We’re coming up on an inherently vexing season; you got used to consistently warm temperatures, and now every other day is Russian roulette played with layers of clothing. The dwindled presence on a summer semester campus? Now everyone’s back with fifteen emails of catching up to do—each. At the same time, the bugs providing the soundtrack to late summer nights are replaced with a the calm breeze on your closed window. Introverts are thankful in having a weather-bound reason to stay indoors. In that vein, we’ve put together a list of tunes that nicely pair with dead leaves, warm soup, and itchy-yet-comforting sweaters. —WCPR ReWrite Staff
“Night on the Sun” by Modest Mouse
Nothing can quite beat the feeling of listening to Isaac Brock’s moody, relaxing, and building guitar tones on this track, and listening to it in full brings me to a quiet and thought-provoking place. It’s my own Ghost of Autumn’s Past, reaching back years with Brock’s lyrics emphasizing the many “feels” of the fall season. Lines like “Well there’s one thing to know about this town / It’s five hundred miles underground; and that’s alright,” invoke a sense of content loneliness that brings to thought a quiet night with nothing but your thoughts and the wind. —Ryan Klem
“A Sunday” by Jimmy Eat World
If fall were to embody one day of the week, I have no doubt that it would be Sunday. Jimmy Eat World captures a season of rest and reflection perfectly with calming guitar riffs that often lull me to sleep and lyrics begging you to “learn as you lose” the hopes you have. After a long summer of thinking—and most likely over-thinking—fall clears the haze that has clouded your judgement as it simultaneously clouds the once-blue skies. —Tori Davis
“Cored To Empty” by Cheap Girls
This time of the year is full of crisp sounds, whether it’s crunchy leaves, the crackle of wind whipping against your face, or “Cored To Empty” by Cheap Girls. The acoustic guitar against the warm vocals embodies the feeling of wearing a sweater—the type that, as you pull it over your head, your hair becomes full of static. Your skin feels how dry the air has grown while the temperature has slowly dipped below sixty… all while you weren’t paying attention. The lyrics have a sad but accepting tone much like every ‘so long to summer’. When you hear Ian Graham’s voice say “When you first found me I was sturdy, broken, cored to empty / I’m not much better now” this wave of cold air sweeps over the last sip of summer and swallows it whole. —Emma Murphy
“New Round” by Beck
In-between the funked-up sex anthems and orchestral dirges, there’s a pleasant middle ground of Beck’s catalog that’s as plaintive and comforting as a quiet Sunday morning. When I got “The Information” in October of 2006, this became a bit of a seasonal, middle school lullaby; the echoes of summer bugs and “chainlink wind” giving way to the new school year’s “lessons of day on the blackboard of night” made saying goodbye to summer that much easier. —Andy Waldron
“Home And Somewhere Else” by Mimicking Birds
One thing I love about fall is the contrast of the cool air paired with a warm scarf or sweater, or coming home after a cold walk and curling up under a cozy blanket. “Home And Somewhere Else” captures this feeling perfectly, with the combination of a cool, calm acoustic riff paired and warm, full vocals. These elements paired with lyrics about finding your roots at home give this song a perfect, seasonal vibe. —Cheyenne Chao
“Walk In The Park” by Oh No! Oh My!
This is easily my favorite season, full of nostalgic moments of meeting new people and going on adventures with friends in brisk weather. “Walk In The Park” uniquely strikes these warm feelings with a familiar guitar and vocal focus, along with an upbeat and generally happy timbre bringing good vibes along with remembrance of fun times old and new. When I first heard this, it instantly brought back memories of a five-year-old me enjoying walks in the park with none of life’s troubles on my mind. The tune’s lyrics evoke a strong, comforting feeling, reminding me that the simple pleasures in life like walking on leaves and spending time with others never cease to be amusing, and the only thing that has truly changed is our attitude and age. —Andrew Chrepta
Be sure to check out these songs and more seasonal picks over at WCPR’s official Spotify page: play.spotify.com/user/wcpr
