Fall into the music
Illustration by Sami Seyedhosseini, Photo Editor.
The heat wave is over, you survived your midterms and fall is upon us. Your playlist needs a costume change. Whether you’re into calming indie music for pensive late nights or scratching punk and horror movie marathons, there’s plenty of seasonal music to put you in the mood for fall.
To celebrate the first leaves falling, take advantage of the crisp evening air with a stroll soundtracked by “Season of the Witch” by Lana Del Rey or “My Moon My Man” by Feist.
For something more somber and moody, try “How Soon Is Now?” by The Smiths. With its echoing guitar and driving rhythm, the track encapsulates isolation and longing, making it an ideal song for the darker, quieter side of fall.
“Yesterday” by Pencey Prep keeps the autumn atmosphere with its calm, melodic guitars, while its vocals veer from wistful longing to raw, cathartic screams.
“Dig Up Her Bones” and “Mommy, Can I Go Out & Kill Tonight?” by Misfits also feature deep screams but have more distorted guitars and horror-inspired lyrics. Fast, abrasive and theatrical, the songs create a chaotic and grimy vibe.
For a slightly less aggressive sound, turn to “The Way I Walk” and “Human Fly” by The Cramps. Playful, sleazy and a mix of B-movie horror aesthetics and country guitars, The Cramps are a campy addition to any playlist.
“Girls Will be Ghouls” by Pretty Frankenstein is a modern take on horror-inspired rock. Synths buzz beneath thrumming guitars while the vocals and production give the song a deliberately creepy edge.
“Lucretia My Reflection” by The Sisters of Mercy and “Spellbound” by Siouxsie and the Banshees slow the pace without losing the darkness, pairing hypnotic rhythms and eerie vocals with guitars that seem to float through the songs.
Likewise, any song by The Cure complements the fall season, but “Lullaby” particularly stands out for its gentle, swaying melody and haunting lyrics.
“The Killing Moon” by Echo & the Bunnymen has a similar gothic, melodic rhythm with a slightly more industrial, layered sound.
For fans of gothic tracks looking for heavier vocals, “Bloody Kisses” and “October Rust” by Type O Negative blend the romantic and the morbid. “Black No. 1 (Little Miss Scare-All)” and “Love You to Death” are standout songs, balancing deep vocals, church organs and heavy basslines.
“The Foundations of Decay” by My Chemical Romance keeps the screaming vocals and gothic atmosphere but features a stronger backing track, mixing aggressive guitar and pounding drums.
For something more spooky but still toned down, try “People Are Strange” by The Doors. The song’s gentle guitar and lively organ create a hazy, psychedelic atmosphere with a dreamlike quality.
“My Girlfriend Is a Witch” by October Country offers a brighter spin on the same vintage sound, pairing bouncing percussion and cheerful harmonies to turn its supernatural subject matter into a playful ‘60s love song.
“Harvest Time” by Pharoah Sanders and “Moonlight in Vermont” by Chet Baker can bring a more jazzy touch to your fall. Sanders’ saxophone drifts through “Harvest Time” with a warm, meditative quality, while Baker’s soft vocals and trumpet on “Moonlight in Vermont” create the feeling of a quiet evening spent watching the leaves change.
If you’re looking for something a little grittier, “The Man Who Sold the World - Live” by Nirvana can be a good addition to your playlist. The David Bowie cover has a heavier but still laid-back feel, balancing raw emotion with an acoustic sense of calm.
“Mayonaise” by The Smashing Pumpkins has a similar distorted sound, pairing scratchy grunge guitars with hazy vocals and lyrics about unrequited love, self-sabotage and the messiness of being human. Its swelling guitars make the song feel both nostalgic and restless in the season of change.
To really celebrate Halloween, “Weird Science” by Oingo Boingo, “Psycho Killer” by Talking Heads and “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell bring an upbeat but ever spirited tone to your playlist.
Whether your ideal fall soundtrack is dreamy indie, screaming punk, gothic rock, hazy jazz or campy Halloween pop, there is no shortage of songs to match the season. Grab your headphones, embrace the seasonal mood and let your playlist be as unpredictable as the weather