By Leanor Allon, Second Year, English
- Turn On The Bright Lights (2002) – Interpol
Interpol’s debut album ‘Turn On The Bright Lights’ is a wintery, atmospheric album encompassing the genres of post-punk revival and indie and alternative rock. Opening with the darkly melodic ‘Untitled’, similar moody and solitary tracks such as ‘Lief Erikson’ and ‘NYC’ perfectly soundtrack the early darkness of autumn, and transport listeners to New York City through a Strokes-like youthful gloom, aided by the upbeat angst of ‘Roland’ and ‘PDA’.
- Birds In The Ground (2006) – Eiafuawn
Eiafuawn, created as a side project by Duster member Clay Parton, has been sonically compared to Alex G – ‘Birds In The Ground’ is lethargic, with songs that are sweet but solemn, such as in ‘The Coffin Was So Light I Thought It Might Float Away’. The album’s introspective lyrics with almost depressive melodies perfectly soundtrack existential autumnal fatigue.
- The Natural Bridge (1996) – The Silver Jews
David Berman’s indie slacker rock band Silver Jews, formed alongside his Pavement bandmates Stephen Malkmus and Bob Nastanovich, transmit similarly existential melodies through a stream-of-consciousness lyricism backgrounded by alt-country noise rock. Heartwarming, thought-provoking, and affronting in a comforting way – ‘Inside the Golden Days of Missing You’ epitomises this warm but miserable expression.
- Wolfways (1994) – Michael Hurley
Michael Hurley’s contemporary country folk album is a slow, acoustic, string-led selection of little ditties. Their rawer instrumentation is a calming, folky accompaniment to the season. Banjo-heavy ‘Ditty Boy Twang’ and sweetly wholesome ‘I Paint A Design’ brighten the darkness of autumn.
- In My Own Time (1971) – Karen Dalton
Folky melancholy persists in Karen Dalton’s ‘In My Own Time’ – the album’s folk blues balances melancholic and introspective songs such as ‘Something On Your Mind’ and ‘Are You Leaving For The Country’ with the cheerful honkey-tonk of ‘How Sweet It Is’. Occasionally compared to Billie Holiday and inspired by the bluesy Bessie Smith, Dalton perfectly blends soulful roots music with folk and country, providing a song for every autumn emotion.
- Sonic Nurse (2004) – Sonic Youth
Gloomy, murky, avant-garde alternative noise-rock: Sonic Youth’s thirteenth studio album is one of many of theirs I strongly associate with the autumn months and onset of winter. The almost-uncomfortable discordance, for example in ‘Kim Gordon And The Arthur Doyle Hand Cream’, and wall-of-sound distortion combine feelings of unsettlement with those of immersion. Haunting ‘Dude Ranch Nurse’ and ‘Paper Cup Exit’ signal the start of the chilling months.
- Selected Ambient Works Volume II (1994) – Aphex Twin
Ambient electronica has a year-round application, but Aphex Twin’s seminal compilation combines synthesizer soundscapes with subtle techno rhythms, backgrounding any autumn day, especially September trips to the library.
- Within The Depths Of A Darkened Forest (2002) – Autumn’s Grey Solace
A quintessentially whimsigothic album from ethereal wave duo Erin Welton and Scott Ferrell, Autumn’s Grey Solace’s discography honours its namesake season. For fans of The Sundays, You’ll Never Get To Heaven, and Alison’s Halo, ‘Within The Depths Of A Darkened Forest’ offers crystalline vocals comparable to Elizabeth Fraser. Aligning itself heavily with nature in the darkening season with song titles such as ‘Reflections of Falling Leaves’ and ‘Shadows of Moonlit Nights’, the album is the epitome of autumnal dream pop perfectly suited to the season.
- Self-Titled (1965) – Jackson C. Frank
A melodic, acoustic traditional folk album part of the Folk revival movement produced by Paul Simon. Jackson C. Frank’s eponymous album contains the masterpiece songs ‘Blues Run the Game’ and ‘Milk and Honey’ amongst many other raw, poetically haunting melodies. Tragic, soulful, and beautiful.
- In the Flat Field (1980) – Bauhaus
Bauhaus’ iconic debut studio album is an influential gothic masterpiece of post-punk. The opening song ‘Dark Entries’ references the titular character from Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, while the rest of the album addresses themes of martyrdom, madness, and prostitution, cementing the album as a gothic October classic.
Featured Image: 2002 Autumn's Grey Solace
Will you be listening to these albums as the weather gets colder?
