10 Albums To Help You Break Into Fall

Back to school and back to your fall playlists, now are we? Whether you’re mourning your summer or have been looking forward to fall all year, we’ve curated a selection of albums we think you’ll love this coming season. What classifies an album as a “fall album” is more than just the month an album was released— it’s a certain energy we think these artists have captured. Think earlier nights, browns and reds, and Fair Isle sweaters. With a blend of classics and some of our indie favorites, we hope you find something you’ll want to throw on as the leaves start changing colour.

Feist - Let It Die:

Who other than the Canadian singer-songwriter superstar Feist, would you want to sing you into the new season? Feist’s Let It Die is among one of the top CDs I’ll throw on my ancient boombox to brighten up a drab fall day. This album feels like the cup of tea you make in the morning after a long night. Whether it’s her soothing originals or her dazzling cover of Bee Gees’ “Inside and Out”, this album can match whatever mood you happen to be in and is the perfect soundtrack to the welcoming of the fall season. 

Fleet Foxes - Shore:

As soon as September hits, this album has no right to leave the playlist rotation. Fleet Foxes’ Shore is among the many shining jewels in their discography, capturing the essence of fall within its 15-song tracklist. This album feels warm, a blend of nostalgia and wistfulness packaged up in the most soothing, transcendent indie folk the decade currently has to offer. Play this on a September stroll and let the melodies whisk you away. 

Carole King - Tapestry:

Winter, spring, summer, or... Fall! Carole King’s Tapestry isn’t just a critically acclaimed album—it’s a soulful soundtrack to the shifting seasons of life, effortlessly landing itself 38th on Apple Music’s Top 100 albums list. The songs feel like the crisp autumn air, full of nostalgia and reflection. Tapestry captures that unique blend of warmth and melancholy that autumn brings: the golden leaves, the chill in the air, and the reminder that change is inevitable. Each track stirs a longing for what’s been lost but leaves you with a quiet sense of hope for what’s yet to come.

Erykah Badu - Mama’s Gun:

There’s something autumnal about Erykah Badu’s seminal neo-soul record Mama’s Gun, from its jazz-inflected, cozy arrangements, to lyrics that speak of packing light and not missing your bus, whether that be for a new relationship or a new school year. It’s the sound of leaves turning, of a woman turning inside and taking her life in as she grows older and the air gets colder. But its biggest strength lay in the way Erykah directly evolves her introspection into life advice to all the women around her, sharing enlightenment like friends share autumn sweaters. It is expansive, warm, and wonderfully melodic. We think this album comes best paired with some mulled wine.

Norah Jones - Come Away With Me:

It’s an album that sounds the way a pumpkin-scented candle smells. But it also sounds like Thanksgiving dinners, car rides with your mom, and stone fireplaces in Tuscan-style homes. It’s hard to believe that this blockbuster album was Norah Jones’ début, and Come Away With Me is a fully realized set of smooth, wistful jazz songs that sound like standards, even though the majority of them had only been written fairly recently. Encompassing a smattering of influences from folk to blues to pop, they’re all delivered by Jones’ smoky, warm crooning that fits perfectly with changing weather. Not only is it stuck in your parents’ CD collection for the rest of eternity, but the songs are bound to be heard on every fall playlist until the stars explode.

Babehoven - Light Moving Time:

If you aren’t already familiar with the enchanting voice of Maya Bon, allow me to introduce you to her band, Babehoven. After releasing what I thought was the best EP of 2022, titled Sunk, this LP they released that same fall did not disappoint. Maya’s lyrics are introspective and gut-wrenching at times, all paired with the genius of her partner Ryan Albert’s production skills. Creating what to me, feels like the perfect fall album to listen to while you sit with your thoughts, Light Moving Time demonstrates the power of Maya and Ryan as a musical duo. Bon’s voice flutters across these indie folk melodies as she sings about time, loss, and connection.

Blood Orange - Coastal Grooves:

Dev Hynes, also known as Blood Orange, has been a force in the music industry for years. Allow Coastal Grooves to be a shining example that he has been pioneering a certain musical style for some time now. You’ve heard it in Solange’s “Losing You”, you’ve heard it in Sky Ferreira’s “Everything is Embarrassing”, and you’ve heard it in “Champagne Coast” from this very album. Dev Hynes captures magic in his sound; the perfect blend of nostalgia and excitement to soundtrack your walks across campus as we end our summer and say hello to both fall and new beginnings. 

Greg Mendez - Greg Mendez:

A change in the weather may bring a change of pace. If you’re looking to wind down, listen to something a bit more mellow, Greg Mendez’s voice is both calming and somber. This one’s for all the Elliott Smith fans who are looking for an indie folk singer-songwriter to cry to. Greg Mendez’ self-titled project is a 23-minute long collection of songs about longing, heartbreak, and reflection. His lyrics cut deep, with melodies and guitar strums that will melt in your ears. 

Taylor Swift - Red (Taylor’s Version):

What could be more emblematic of the fall season than the infamous red scarf from Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well”?. Red (Taylor’s Version) might be the best example of what Swift can do as an artist. Sure, she can nail a breakup song like none other, but she also writes about a barrier many female artists face; “Will you still want me when I’m nothing new?” Swift sings on “Nothing New” featuring indie folk songstress, Phoebe Bridgers. This record is filled with highlights from Taylor’s lengthy catalog of work: “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” (obviously); the fiery opener, “State of Grace”; and the titular track “Red” all come to mind. This album showcases Swift’s steady climb from Country to Pop with this album being an exceptional blend of both genres. 

Adrianne Lenker - songs:

Last but very, very far from least. With both solo projects and projects with her band Big Thief, Adrianne Lenker has an array of examples of why she is— at least to me— one of the greatest songwriters of our generation. “songs” is the perfect fall album with one blissful indie folk track after another— there’s not a lot more you can ask for from a project like this. Nobody writes a love song quite like Adrianne Lenker. This record is for daydreamers and lovers alike, with the perfect songs to listen to while wrapped in a knitted blanket. And if this record does it for you, Lenker has a lot more where that came from.