By Shelby Sveiven
The album I chose as my favorite album to listen to in fall is Red (Taylor’s Version). To me this album evokes the feelings of fall through its symbolism of change, healing after heartbreak, and figuring out who you are when you can’t lean on other people. The lyrics are heavy with yearning after a love that didn’t work out, and Swift uses imagery of driving, late nights, leaves falling, and the vivid colors in fall that fade away quickly to create an atmosphere of change for the narrator. This album has always been beloved among Swift’s fanbase, and with the release of the re-recording, Swift has brought in a whole new group of fans, as her voice is more refined, and her emotions are more clear. On what many consider to be her magnum opus, “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)”, the lyrics that Swift penned ten years ago have a new depth as an older version of her sings about these moments that fundamentally shaped her early 20’s. In a performance on SNL last year, with the short film that accompanies the song playing on the screen behind Swift, it is clear how 10 years of experience has given her a more powerful perspective on her experiences. Her performance is full of emotion that wasn’t present in earlier versions of the song, and her more developed voice adds a depth to her words, speaking as a woman in her 30’s to her younger self. My favorite song on the album is “I Almost Do”, because it crystallizes all of the themes of the album, describing the feeling of leaving a love behind that you find yourself longing for, but ultimately know you’re better off without.
Sophomore Rafael Almanza chose “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness” by the Smashing Pumpkins for his album of choice. To him, the album represents the season through its themes of depression and change. “When I envision this album, I think of a leaf falling from a tree, and as the tree matures its leaves grow back in the spring,” he said. He also said that in the song “1979”, themes of generational differences come up as Generation X is compared with millennials and Generation Z. Almanza also added that his favorite song off the 1995 record, “Bullet with Butterfly Wings”, explores the human condition and how humans perceive themselves in regards to the rest of the world.
Senior KayLyn Handley said her favorite fall album is Will Wood’s “In case I make It,” because compared to his previous albums, it is happier and more hopeful going into this season. “I’ve been gravitating toward this album because it came out quite recently, and my favorite part of it is the contrast between lines of nonsensical lyrics, and deep, meaningful ones,” she said. She also added that another reason she selected it for this list is the themes of new beginnings, and the nuance Wood explores in the work it takes to process old feelings and past experiences, and how he doesn’t shy away from the strength that it takes to do so.
Another senior, Eros ViDemantay, chose Hozier’s self-titled 2014 album as his fall favorite. Particularly, he pointed out the record’s use of acoustic instruments, and its exploration of themes such as yearning and a lost love. “Hozier’s descriptive songwriting and themes of love gone wrong are the perfect thing to listen to as leaves fall around you,” he said.
It’s clear that after speaking with people about their favorite fall albums and analyzing the themes present in each one, the recurring pattern seems to be about change. In fall, we’re experiencing the changing of seasons, lifestyles, and as seniors know, contemplating big life changes such as going into college. For many students, the autumn season is all about adjustment: to classes, friendships, new routines, so it makes sense that the albums we gravitate towards center around these ideas.
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