It’s November, and the fall is finally in full regal: there are pumpkins on stoops, rich yellows and oranges, and an air of mischief in the cool night airs. This air of degeneration is captivating, to the point that the December Holidays—already looming—threaten to eclipse this too quick passing season.
However, before we are inundated with Christmas carols, nothing marks the onset of the changing seasons for me than listening to another form of music... a guilty pleasure, if you will: post-punk European bands from the early eighties.
That’s right, I admit it—for years now, I have found that the perfect soundtrack to the cool autumn nights to be albums cut by gals and blokes with macabre sensibilities, and thrashing guitar riffs that are as haunting as they are dark and catchy.
Here are some albums which comprise my perfect fall playlist:
Echo & the Bunnymen: Ocean Rain (Wikipedia)
Siouxsie and the Banshees: Once upon a time: the singles (Catalog)
Depeche Mode: The Singles 81>85 (Catalog)
The Fall: 458489: A and B sides (Catalog)
The The: Soul Mining (Wikipedia)
The Smiths: The Queen is dead (Catalog)
The Cure: Join the dots (Catalog)
U2: October (Wikipedia), or anything pre-Joshua Tree
Tears for Fears: The Hurting (Wikipedia) & Songs from the Big Chair (Catalog)
Admittedly, there are other dark musicians/albums that complement the fall. (For instance, Jandek and Black Sabbath come to mind.) However, for me, the overall oeuvres of the post-punk European bands have the ideal groovy machinations to celebrate autumn.
How about you? What is your perfect fall playlist?
