Fall 2019 Playlist: Annotated

Here are some songs to accompany the falling leaves. Created the playlist last week, but I haven’t had a chance to write about it until now. Story of my life.

1) “Done Bleeding” by The Mountain Goats: This is one of my favorite songs on their most recent album In League with Dragons. The second I heard it, I knew it had to go on my next fall mix. It’s all about shedding the past—kind of like the season itself.

2) “Chicago” by Graham Nash: I don’t know why, but whenever autumn rolls around, I want to listen to 60s music nonstop. Something about organ and bold harmonies just says fall to me, I guess. Recently I went to the tiny and charming Edgewater Museum and saw an exhibit about the famous conspiracy trial following the protests at the ‘68 Democratic National Convention, which inspired this song, so it seemed fitting.

3) “Cinnamon Girl” by Lana Del Rey: There’s no one like Lana Del Rey to usher us from Hot Girl Summer into Sad Girl Fall. So glad her new album finally came out. This one sounds like drinking hot tea on a cloudy day.

4) “Jungle Fever” by Jidenna: Jidenna’s new album 85 to Africa has been one of my favorite things to listen to lately. The latter half of the album is especially good. This mellow song about following in the footsteps of his hardworking parents fit best on this particular playlist—but you can bet you’ll see some Jidenna songs pop up on all my playlists this year.

5) “Lingerie” by Lizzo: HELL YES SEXY LIZZO SLOW JAM. Finally got to see her in concert the other weekend. Dreams fulfilled.

6) “Corrina, Corrina” by Bob Dylan: Again—autumn and the 1960s. I have mixed feelings about Bob Dylan, but I like this bluesy one—probably because he didn’t write it.

7) “Entre Los Dos” by Y La Bamba: I went to play a different Y La Bamba song for my sister the other day, only to discover that they had an entirely new album! Here’s one of my favorites from it.

8) “Marrow” by Jealous of the Birds: I put one of Jealous of the Birds’ songs on my summer playlist a few years back, but their latest EP is autumn all the way through. The chorus of this one is breathtaking. Sounds like flying.

9) “Westering Animal” by DM Stith: What would fall be without DM Stith? He’s been releasing lots of new singles lately, and this one is particularly dynamic.

10) “Haunted House” by Florence + The Machine: Can’t remember how I stumbled across this lovely new Florence single, but it is spooky season.

11) “Don’t Let Me Sleep” by Shana Cleveland: Shana Cleveland opened for The Mountain Goats last time I saw them at Thalia Hall. Her music may as well be from the 60s. Sleepy and folky. A little eerie.

12) “Season of the Witch” by Lana Del Rey: Rarely do I include the same artist twice on one playlist, but I couldn’t resist this Donovan cover—the original is one of my favorite fall songs of all time!

13) “I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend” by Ezra Furman: Ezra’s new album Twelve Nudes is largely punk inspired, but I felt this retro lamentation fit the fall playlist best. Let’s all pine together.

14) “Salt Flats” by Mal Blum: I first heard Mal Blum on an episode of Welcome to Night Vale, and I really like their new album Pity Boy, which delves into the experience of coming out as transgender.

15) “All I Do Is Lie” by Stef Chura: Stef Chura opened when I saw Ezra Furman earlier this month. Love a good opening act. Love female-fronted rock bands.

16) “You’re All I’ve Got Tonight” by The Cars: RIP Ric Ocasek.

17) “Fuckmylife666” by Against Me!: I’ve seen Against Me! several times, but their set at Riot Fest last month was incredible—they played the entirety of both Reinventing Axl Rose and Transgender Dysphoria Blues. I forgot how much I liked this song.

18) “Imigradan” by Les Filles de Illighadad: A former coworker posted an Instagram video of this band from Niger, and I fell in love. Fatou Seidi Ghali is one of only two known Tuareg women to play guitar. How cool is that?!

Happy listening.