This week, the Diversions staff got together to curate the perfect soundtrack for the changing weather. Read the selections below and take a listen to these fall-flavored tracks.
“Else” by Built to Spill
The lyrics here have almost nothing to do with fall, but the real highlight of this track is Doug Martsch’s gentle and breezy guitar work. The way he makes that electric guitar sound float evokes leaves, fresh off the tree, slowly drifting in the wind. When Martsch hits the whammy bar during the song’s guitar coda, the lilting tone that results is perfectly suited for a climate of brisk, cool fall air. It also doesn’t hurt that the heart shattering lyrics are a great prescription for any bouts of autumn melancholy. — James Butler
“Leaves Fall” by Mansions On The Moon
Tess Boyle“Whispering” by Alex Clare
Amanda Hayes“Punch Drunk on Black Mold” by Absofacto
When listening to this song, it’s hard not to immediately drop what you’re doing and spend the day basking in autumn’s perfect weather. With its crisp vocals and wonderfully chilly lyrics, this song embodies all the best things about the season. Not to mention the last minute is so pretty that it’ll warm you up better than any fall-themed latte. Half catchy, half indie-cool, this song is a recommended listen for napping in the quad. — Natalie Carney
“The World Set Free” by William Tyler
In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby,” Jordan Baker tells Daisy Buchanan, “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” Tyler’s masterful fingerpicking transports you to a different place — essentially making you “start over” in a new headspace and setting you free from stress. “The World Set Free” gently sighs like a breeze through dry trees. Clocking in at just over 10 minutes long, the track ambles along enough to make it feel like a physical journey all its own. — Allison Hussey
“Furr” by Blitzen Trapper
Wolves, woods and a woman: in the title track from its 2010 album, Blitzen Trapper tells a tale of personal growth disguised in lyrics about a man whose “flesh had turned to fur.” The song’s steady rhythm hits like a heartbeat — steady and thick — with the strums of an acoustic guitar carrying the melody.The nature noises of bugs, birds and of course, wolf howls scattered throughout the tune enhance an already earthy vibe that’s perfect for incoming crunchy weather. — Allison Hussey
“Lost Weekend” by The So So Glos
“You and I, riding high/In a landfill building castles/ We get around while we’re alive.” This track is an adrenaline-pumping song with an appreciation for the present. With its fast paced electric guitar riffs to introduce the song, its catchy and poppy chorus throughout and its low bass to finish off, this song provides all the necessary ingredients to dance and sing-a-long to. Its theme even reminds the listener of the pointlessness of stressing for the past and future, while simultaneously providing the perfect remedy to survive this school season. — Lily Escobar
“Heartbreaker“ by Girls
“And when I said that I love you honey/ I knew that you would break my heart/ But why?” Leaves are changing, seasons are changing and feelings are changing. Heartbreaker pairs lo-fi with surf rock to deliver a cool and mellowed out groove. It’s upbeat enough to dance to, yet somber enough to sit and experience in solidarity. Combined with their signature throaty vocals and love-struck lyrics, “Heartbreaker” feels like a tunnel into their heart. The arrangements provide an eerie ballad to bawl your eyes out at 3 a.m. — Lily Escobar
“Our Way To Fall” by Yo La Tengo
This meandering jaunt recalls a mellow walk home from class amongst a bevy of fallen leaves. Like the slight chill that sets in come the end of September, an airy organ gently shivers above vocalist Ira Kaplan’s confessional melody. Instead of mourning summer’s end, this pleasant tune welcomes the changing weather with a warm, tender embrace. Through a series of heartwarming lyrics and cordial bass runs, Yo La Tengo affectionately declare fall to be the perfect season for cozying up with a loved one. — Chris Powers
“A Stone” by Okkervil River
No proper fall playlist is complete without an emotive, introspective folk song and this Okkervil River track fits the bill perfectly. A heartbreaking tale of unrequited love, the track is embellished by wandering horns and a softly-plucked mandolin. With lyrics like “You love a stone, because it’s dark, and it’s old/ And if it could start being alive you’d stop living alone,” “A Stone” is a somber reminder that though the leaves are falling and the temperature is dropping, some things never seem to change. — Chris Powers
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