Five Albums For Fall

Run For Cover Records, 2015

This hidden pop-punk gem is full of beautiful guitar riffs, witty lyricism, and sharp insights. It’s easy to get lost in this album, as the sound is very cohesive, but the album is just an enjoyable experience overall. 

Songs with the most fall vibes: “Humming”, “I Would Hate You If I Could”, “New Scream”

Taylor Swift, 2021

Is there anything Taylor can’t do? This album marks the turning point from her older country music to her new exploration of the pop genre; even in its transitional nature it’s effective. Swift effortlessly creates the vision of fall with this album’s moments of sharp vulnerability and atmosphere. 

Songs with the most fall vibes: “Holy Ground”, “State Of Grace”, “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)”

Taylor Swift, 2020

There’s a reason why I have two Taylor albums on this list. She’s notoriously a big fan of the fall season, and that comes through with evermore. This album is a part of the world-building she is so famous for and passionate about. Her work on this album draws inspiration from great literary works such as The Great Gatsby (Track 7) and Rebecca (Track 5). This is Swift at her very best in which she takes a stripped down approach to the production and a Dickinsonian approach to her lyricism. 

Songs with the most fall vibes: “marjorie”, “ivy”, “cowboy like me”

Daughters of Cain Records, 2022

You might want to take a deep breath before pressing play on this record. Ethel Cain’s voice is haunting, and so are her gothic lyrics, with a raw and honest exploration of her religious identity and past. You’ll come away from this album feeling unsettled, but knowing Cain, that’s exactly what she wants. Notably, her most upbeat song on the album is a commentary on teenage apathy in the US (“American Teenager”). 

Songs with the most fall vibes: “Family Tree (Intro)”, “A House In Nebraska”, “American Teenager”

Dead Oceans, 2020

You might not think of Phoebe Bridgers’ 2020 album Punisher as a fall album, but the themes of the album say otherwise. Bridgers conjures up visions of “a haunted house with a picket fence” as well as “government drones” and “alien spaceships.” Her songs slowly build in tension, and you’ll eventually come to realize that her sweet, melodious voice hides lyrics that pack a visceral punch.

Songs with the most fall vibes: “DVD Menu”, “Halloween”, “I Know The End”