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Central Review Welcomes You Back with 10 Songs for Fall

By Brenna Dean

CMU is finishing up its third week of classes. Sunshine is growing more scarce, and a few of the trees in Fabiano Gardens are starting to change color. The Mount Pleasant wind has only grown stronger these past few weeks as it follows students through campus. There are still some warm, sunny days forecasted in Michigan’s ever fluctuating weather, but September 22nd, the autumnal equinox, is only a few weeks away. Fall is upon us.

With a new season comes new routines, moods, and activities! You may be readying for a Gilmore Girls rewatch, taking weekend trips to the Renaissance Fair, or digging up your earth-toned sweaters. If you’re anything like me, you’re making new playlists.

When the weather cools and the semester amps up, I find myself using music for a few different things. For starters, energy. What I can’t get from the sky I look for in music that makes me want to get off the couch and dance (or maybe just clean the apartment a bit). Also, motivation. When I’ve got a full planner of homework, knowing I’ve got good music to listen to as I work can help me get started. Finally, relaxation. Music for sipping hot chai or apple cider. Music for pressing red leaves between the pages of my favorite books. Music for baking.

Which brings me to this list. 10 newly released songs for whatever fall vibes you need. Whether you’re looking to match the energy of autumn or supplement it with something that reminds you of summer, I hope you will find a song or two to play throughout this semester. Maybe you’ll even discover a new artist.

sombr is a young artist with a big, bold sound. His breakout song, “back to friends,” was a big hit this summer. Though “12 to 12” came out at the end of July, this single off his new album has a dark sound perfect for fall. Its music video, starring Addison Rae, doubles down on that cool darkness. The chorus will float in your head hours after you hear it, but the piano may just be what draws you in and brings you back.

Two brothers from New Zealand are at the forefront of this band, who recently grew their fanbase after opening for Twenty One Pilots on their latest tour. “The Question” off their new album, is a stellar indie rock song perfect for driving, cooking, or walking through campus. The vocals are soft, the lyrics are catchy, but the drum beat and guitar complete this song. You’ll want to add it to all your playlists.

Royel Otis captivated us last year with their covers of “Linger” by The Cranberries and “Murder on the Dancefloor” by Sophie Ellis-Bextor. But their entire discography is full of gems, and “who’s your boyfriend” is one of the latest. Off their late-August album hickey, this song captures their perfect blend of vocals and guitar riffs. Fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty can watch Lola Tung in the music video for this song, but even non-fans of the show will want to play “who’s your boyfriend” on repeat.

Fans of Greta Van Fleet may recognize this band, as one of its founding members, guitarists, and vocalists is Greta’s very own Jake Kiszka. For lovers of rock and roll, this song offers instrumentals that truly feel crafted, including a guitar solo that will stop you in your tracks. With only two singles on streaming and their debut album set to release on September 19th of this year, MIRADOR is a band for fans of rock to watch. “Fortune’s Fate,” in the meantime, may be a great song to play when driving in the dark, or when you just want to get lost in the music.

If you’re looking for a song with some energy, this one will propel you through the dreariest of fall days. Just because this band is a duo doesn’t mean their sound is lacking. The drums, unsurprisingly, are the star of this song, but the drummer himself is featured on vocals for the first time on a Twenty One Pilots track, proving that this band continues to push themselves further. If you know them for songs like “Stressed Out” or “Ride,” you may be pleasantly surprised by “Drum Show.”

Another song from sombr’s new album, this one has a slightly slower vibe and ultra-captivating vocals. If sombr is good at just one thing, it may be crafting catchy, emotion-packed choruses. The sentiment of this isn’t the happiest, but listen to it through a good pair of headphones and you’ll find yourself smiling for how well the pieces come together.

If any director makes me think of Halloween, it’s Tim Burton. Lady Gaga’s new song recently premiered in Burton’s Wednesday, and the music video for the song was also directed by him. If you’re looking for new songs to add to your Halloween playlist, this one is a perfect blend of a dark, creepy sound and a dance anthem. Thank you, Gaga!

If you’re looking for a little confidence boost this fall, this song might bring it. With a positively fun and alluring sound, “When Did You Get Hot?” is playful and perfect for lifting your mood. There’s something so 2000s about this song that it will have you skipping through campus in your cutest outfit.

Lola Young’s “Conceited” was one of my summer anthems. “Spiders” is not that song. It’s rawer; it’s more vulnerable; it’s more suited for autumn. The rasp in her voice somehow compliments the redness of fall leaves. But when her voice is soft, it’s like a blanket fresh from the dryer. With a sound slightly like The Cranberries’, “Spiders” feels like one of those classic songs you come back to every year. And yet, it’s new. It’s waiting to be added to whatever playlist of yours contains “Fade into You.” Other songs on this list might remind you of summer, but this one will have you embracing fall.

Another song from Royel Otis, this one carries a tinge of heartbreak and a slightly upbeat tune. There’s a tenderness to the vocals that makes them soothing to listen to, and of course the guitar riffs match that energy. This song might pair well with chai tea, baggy jeans, tote bags, and trips to the thrift store. Or maybe a homework-room cleaning montage. It’s versatile. It’s heartfelt. It’s catchy. It’s a keeper.

 


 
 
 

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