this world is sure to fade.”
3)
Blitzen Trapper – Wild Mountain Nation: I’m going with another Blitzen Trapper Tune. Something about driving around Hershey with all the reds, yellows, browns, oranges all over the ground and in the trees makes this tune
a fall song for me.
4)
Iron and Wine – Cinders and Smoke: The strum of the tune just reminds me of an old cowboy strolling the west in the dead of fall with leaves almost bear. Sitting out around
a campfire strumming the guitar killing time as the sparks shoot up to the stars in the black of night…
Nate: It’s hard not to repeat any bands on this list. Here’s my meek addendum to the already sterling playlist.
Matt Pond PA – The Hollows- This guy’s vocals have
a sullen ring to them that captures the season well. The guitar intro hooked me.
Feist- I Feel It All- Leslie Feist is French-Canadian. Don’t they only have autumn and winter up there? Secondary reason: Man, this woman can sing.
Pump up song Choice:
Thrice- Under a Killing Moon- If I’d been blessed with athletic genes, I’d have to have this song on before any game. Fast guitars, harsh vocals and great drummer make for
a good ol’ adrenaline rush. I still listen to it before big events, like facing Sherman in Tiger Woods golf.
Matt: I know this entry is a late comer; just finished my legal writing paper which ruined my whole week though.
Also, nice call on the Feist Nate, took one from my list.
,
The Beatles – Strawberry Fields: nothing to do with autumn, but when I was a kid, the Beatles fell into the very very small subgroup of artist that 1) my folks didn’t think were spawned by satan, and 2) were actually good. This song always made the 10yr old me think of fall.
Beth Orton – Stolen Car: the Ben Harper slide guitar coupled with Orton’s rough but soothing voice really make this track perfect for afall drive with the windows down.
Delta Spirit – Trashcan: for some reason when I first heard this song, I imagined myself energetically raking leaves. It was a solid moment.
Chase: When did my hallmates get replaced by the cast of Empire Records?
ne of my favorite tracks during my first fall at W&M and has been associated with the season since then.
Wow. Great Idea!
Of course damn near anything Bob Dylan wrote pre-1967 works for this. Same goes for Cash,with the exception of the last two records.
I’d add the following:
Beirut “Nantes” – I know ‘bouncy roggae’ doesn’t usually shout autumn, but something about the chorus ‘Nobody raise your voices, it’s just another night in Nantes’ makes me feel cozy and wine-drunk.
Sufjan Stevens ‘Casimir Pulaski Day’: I know Pulaski day is in the spring, but this is a tune that will get you out of bed on a late November morning.
Led Zeppelin ‘Stairway to Heaven’: There I said it.
Wilco ‘Ashes of American Flags’: Swirling vortex of aching over the fall of American dominance and the death of our brothers in arms. Yea, that’s fall alright.
Neil Young ‘Harvest Moon’: Really surprised no one said this one! A primary instrument is a broom sweeping up a porch! This song is rocking chairs and apple cider personified.
I see your Harvest Moon and I raise you Harvest. I do regret not bringing in Neil. For shame.
The odd thing about Harvest is that it feels more like a dead of winter album to me. Something about “it’s time to die” theme and the way everything is really sparely produced and straining. There’s the sort of haunting quiet on that album that I think just suits desolate bleakness a whole lot better. I guess if you ‘like’ Fall then Harvest Moon is more your style, if you think Fall is an abomination, Harvest might fit your mood better.
Good point and I agree. I thought we were just talking about the title tracks.
Great idea, and some great ideas up there. I’d add:
1) Aimee Mann – You Do
-This song reminds me of driving on a gray fall day back in NY. I think you could probably pick a lot of her songs though for fall.
2) Ryan Adams – Easy Plateau
-I think the slide guitar, in the way it is used in this song, feels very autumn.
3) The Dismemberment Plan – Superpowers
The first 3 tracks on ‘Change’ by The Dismemberment Plan always remind me of fall, but I guess I’d pick Superpowers above the other two.
4) Beta Band – Squares
5) Grandaddy – Now It’s On
Maybe it’s the beards, maybe it’s the flannel, maybe it is the album cover, but this one always struck me as late fall/early winter.
6) Great Lake Swimmers – Your Rocky Spine
7) R.E.M. – Band and Blame
9) Smashing Pumpkins – Thirty-Three
10) Radiohead – Everything In Its Right Place