We’re in the full swing of fall here at the University of Connecticut, and the changing of the leaves also comes with students’ music tastes shifting to more fall-themed music. Today, The Daily Campus Life section shares their recommendations for albums to listen to this fall.
Ayyan Tamjeed, Staff Writer, art24001@uconn.edu, he/him
As the weather becomes chillier and the leaves turn into various shades of orange, one should “fall” in love with Vampire Weekend’s “Only God Was Above Us.” This album is a wonderful blend of the band’s past indie rock sensibilities with a fresh coat of chamber pop.
The first two songs are a great example of this sound. You have opener “Ice Cream Piano,” with its lovely buildup from the soft, lush guitars to the bombastic bridge, where the drums and strings go into overdrive to provide a manic ending to this song. Vampire Weekend singer Ezra Koenig delivers a wonderful vocal performance, brilliantly matching the song’s energy throughout with lyrics that highlight a disagreement between individuals.
The second song, “Classical,” is a better showcase of the album’s sound with its inclusion of pianos and string arrangements. The highlight here is Henry Solomon’s saxophone solo in the bridge, with sharp stabs of sound accentuated by a twinkling piano.
And these are just the first two tracks! All 10 songs on this album are masterpieces in their own right — from the boom-bap drums in “Connect,” to the harsh soundscape of “Gen-X cops,” there’s something new to discover with every listen.
Maleena Muzio, Staff Writer, maleena.muzio@uconn.edu, she/her
Every year when the leaves begin to fall and I hear them crunching under my feet, a few albums begin to play in my head. However, the one that immediately comes to mind is “Bella Donna” by Stevie Nicks. What artist, living or dead, embodies fall more than the white witch herself?
“Bella Donna,” Nicks’ 1981 debut album, is characterized by songs such as the hit “Edge of Seventeen,” as well as many others. The most autumnal songs on the album have to be “Outside the Rain,” “How Still My Love” and the duet with Don Henely of the Eagles, “Leather and Lace.” The album is perfect for the Halloween season and beyond. Light every candle you own and play “Bella Donna” out loud to go on your own witchy journey.
Addison Riccoboni, Campus Correspondent, dxl24003@uconn.edu, she/her
Set the scene: it’s a 55-degree morning, orange leaves are falling, hot chai latte in hand. You happily pick up your phone and put on your headphones, ready to transform into a new dimension with some fall music. What album are you playing? Personally, I’m playing “The Crying Nudes.” The self-titled album by The Crying Nudes is 15 minutes and 20 seconds of pure autumn. Specifically, “Unabomber,” “New York mystic pretty,” “real star” and “angel heart” are the first songs I’d play on a cool, crisp day. Although it’s short, the album manages to fully encapsulate the feeling of a perfect fall day.
Elijah Polance, Staff Writer, elijah.polance@uconn.edu, he/they
When I think of autumn, I picture the vibrancy of trees with their warm-colored leaves. Naturally, this train of thought leads me to the similarly colored album cover for “Helplessness Blues,” the 2011 masterclass in indie-folk from the band Fleet Foxes.
But it’s not just aesthetics that make this the perfect fall album. Thematically, the album is entrenched with frontman Robin Pecknold’s anxiety surrounding change and longing for greater meaning. Life was moving too fast for Pecknold, in his early 20s while writing the album, and his sense of control seemed to only diminish as time went on. It’s the midlife crisis feel that ties the record with fall, each marked by a transition towards disruption — getting older and winter. The title track exemplifies this dynamic the best, but “Sim Sala Bim” and “Blue Spotted Tail” are great autumnal tunes in their own right.
Thaddeus Sawyer, Staff Writer, thaddeus.sawyer@uconn.edu, he/him/his
“Rubber Soul” by The Beatles is not only the first time that they truly demonstrated their superior studio sufficiency, but also one of the warmest albums in their catalog. Characterized by acoustic guitars and some of the best basslines of Paul McCartney’s career, “Rubber Soul” incorporates aspects of Motown, folk and pop to create a bright atmosphere throughout.
The introspective lyrics are a continuation of the themes explored on “Beatles for Sale” and “Help!,” with “In My Life” being one of John Lennon’s seminal pieces. Other popular tracks include “Drive My Car” and “Michelle,” though I am more of a fan of the deep cuts. “I’m Looking Through You” is one of my favorite early McCartney boy-girl centric songs, while “If I Needed Someone” is amongst George Harrison’s best work as a member of The Beatles. The album has few skips if any and is one of the most complete albums the group ever released.