The first day of the month is always special. January 1 allows the world ambitious resolutions and a new start. June 1 arrives with joyous whispers of summer, and September 1 is a reminder of reality’s return. November 1 ushers in early holiday spirit and epitomizes fall.
Every first, I bid farewell to my playlist from the previous month and begin my music collection anew. A tradition I originated three years ago, I now see playlist-creating as the best monthly reset. Compiled of recommendations, nostalgic classics and Shazam finds, my monthly playlists are direct portals into the memories that parallel them. For instance, Damien Jurado’s “Silver Joy” (on my February playlist) is to leafless trees and melting snow as Maggie Rogers’s “The Kill” (on my May playlist) is to early spring and sophomore year dinner parties.
This fall’s album survey includes loosely “recent” releases. They are the works I associate with fall 2024 in all its red and orange, pumpkin spice-filled autumnal glory. These albums’ songs may decorate my playlists, but their tunes and lyrics live permanently in my mind. Here are the albums I fell in love with this fall (in no particular order):
- “Last Night In The Bittersweet” by Paolo Nutini
Source: Spotify
Favorite Songs: Through the Echoes, Writer, Everywhere, Acid Eyes and Julianne
I promised myself I would limit my favorites to three per album, but “Last Night in the Bittersweet” is just too good. Paolo Nutini’s voice is heartbreaking in the best senses of the term. Its raspy quality, particularly evident in the choruses of “Everywhere” or “Through the Echoes,” could evoke chills in the most devout non music-listeners.
As powerful as Nutini’s voice may be, he also knows how to give an excellent stripped-down performance. Such is the case in songs with gentler narratives. “Stranded Words (Interlude),” “Radio,” “Take Me Take Mine” and “Abigail” are evidence of this. They relay devastatingly universal themes of uneven expectations, illusions of personal growth and unrequited love. These songs, “Writer” and “Julianne” included, also do so with a poet’s meticulous word choice and composition.
A mix of satisfying chord progressions and just as many instruments as the album cover depicts, “Last Night In The Bittersweet” becomes my favorite record whenever I rediscover it every few weeks. However, there are a few best practices for absorbing this masterpiece. I recommend listening alone during a walk or run immersed in deep thought, on a long car ride during a rainy day or, most optimally, while looking up at the stars and pondering the universe. After all, each piece on this album feels like a personal letter from an individual in a listener’s life, their words masked by Nutini’s honest tone.
Nutini’s music is the type that transcends the device it is played on. It enters the physical realm of listeners with notes gracing receivers’ eardrums and belts coursing through one’s entire being. For the more upbeat-inclined listeners looking to bop their heads and move on, the album offers “Children of the Stars,” “Petrified In Love” and “Desperation” (or “Lose It” for a one person rave simulation).
2. “Messy” by Olivia Dean
Source: Spotify
Favorite Songs: Dive, Ladies Room and The Hardest Part (feat. Leon Bridges)
Olivia Dean’s “Messy” is ideal dinner party music. My introduction to this album was a late night family drive to New Jersey. “The Hardest Part (feat. Leon Bridges)” came onto the radio just as the Sommer’s traversed the George Washington Bridge. At that precise moment, Bridges and Dean’s voices provided the perfect auditory sensation to accompany the passing New York cityscape. A tale of two individuals growing apart, the song is sincere, vulnerable and simply catchy. It onset my exploration of Dean’s discography, leading to a certain appreciation for “Messy.”
The album eases listeners in with the reverb-infused “UFO” before “diving” headfirst into “Dive.” “Dive,” one of my favorite songs on the album, perfectly encapsulates the precipice of love. In this pop hit, Dean weighs the emotional and rational- having a good time all the while. Each track on the record glimpses into different stages of platonic, romantic or familial relationships.
Clever lyricism makes “No Man” a testament to walking on eggshells whereas “Dangerously Easy” portrays an ex seemingly moving with ease and the desire to do the same. Meeting momentary best friends in line for the “Ladies Room” at restaurants or parties is a cornerstone of girlhood. These friendships, driven by a sense of camaraderie and empowerment, can span minutes to lifetimes. Dean’s “Ladies Room” accurately captures their fleeting essence and the confidence they leave individuals with.
Then, “Danger” explores the active awareness of falling in love before “I Could Be a Florist” daydreams about an idealistic future. Dean’s vocal talents shine in “Everybody’s Crazy,” and the final track, “Carmen,” is a touching tribute to Dean’s grandmother. “Messy” is diaristic in nature. It distills relatable feelings into journal-like song entries that convey universal experiences in specific ways.
3. “Transmissions” by Amos Lee
Source: Spotify
Favorite Songs: Carry You On, Hold On Tight and Transmissions
“Transmissions” by Amos Lee is an experience. Each song is an homage to life and the moments that punctuate it with joy, sorrow and all in-between. The title track, “Transmissions,” speaks to this purpose. Lee sings of memories being the backdrop to mundane moments such as forgetting to put keys in a car.
In “Keep On Movin,” he describes a metaphorical walk through darkness and uncertainty, driven by his mother’s sage words. Beyond the interpersonal, Lee uses his art as a vehicle to comment on humanity. “Built to Fall” is essentially a list in lyric form that addresses the cyclical nature of societal, personal and historical events. “Hold On Tight” praises unity in the face of an unpredictable world. Influential messaging aside, beautiful compositions uphold these incredible tunes. From the strum of a guitar to the beat of a drum, each component of Lee’s songs feels thoughtful and conscious.
Most writers understand joy to be the most difficult emotion to portray, at least in a nuanced manner. Lee not only portrays but evokes joy with “Beautiful Day” and “Lucky Ones.” These songs embody gratitude. They are the type that could lead listeners to step outside and admire the world around them… just because. “Carry You On” immortalizes a lost loved one’s spirit. It is one of the most special songs I have had the privilege of listening to, perfectly encapsulating what it is like to carry somebody’s memory past their lifetime.
“Darkest Places,” one of my favorite songs on “Transmissions,” reaffirms Lee’s commitment to finding love and good in even the most impossible scenarios. “When You Go,” “Baby Pictures” and “Night Light” demonstrate a certain unabashed care for the connections they depict. “Transmissions” is, in two words, sensitive and honest. It is best suited to be the soundtrack to a long, pensive drive or any creative endeavor (e.g writing a poem, painting etc.). One of the best things about this album is that it changes with each new listen, making it the closest to a sentient being that a body of music can be.
4. “This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway” by Lola Young
Source: Genius
Favorite Songs: Messy, Good Books and Conceited
I fell in love with Lola Young’s music when she performed at Paris concert hall and nightclub Les Etoiles early last spring. As friends and I cut through a crowd of hip Parisians in their early 20’s, Young’s dynamic voice cut through the venue’s elaborate light displays and smog machines. Her performances of “Messy” and “Conceited” first drew me to “This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway” and built my excitement for the album’s release. Ever since said release this past July, Young has given audiences an album to appreciate in a million different ways.
Her vibrant personality and observations of human nature drive her songwriting aptitude. “Good Books,” an upbeat staple of any road trip mix, details the exasperation of putting in effort for an individual that will never recognize it. On the other hand, “You Noticed” is an ode to the person that recognizes it all- from new perfume scents to new makeup to new jokes. It is also a devastating testament to the fear of leaving or losing said person.
“Crush” mirrors the overwhelming trajectory of having a crush in both lyric and form. “Big Brown Eyes” is Young’s tale of going back to a person she is too good for but cannot get over. Though explicit, like many songs on the album, “Wish You Were Dead” excellently depicts the emotional peaks and valleys of a resentment-filled relationship. And, also like many songs of the album, it does so with a catchy beat. “Messy” is the ultimate articulation of never quite being enough. Young’s frustration with being “too messy” then “too clean” or “too clever” then “too dumb” shines through in what I classify as one of the best songs of the year.
“Walk On By” reminds me of the train ride to work where I listened to it for thirty minutes straight because my phone was lost in my Mary Poppins-esque tote. When I eventually did find my phone, I let the song keep playing. “Walk On By” is simply that good. Speaking of good, “Conceited” depicts growing and moving on for good. Its central refrain, “You bought me some flowers, I gave them to someone else,” is a power move in lyric form.
My praise for “This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway” feels endless. I love the way it makes space for multiple truths, aspects of relationships and emotional journeys. Most of all, I love its honesty. Young is true to herself and therefore created a work true to all that listen to it. I cannot wait to watch Young flourish as an artist, backed by the millions that will earnestly repeat her lyrics even if they weren’t “meant for [them] anyway.”
Honorable Mention: “Don’t Forget Me” by Maggie Rogers
Source: Wikipedia
I wanted to formally include “Don’t Forget Me” by Maggie Rogers until realizing my favorites list included literally every song on the album. For concision purposes, I am giving the album an honorable mention. My advice is to begin by listening to the upbeat “So Sick of Dreaming,” “It Was Coming All Along,” “On & On & On,” “Drunk,” “The Kill” and “If Now Was Then” titles before transitioning to the melancholic “I Still Do,” “Don’t Forget Me” and “All the Same” portions of the album. Try this out: the experience might change your life.
Happy Listening!
