Songs for Fall: 15 Awesomely Autumnal Tracks

Autumn -- it seems to catch us off guard every year. One minute we're slapping on sunscreen at the beach, and the next, we're barreling head first into fall, bidding adieu to flip-flops and backyard BBQs. It's hard not to feel a little blue trading in your summer wardrobe for long underwear and woolly sweaters, so to keep spirits high, Spinner has come up with a fall songs playlist to keep ho-hum time-to-hibernate vibes at bay.

'Harvest Moon'

Neil Young

One of Neil Young's quintessential tracks, this sleepy little number (also the namesake of his Juno Award-winning 1992 album) is the perfect tune to welcome in those crisp autumn evenings. It's impossible not to be swept away by Young's unearthly voice, the gentle instrumentation that lulls listeners along, or by the stirring harmonica solo, which only adds to the magic of the track.

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Tim Mosenfelder, Getty Images

'Another Year Again'

The Sadies

You can always count on the Sadies to get you contemplating life. Their Polaris Prize-shortlisted 2010 record, 'Darker Circles,' is brimming with thought-provoking tales of heartache and strife. 'Another Year Again,' which is featured on the celebrated disc, will no doubt have you reflecting on the whirlwind that was 2010; now that Labour Day has come and gone, New Year's Eve seems just around the corner.

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'The Last Dance'

The Raveonettes

The hours of sunlight are fleeting in the months to come, so soak up sunshine whenever you can. Need a fall song to throw on to remind you to take full advantage of your last hurrah sans mittens? Get a hold of the Raveonettes' 2009 tune 'The Last Dance' and delight in the twinkling keys, too-cute vocals and epic "Save it for me, baby" chorus.

Read 'The Last Dance' Lyrics

Didier Messens, Redferns

'Dark Days'

You Say Party

So what if the sun is going to start setting early, real early. All those extra hours of darkness just mean that there's more time to dance the night away. And 'Dark Days,' a brooding disco romp courtesy of Vancouver's newly reformed You Say Party, couldn't be a better soundtrack when it comes to getting your autumn groove on to a fall song.

Gary Wolstenholme, Redferns

'Apartment Story'

The National

'Tis the season for 'True Blood' marathons and getting reacquainted with your couch. But when you desperately need a break from your DVD collection (there's only so much Sooki Stackhouse a person can take), blast 2007's 'Apartment Story' and take solace in the fact that you won't be a shut-in forever. Being a homebody isn't the worst thing that could happen, though, not at least when you have the National's moody guitar rock to keep you company.

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'Oh Messiah'

Timber Timbre

Pray all you want, but those leaves are going to tumble from their branches sooner or later; it's impossible to ward off fall. And while no one can save you from the plummeting temperatures that inevitably come with October's crisp return, this 2007 song from Toronto-based troubadour Timber Timbre should at least help lessen the shock of it all. Heavy with gothic tones and creepy melodies, this unsettling tune will chill you to the bone, in a really good way, we promise.

Jonathan Mehring, AP

'Autumn Sweater'

Yo La Tengo

Knits and fleeces are commandeering the closet space recently occupied by mesh tanks and jean cut-offs. So while you're getting reacquainted with your seasonal wardrobe, listen to Yo La Tengo's beloved 1997 'Autumn Sweater.' If "discordant soap opera" organ, feisty percussion and Ira Kaplan crooning, "We could slip away/ What would be better?/Me with nothing to say/And you in your autumn sweater," doesn't move you, then you've got bigger things to worry about than the onset of fall.

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Araya Diaz, WireImage

'No Fun'

The Stooges

Umbrellas, rain showers, soggy shoes -- fall isn't exactly a party. But if anyone could brighten your day, it's the ever-electric Iggy Pop. This fierce anthem is always in style, no matter the season, thanks to the snotty bravado of King Iggy and the punk perfection offered up by his legendary band, the Stooges. First released on the group's 1969 self-tiled debut, the killer track stands as top-tier rock 'n' roll for the ages.

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Samir Hussein, Getty Images

'Sun'

Caribou

Caribou provide us with as good of a mantra as any to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder. Woozy synths, hypnotic vocals (well, actually just one: "Sun") and kaleidoscope-like techno flourishes, double as a tropical retreat for the senses. Why not bypass the SAD-busting lightbox in favour of this 2010 song? Dancing in your living room while it plays on the stereo has to be more fun than staring at a giant overpriced light bulb, right?

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Claire R Greenway, Getty Images

'Meet Me in the Basement'

Broken Social Scene

Another tune to help the days fly by when it's far too nasty to venture outside. One of the many spectacular tracks off of Broken Social Scene's Polaris-shortlisted album, 'Forgiveness Rock Record,' the mighty instrumental jam zig-zags through considerable sonic terrain. Earning points for its thunderous percussion, epic buildups and triumphant strings, this 2010 fall song is an obvious choice here.

Tim Mosenfelder, Getty Images

'October'

The 10th month of the year might be a chilly rude awakening, but it has its highlights. How about Halloween, for one? And while you're contemplating costumes, why not throw on U2? Although a departure from U2's stadium-blasting sound, the largely instrumental number was clearly a memorable one for Bono and the crew as it was not only the title song to their 1981 album but also was a hidden track on 'The Best of 1980-1990' compilation.

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'Autumn Almanac'

The Kinks

Could there be a song that speaks more completely to the fall experience than the Kinks' 'Autumn Almanac'? With lyrics like "Breeze blows leaves of musty-coloured yellow/So I sweep them in my sack/Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac," images of freshly raked foliage piled high throughout the neighbourhood practically leap out at you. There's something about the classic 1967 fall song that's downright relatable, not to mention oh, so appealing.

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Andy Sheppard, Redferns

'I'm Going to Spain'

The Fall

This list wouldn't be complete without a nod to a band whose very namesake pays tribute to the season of the hour. One of the forefathers of post-punk, the Manchester, England, trailblazers have developed a cult following thanks to the quick wit and enigmatic star power of longtime frontman Mark E. Smith. 'I'm Going to Spain' featured on the Fall's 1993 album, 'The Infotainment Scan,' fits in nicely with the autumn theme as it's all about escaping to "where it doesn't rain," which is probably what a lot of folks are thinking about doing right now.

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Jordi Vidal, Redferns

'November Rain'

Guns N' Roses

Once November hits, it's always a good idea to have an umbrella on hand, not to mention rain boots, and maybe even a pair of those garters fisherman wear, depending on where you live. While you might not be facing monsoons, even a couple hours of rain can make you cranky, which is why this classic 1992 gem from Guns N' Roses is essential to have on hand. A fan favourite through and through, 'November Rain' is about as epic and melodramatic (in a good way) as they come.

Adriano Machado, Getty Images

'Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground'

The White Stripes

From the looks of this song title, the White Stripes aren't a real fan of this time of year. While it's not the most romantic way to describe fall, we'll forgive rock 'n' roll dynamo Jack White for his pessimistic outlook because it spurred this ragged, stripped-down 2001 masterpiece. Admittedly, being heartbroken probably helped inspire it, too, but it's hard to ignore the slight that the raucous pair do unto autumn with the bitter words "dead leaves and the dirty ground."

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