With a change of season upon us, it's time to find a betting fitting soundtrack for the chilly months ahead. There's nothing like a summer playlist, but it just doesn't feel right to drive around blasting "Ocean Avenue" past September. Although it can be hard to narrow down a playlist, I find sticking to albums can be the best way to compile a solid and eclectic playlist. Here are 10 albums that hold a spot in my heart during the fall, especially when you want to be all in your feels.
1. Third Eye Blind - Third Eye Blind
Best Track: "The Background"
This album, from beginning to end, is a masterpiece of 90's musical bliss. Although some tracks ("Narcolepsy", "How's It Going To Be", "God of Wine") are somber and heart-wrenching, there's an equal balance of upbeat hits ("London", "Burning Man", "Graduate"). For someone who's stuck in the 90's, this album is one that I hold close to my heart. And for those of you who aren't holding on to the past, I still know you would sing your heart out to "Semi-Charmed Life" so who are you trying to fool here?
2. 6 Feet Beneath the Moon - King Krule
Best Track: "Out Getting Ribs"
Archy Marshall released this album in 2013 when he was only 19 years old, and Six Feet Beneath the Moon is anything but amateur. It's easy to pick up on the jazz, punk, and hip-hop influences throughout this album; but I think King Krule has done an incredible job of creating his own unique sound. In fact, it's almost hard to squeeze him into any one category. From ballads, to rich instrumentals and techno mixes, this album is 14 tracks deep with dark and distinctive composition.
3. Silent Alarm - Bloc Party
Best Tracks: "Blue Light" & "This Modern Love"
In their debut album, Bloc Party showed their punchy approach to "indie-rock" and it sold like gold. Silent Alarm had a variety of tempos and emotions running from start to finish, much like most successful compilations. But somehow they managed to create a cohesive and recognizable sound all their own. This has become one of my go-to albums on cold rainy days; and judging from the album art, that's the feeling that Bloc Party had in mind.
4. Ivy Tripp - Waxahatchee
Best Tracks: "Air" & "La Loose"
Last summer I was at my favorite Pho spot in Fishtown when Katie Crutchfield walked in and took a table next to mine. Externally, I continued to inhale my noodles, but internally I was incredibly starstruck and felt 0% calm. This story has nothing to do with the beauty and relatability of Ivy Tripp.
5. Pisces Iscariot - The Smashing Pumpkins
Best Tracks: "Whir" & "Plume"
I could never choose a favorite Pumpkins album, but Pisces Iscariot is one that I find to be high on my list. Billy Corgan described this album as more of a "mix tape", as it is a mash-up of B-sides and outtakes that didn't make it on to their other albums. Although they may have spent less time on creating a meticulously well-rounded album, The Smashing Pumpkins certainly didn't cut any corners on creating incredible individual pieces of art.
6. Easy Tiger - Ryan Adams
Best Tracks: "Halloweenhead" & "Oh My God, Whatever, Etc."
As a man of many sounds, it isn't shocking that Ryan Adams has at least one album that could fit any given season. Although he is known for his musical variety, this is one of his more mellow albums, similar to Demolition and Love is Hell. This is my favorite Ryan Adams album because of the musical fusion he so perfectly created; It's almost as if he took the bluegrass sounds of Heartbreaker and Gold, and added a dash of the heavier tones in Rock N Roll. This album could be considered the perfect compromise for those who find Adams to be a bit twangy.
7. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
Best Tracks: "Towers" & "Holocene"
As always, Justin Vernon makes me feel all of my emotions at once for no good reason. Thanks a lot Justin Vernon.
8. Peripheral Vision - Turnover
Best Tracks: "Cutting My Fingers Off" & "Humming"
This is an album that I can't start without the intent to finish it. Peripheral Visions is without a doubt in my top 5 of the last few years. Not only is it lyrically heartbreaking, but its composition is soft and powerful all at once. It's one of those albums that you wish you had in high school, or at least one that you wish you'd heard earlier.
9. The Execution of All Things - Rilo Kiley
Best Track: "A Better Son/Daughter"'
I grew up on Rilo Kiley, but it took me until college to really appreciate what Jenny Lewis was doing here. And she's doing a lot of beautiful things.
10. Either/Or - Elliot Smith
Best Track: "Rose Parade"
Elliot Smith could make a doorknob cry. Sink into your couch and listen to this album, then question your existence for the next hour as you watch leaves falling off the trees that were just so vibrant a week ago. Fall, am I right?