Orange maple leaves are sprawled across the quad. Carhartt jackets and Mary Janes have reemerged as fashion staples. The Crafted Kup workers are tired of making one-too-many pumpkin chai lattes. With the end of midterms and the ruminations of “Halloweekend” forthcoming, post-October break at Vassar is a thrilling time. While some scramble to gather last-minute costumes, others long for a stroll at Sunset Lake, getting lost within the mixtures of the warm-colored foliage and the autumnal music streaming from their wired headphones.
This playlist is for the autumn yearners—for those who bask in the pumpkin spice candles and spend their nights watching 90s horror movies in their dorm. Throw on the thrifted sweaters, and take a drive through the potent Hudson Valley greenery while you enjoy a sonic trip through an autumn escapade.
1. “Young Folks” by Peter Bjorn and John
Picture this: You are fresh off the Metro-North and ready for the return to classes. As you finally approach campus, you see the gothic exterior of the Main Library and the warm, great windows of Main Building. You feel a sense of comfort as “Young Folks” glides through your ears, its catchy whistle pop and playful percussion driving your sense of return. City-like, jumpy and slick, this song aids the feeling of returning to the blooming campus in October.
2. “A Greater Love” by Yves Tumor
“Don’t you ever feel like the weather brings change?” That is what Yves Tumor questions in the final track of his 2020 album, “Heaven To a Tortured Mind.” Calm and euphoric, its distorted guitar riffs and slow drums place you in a trance as you watch the red leaves on the quad fall in the wind. “Autumn pulls me back into slumber,” he states at the end of the track; perhaps as the excitement of returning to campus fades away, you find peace within the sultry vocals of Tumor.
3. “Doomsday” by MF DOOM (featuring Pebbles the Invisible Girl)
Classes are back in full swing by now, and you have mountains of work to complete before you can even think of braving the fabled Halloween Tent. As you take your morning strolls through the chilly late-October air, MF DOOM offers a lush, jazz-inspired free-form rap song for you to escape to. Rapping about the resurrection of a villainous persona, MF DOOM creates a soulful, gritty environment, perfect for a pleasant walk to class or a late-night contemplation.
4. “Wolf in the Breast” by Cocteau Twins
The midweek contemplation does not end with MF DOOM. In fact, the Cocteau Twins have you covered for hours of lounging on your favorite “pondering bench” on campus. “Wolf in the Breast” is for those who enjoy getting disoriented in the crimson landscapes, enhanced by the band’s ethereal vocals and dream-pop soundscape.
5. “Steeeam” by Shelly
It is time to dance out your academic stresses alone in your dorm. The weekend is upon you, and what is the big deal about an essay anyway? Twirl around the glow of your fairy light-lined room as you groove to Shelly’s twangy electric guitar and relaxed drums. Move into Clairo’s vocals and forget about your troubles as the cozy track wraps itself around you. For a moment, you believe that everything will be okay.
6. “Dust Bowl” by Ethel Cain
Everything is not okay. The late October weather is getting the best of you as you wither away in the Main Library basement. It is rainy and cold and you do not think you will ever finish your work. Ethel Cain’s haunting, alt-rock music is the only thing you can bear. “Dust Bowl” is lagging, atmospheric and reminiscent of a dark autumn night. The beat drop punches you in the gut and motivates you to finally finish your assignments.
7. “Dracula” by Tame Impala
Things are looking up. Your costumes have arrived, your work is complete and you are enjoying your third pumpkin spice latte of the week. “Dracula” is upbeat and has a dance-forward disco sound. Its pulsing rhythm, along with Kevin Parker’s signature psychedelic vocals, makes you excited for the Halloweekend ahead. Nothing can bring you down.
8. “You’re Not the Only One I Know” by The Sundays
The sun is shining. Your classmates are jumping in piles of leaves. Pumpkins line the steps of the residential houses. Life could not be better, and The Sundays understand exactly how you feel. Harriet Wheller’s ethereal singing expresses a sense of defiant independence over shimmering, layered guitar. Its dreamy and introspective mood allows you to bask in the quintessential autumnal feelings.
9. “Luna” by The Smashing Pumpkins
The sun has set, and the full moon has commenced. As you yearn for the eerie feeling of Halloween, The Smashing Pumpkins sing about offering support and love to someone in this melancholic track. If the band’s name is not enough to get you in the Halloween spirit, the track’s blend of alternative rock and introspective lyrics will surely leave the haunting melody stuck in your brain.
10. “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” by The Smiths
The autumnal love songs do not end there. As you gear up your costumes for the eventful night ahead, The Smiths accompany your yearning for a “Halloweekend” fling. Sultry, smooth and buoyant, The Smiths sing of finding intimacy in the darkest of times, such as a car crash. Gather your friends and swing to the jumpy production as you prepare for the approaching evening festivities.
11. “Silver Jubilee” by Audrey Hobert
With a night out on the Vassar campus upon you, it is time to party with your friends. Audrey Hobert’s recent album, “Who’s The Clown?” is the perfect combination of exciting, fresh production and sharp lyrics about being a young adult. The track’s hyperpop anthem consists of bright, energetic sound and lyrics about embracing the messy, joyful experiences of youth and friendships.
12. “Everything Is Embarrassing” by Sky Ferreira
The night has been conquered. Perhaps you made a fool of yourself in front of your peers. Perhaps you slipped and fell on the steps of the Town Houses. Perhaps you lost half of your costume along the way and look like a deconstructed mess. As you walk back from whatever mediocre party you were at, amidst the night breezes and smashed pumpkins on the campus path, you realize that nothing truly matters: It is a “Ferreira Fall” after all. Bask in this dance-pop alternative ballad and forget about whatever silly mistakes you might have made. It is Halloween anyway.
This playlist can be found here.