Albums for your Fall Playlist

Fall is the superior of the four seasons. Walking around campus with a pumpkin spice latte in hand while listening to your perfectly curated playlist is an unbeatable aesthetic (basic, I know). I tend to romanticize everything during this time of year, making the most of the beautiful leaves and perfect weather. 

For those of you who share my love of fall (and have great taste in music), here are some of my favorite albums that remind me of this spectacular season.

Dizzy up the Girl by Goo Goo Dolls

This alternative rock album is an elite soundtrack for your daily commute. There’s something so mesmerizing about staring at the Chicago skyline and feeling like you can take on the world. Many of the tracks from this 1998 album are featured on big picture films, like Iris (their biggest hit).

Album Cover: Dizzy Up the Girl by Goo Goo Dolls

My personal favorites from the album are Broadway, Black Balloon, and of course Iris. Broadway has that nice, upbeat vibe that reminds you of the opening scene of a movie. I recommend listening to the live version from their 2004 performance in Buffalo, since their live music and vocals are genuinely insane. Black Balloon is on the sadder side, with the comforting acoustic guitar and meaningful lyrics that give Shakespeare a run for his money. Their music always feels super intentional, and it fits in well with the fall aesthetic.

Iris has always been Goo Goo Dolls' most iconic work. The live performance is simply impeccable, with such raw yearning that it literally gives you goosebumps. It has unforgettable lyrics like "I'd give up forever to touch you."

If you love alternative rock and old-timey music, this album is totally for you!

folklore by Taylor Swift

I'm not a Taylor Swift fan, but we can all agree that this album is a fall classic. All of the tracks resonate deeply with the season, with the cover capturing the chilly breeze and falling leaves.

Album Cover: folklore by Taylor Swift

My favorite tracks on this album are mirrorball and this is me trying. Both are so emotionally layered, and the lyricism feels unique compared to some of her other works. Mirrorball is very introspective and emphasizes the struggles of trying to fit in by being someone you're not. The melancholic tune is addictive. Even if you don't typically listen to her music, I think you should totally give this song a listen!

This is me trying is the other side of the coin, highlighting the difficulty of being true to yourself. It's packed with poetic lyrics, and the repetition of "this is me trying" makes it the perfect song to sing your heart out to on your drive home. I often have these two songs playing back-to-back when I'm spacing out, and I definitely recommend them to all of my overthinkers out there!

OK Computer by Radiohead

Arguably the best album of all time. It has been with me through thick and thin, from painful study sessions to emotional trauma. If you haven't before, I highly recommend you listen to OK Computer from start to finish as it is truly a life altering experience.

Album Cover: OK Computer by Radiohead

Although we've all seen Let Down on TikTok for the past few months, I'll never get sick of the song and probably whisper scream "One day I am gonna grow wings" for the rest of my life. My personal favorites on the album are Subterranean Homesick Alien and Airbag.

I can honestly go on and on about this album, so I'll try to keep it short and sweet. Subterranean Homesick Alien is so incredibly dreamy, literally the perfect song to play on loop and overanalyze. It has such a unique vibe to it, from the production to the rhythmic guitar. Airbag is another overwhelmingly amazing track. There is so much to unpack with this one because the song itself is so intentionally layered and complex. I also love how it's so timeless. Especially with the rise of Generative AI technology, there's a growing fear of losing our humanity, ourselves, to a man-made replica. It's a cinematic experience, with the instrumentals to the computer noises blended into the ending. The emotional catharsis is unbeatable.

There's so much more to be said about how much I love this album, but I'm saving it for a future blog post! If you have never heard it before, I'm very envious of you. I wish I could relive the otherworldly experience of listening to it for the first time again.

Rumors by Fleetwood Mac

I've only recently fallen into the Fleetwood Mac rabbit hole, but I've been loving every minute of it. I've always had their top hits, like The Chain and Dreams, scattered throughout my playlists, but listening to Rumors entirely was truly a great journey. All of the tracks fit in very well with the season, and I love listening to the album while I'm writing or studying!

Album Cover: Rumors by Fleetwood Mac

My personal favorites from the album are Silver Springs and Rhiannon. Silver Springs is simply a heartbreaking rollercoaster. The raw emotion packed into it and beautiful storytelling adds so much complexity to the song, making it stand out. I love how the soft, melancholic beginning quickly escalates to a raw and passionate ending. After learning the backstory to the track, it's even more poetic and devastating.

Rhiannon is another great track and has a completely different vibe to it. It's super groovy and is almost always stuck in my head. I think this album really shows Fleetwood Mac's range as an artist. I recommend it to those who like old rock!

Honorable Mentions

A.M by Arctic Monkeys

I Love You by the Neighborhood

Fallen by Evanescence

Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend

Thank you so much for reading! I recently started an Off the Radio instagram account (@off.the.record.blog) so be sure to check that out!