The early taste of winter we experienced this past weekend aside, fall is still here. It is a season that is synonymous with comfort, general coziness and, of course, pumpkin spice-everything (although it seems that it is only a matter of time before the new Toasted Graham Latte takes over). However, little do we tend to notice that to feel all these wonderful sensations, we have to pay good money for it. Those cozy, beautifully-pattern sweaters are expensive; those pumpkin-spice lattes are a fortune. You can’t get comfortable without a nice, big blanket and Lord knows those quilts do not come cheap.
But you know what is (generally) free? A Spotify account. You know what I have made for you? Yet another playlist. For free.
This fall, rejoice in the fact that you do not have to sweat this season trying to make the perfect lazy-day fall playlist. Go find your chunkiest boot socks, your biggest sweater and perhaps even some hot apple cider and grab your laptop. It’s about to get real cozy in here, real quick.
1. “Savage Night At The Opera” by Destroyer, off of his record, Kaputt.
There’s something about this record that has always screamed “fall” to me. Dan Bejar’s voice is ethereal and haunting (and even moreso live). Between the atmospheric synthesizers and the carefree nature of his “ba da da da” chorus, you, too, will not have a single care in the world after listening to this track.
Towards the end of the song, the guitar explodes into a loud, melodic run. Given the relaxed nature of “Savage Night At The Opera,” it brings an unheard brightness to the track. The song itself is pure poetry. I challenge you to name another song with such poetic lyrics such as “Let’s face it / old souls like us being born to die / It’s not a war until someone loses an eye.” Destroyer paints a very vivid image for his listeners. It’s an easy-going song and doesn’t demand much from the listener – perhaps a little nod of the head here and there.
2.”Misread” by Kings of Convenience, off of their album, Riot On An Empty Street.
This song begs its listener to misinterpret it. The warm acoustic guitar, the familiar voice of Eirik Glambek Bøe, the lovely harmonies provided by Erlend Øye all serve to distract you from the incredibly sad lyrics. You’ll be lost in the joy-tinged piano interlude–so much so you’ll forget to notice the lyrics of the second verse, “How come no one ever told me … / The loneliest people / Were the ones who always spoke the truth?”
Kings of Convenience, what in the world are you saying about modern society?
“Misread” ends in a way that the listener knows it is about to end conclusively, but he or she doesn’t want it to. You’ll need at least an hour more of this piece. It’s a God damn masterpiece.
3. “Life After Life” by The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, off of their record, Days Of Abandon.
This is arguably the most tragic song I’ve ever heard. Like “Misread,” this song is misleading with its happy, sweet, sing-song tone. Jen Goma’s voice is high and flows neatly from one note to the next, blending perfectly with The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart’s guitar work.
When Goma’s voice swells in the chorus, you’ll feel it right in your chest. There’s something very captivating about its melancholic bliss. While you might feel frustrated with the speakers’ infatuation with this Christian character, you can’t help but sympathize with his or her emotional turmoil.
It’s a calming track through and through. The longer you listen, the further you sink into your couch underneath the blankets, never to be seen again.
4. “Come On Sister” by Belle & Sebastian, off of their album, Write About Love.
Can someone just buy me Belle & Sebastian’s entire discography?
I’ve said on numerous occasions that I would love to live inside of a Belle & Sebastian song for the rest of my life. The stories Stuart Murdoch, the lead singer, paints are told in such a way that you almost can reach out and touch them. Makes me wonder what creative juices are flowing in Glasgow’s waters.
There’s nothing discordant about this track, meaning that you can easily drift off to a dreamland narrated by Murdoch. The synthesizer in “Come On Sister” is melodic and inspires a strange nostalgia for a time that never existed. I particularly enjoy the naiveté sprinkled throughout the track as indicated by the lyrics, “And it’s fun / Thinkin’ of you like a movie star / And it’s dumb / Thinkin’ of you the way that you were.” I mean, let’s be real: when have we ever had a crush where we didn’t idealize the individual to all hell?
I’m looking at you, middle school-self.
5. “Lydia, The Ink Will Never Dry” by Maxïmo Park, off of their record, Too Much Information.
There’s something about this rounded guitar sound that always makes me think of fall. It’s simple and the exact opposite of ostentatious. While it captures your attention, it doesn’t overpower any of the elements of the song. Paul Smith’s voice is comforting, warm and pleading. The tempo is perfect for a brisk walk in this lovely, cooling weather. Could you ask for anything more?
I mean, other than a hot beverage in your hand.
It’s an easy song to get lost in. In addition, it’s got that wonderful factor of being written by a British group, which, we all know, makes any song ten times better from the start.
6. “I Know What Love Isn’t” by Jens Lekman, off of his album, I Know What Love Isn’t.
If you ask my roommate, Jessica, she will tell you that Jens Lekman is the saddest man in the world. I personally think, while he certainly tends to drift towards melancholia, that he writes emotionally realistic songs.
Take these lyrics, “So let’s get married / I’m serious / But only for the citizenship.” Or even, “A relationship / That doesn’t lie / About it’s intentions and sh*t.” You don’t get that in a traditional love song. Quite frankly, these lyrics are far more interesting than any love song could possibly be. Wouldn’t it be nice if we lived in a straight-forward world where people didn’t hide behind facades?
His voice is certainly non-conventional, but do not let that scare you away from listening. It’s nice to hear indie musicians not singing like each other. Lekman’s voice only serves to further amplify his realism factor in his music. There is no autotune or edit–it’s Lekman’s voice in its purest form. While you’ll be tapping your foot to the toy-piano sound, the flute, or even just the guitar, you’ll be lulled into a world where love is perceived at face-value.
7. “Live In Dreams” by Wild Nothing, off of their record, Gemini.
When this song shuffles on, it is as if you stepped into a cloud of harmonious noise. Paired with Jack Tatum’s droning, aching voice, you’re overcome with the strangest sadness. The guitar is reminiscent of the 80s new wave and emphasizes the dream-pop nature of this song. The space-like, sonic whistle flows throughout the track that is a comforting repetition as Tatum continues into is seemingly dreary track. Despite the fact that it feels like the track is yet another tragedy, there’s something hopeful about it. In fact, there’s something oddly romantic about the chorus, “Our lips won’t last forever / And that’s exactly why / I’d rather live in dreams / And I’d rather die.”
Sleep is the cousin of death, I suppose.
8. “Autumn Tree” by Milo Greene, off of their eponymous debut.
If you opened up a dictionary (written by yours truly) for the word “haunting,” my definition of the word would simply be this song. Milo Greene is a band of five vocalists who layer their voices to create some truly heartbreaking songs. “Autumn Tree,” while being easy to fall into your couch and snuggling to, is so harmless and harmonic that it’s hard to listen to. It’s almost as if it’s too beautiful to listen to–as if you need to preserve it’s beauty by staying as far away from it as possible. But, listen to it. It’s an experience like no other.
Their voices blend together to overwhelm your ears with pure, glorious sound. When their voices crescendo towards the middle of the song, you’ll swear you’ve died at went to heaven. It’s that incredible.
9. “Zorbing” by Stornoway, off of their album, Beachcomber’s Windowsill.
After constantly barraging you with tragedy and heartbreak, I figured both you and your heart needed a break lest you fall into a bumbling mess this Fall. Put it this way: the most vivid of stories will captivate your mind and ease you into a state of relaxation. Happy stories have no drama or life to them. Tragedies?
I need not finish my sentence.
“Zorbing” is a song that is severely influenced by sea chanties from days of yore. However, it isn’t the sea-hardened, masculine sailor who is singing for you, but rather a love stricken Oxford boy at school. The song becomes more and more layered as it runs on. You first start with vocals and guitar. It slowly introduces horns, pianos, bass and drums. By the end of the track, you have a full, multi-layered song that sounds like it was crafted by a real maestro.
10. “Beauty Over All” by Craft Spells, off of their record, Idle Labor.
Justin Vallestero’s voice has always been one of my favorites. It’s gravelly and low–a type of voice that you would think would be only perfect for particularly devastating songs. However, it’s a voice that does tragedy and bliss both very well. “Beauty Over All” is a bright, upbeat song that is heavily influenced by the 80s. It sounds like a track that someone wrote and recorded in his or her bedroom, giving it a very personal factor. It’s as if you opened a direct line to the speaker’s heart and thoughts.
As the guitar fades out, I hope this emotional rollercoaster ride has worn you out to stay cozy on your couch. Indulge yourself this fall with spiced drinks, lattes, and, of course, good music.
You can listen to the playlist below via Spotify.
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