October woods, wherein
The boy’s dream comes to pass,
And nature squanders on the boy her pomp
And crowns him with a more than royal crown
And unimagined splendor waits his steps
The urchin walks thro tents of gold
Thro crimson chambers porphyry & pearl
Pavilion on pavilion garlanded
Incensed & starred with lights & airs & shapes
And sounds, music
Beyond the best conceit of pomp or power
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Happy October everyone! Enjoy this month’s playlist and, as always, let me know if you discovered a new favorite after listening. Thanks!
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- Psychotic Girl – The Black Keys
- One of my favorite Black Keys tunes from their album Attack & Release. It came on while I was grocery shopping (thanks New Seasons) and it felt like a perfect beginning to October. A little grungy, a little sexy, and a little banjo in the background.
- What Was I Made For – Billie Eilish
- Billie somehow managed to encapsulate the feelings of depression and anxiety in one heartbreakingly beautiful song. When I saw Barbie and this song began playing, the tears started flowing without an end in sight. Her voice hits a certain space in my heart that no one else does (or has yet).
- lacy – Olivia Rodrigo
- No sophomore slump for Miss Rodrigo, her new album, GUTS, is fucking ace. The first time I listened to this song, I knew it was going to be a favorite. She’s giving Phoebe Bridgers and Billie Eilish all while maintaining her unique sound.
- New Auburn – Big Red Machine, Anaïs Mitchell
- I spun Big Red Machine’s album, How Long Do You Think It Will Last, the other day and this track, the last one on the album, popped its head up. It’s a song I’ve heard more times than I can count, but it struck me differently this time (don’t ask why, I couldn’t tell you). Maybe it’s Anaïs Mitchell’s voice or Justin Vernon’s harmonies. It’s the feeling of colorful leaves floating through dark gray skies that threaten rain.
- Rosyln – Bon Iver, St. Vincent
- Rag on the Twilight series as much as you want, their soundtracks went above and beyond for every film. This song is a popular TikTok tune (I don’t know what the proper term is), but it’s thanks to New Moon that we even have this beautiful duet. I think what I’m gathering from this is that Bon Iver is the sound of fall.
- The Boxer – Jerry Douglas, Mumford & Sons
- Mumford & Sons are actually a fantastic cover band, did you know this? Their best cover being “With a Little Help From My Friends” (the Joe Cocker version) in 2013 at Glastonbury festival with help from The Staves, First Aid Kit, Vampire Weekend, and The Vaccines. “The Boxer” hides on the deluxe edition of their 2nd album, Babel, and is graced with the wonderful Jerry Douglas, the dobro master. Marcus’s voice was made to sing folk and I’m so grateful that I’m alive to witness it.
- Male Fantasy – Billie Eilish
- Ugh Billie’s voice though!! I’m not even going to say much about this, just enjoy her falsetto and poignant lyrics.
- Part Wolf – John Craigie
- “You’d best get back in the ring, and learn how to bleed”. One of my favorite Craigie tunes.
- love is embarrassing – Olivia Rodrigo
- This has 80’s pop rock vibes that scratches an itch in my brain in such a wonderful way. From the driving bass line and drums to the whip-like sound during the chorus, and the funky little bridge, it’s so fun!
- all my ghosts – Lizzy McAlpine
- I love that Lizzy uses an electric guitar on this as if she’s playing an acoustic. It gives the song an edge and teases the audience, like she could go hard on this if she wanted to, but she’s keeping it reigned in. Edging the audience, if you will. She’s a visual storyteller and it makes me really excited to see where she goes in the future.
- Fine Line – Harry Styles
- It’s fall, so here’s some sad Harry. It’s one of the best endings to an album and the buildup to the climax of horns and drums is worth the wait.
- Fare Thee Well (Dink’s Song) – Oscar Isaac, Marcus Mumford
- Oscar Isaac and Marcus Mumford are the duet power couple I want forever and always. This is from the film Inside Llewyn Davis, where Marcus’s voice plays Oscar’s deceased bandmate. It’s an intense film by the Coen brothers and, similar to O Brother, Where Art Thou?, the music was done by the infamous T. Bone Burnett. Check out Another Day Another Time: Celebrating the Music of Inside Lleywn Davis for a closer look at the process and a live show with other bands who were inspired by the folk movement of the 60’s.
Autumn Micketti 