It’s always surprising to me to hear that people don’t listen to music seasonally. How can you listen to hyperpop in the dead of winter, or gentle acoustic indie while dripping sweat? It just doesn’t seem right. If anything, the relentless march of the seasons is a great excuse to channel each one's unique energy.

For the past five years, I’ve made playlists oriented around the music that I listen to in six-month blocks: Spring/Summer music, and Fall/Winter music. The turnover happens intuitively, whenever it feels like it’s time to make the switch. The intrinsic seasonality of the music is not tied to the calendar or to the weather itself. You simply follow the vibe.

As we move into fall in the Midwest, it is a particularly lovely and forlorn time for listening. Quintessential autumn musicians like Pinegrove, The Weakerthans, and Frightened Rabbit are on heavy rotation. The BPM is coming down. The lyrics are getting introspective. It’s time.

I’ve combed through the archives to assemble some of the most representative songs of the season. As you put on your favorite jacket and pull on a beanie for the first time this year, pop in your headphones and enjoy a sonic interpretation of autumn. I hope you crunch some leaves along the way.