When the leaves start changing colours, it can only mean one thing — fall and Red (Taylor’s Version) are upon us.
To help get you in the autumn spirit, the Charlatan’s staff and contributors have rounded up their fall favourites to help you romanticize your life this season.
Natasha Baldin: Editor-in-chief, Volume 54, Copy editor, Volume 53, Arts editor, Volume 52
Fall pick: Bleachers
For me, fall is synonymous with change. So when I first discovered the indie-rock band Bleachers this September, I immediately resonated with the group’s nostalgic interpretations of looking back on the past while embracing the novelties of the present. The band’s modern-yet-vintage sound has since become the soundtrack of my semester.
While still relatively new to Jack Antonoff’s passion-project band and its eclectic five-album discography, there are a few songs I find myself going back to.
In “Wild Heart,” Antonoff masterfully melds shimmering synths, earthy vocals and existential nostalgia to look back on an old romance. Another wistful listen, “Rollercoaster” bottles up the excitement of teenage love when everything seems to be moving 100 miles an hour.
My personal favourite, “Modern Girl” is the epitome of the band’s sound, melding a glimmering saxophone and an energetic beat underneath lyrics imagining the experience of an “unreliable reporter / Pop music hoarder” on the streets of New York City.
Maia Tustonic: News editor, Volume 54
Fall pick: Apple desserts
Fall is my favourite season. But as a person with a massive sweet tooth, no season can be perfect without a designated sweet treat — and no, Halloween snacks aren’t enough.
Full of sugar, spice and everything nice, fall would not be complete without apple desserts.
There’s apple pie for Thanksgiving and friendsgiving meals, of course. Sharing is caring, so you know a big apple pie is full of love.
For a lazier version, apple crumble is my go-to. Paired with vanilla ice cream, it’s a great way to have sweater weather comfort food with minimal effort.
Finally, I simply couldn’t make it through fall midterms without apple muffins. They can be: a quick breakfast after a late night of 11:59 p.m. assignment submissions, a midday snack to power you through long lectures or a little reward after locking in to study.
Kyra Vellinga: Features editor, Volume 54, Arts editor, Volume 53
Fall pick: Feel Good
In this semi-autobiographical comedy, queer Canadian Mae Martin uncovers the messiness and care present in their life. While navigating heavier topics, Feel Good is my comfort show. From addiction recovery, to rocky romance, to an evergreen gender journey, Martin offers vulnerable hilarity throughout the show’s two Netflix seasons.
During comedy circuit sets or the spreading of their cat’s ashes along moody British shores, a transformative soundtrack narrates Martin’s emotions. Highs and turmoils are accompanied by autumnal tracks such as Charles Watson’s “Everything Goes Right” and Fleet Foxes’ “Ragged Wood.”
Martin’s ability to fuse healing, uncertainty and chaos into a collective unit is a reminder to me that growth is human — not linear. As we enter a cooler season of slowing down, Feel Good’s approach to imperfect reflection is a strong addition to anyone’s viewing rotation.
Fall pick: Tunnel of Love by Bruce Springsteen
Released in October 1987, Tunnel of Love has always stuck with me as a quintessential fall album. The songs delve into themes of introspection, mirroring the general feel of the season. The album has a nostalgic vibe that brings up a real sense of yearning — not only for past warm summer nights thanks to the carnival sounds mixed into the title track (on account of the album’s theme that love is akin to a ride) but also for a past romance, thanks to Springsteen’s revealing and heartfelt lyrics.
Musically, the subdued production and warm, barebones sounds of a drum machine, guitar and keyboard create a cozy atmosphere, reminiscent of fall’s colours and feelings. It’s a great album to listen to while strolling through the red and brown leaf-covered Glebe.
Alexa MacKie: Managing Editor, Volume 54
Fall pick: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Sweeney Todd is my favourite musical to tell people about.
I sometimes embellish details, but my synopsis when anyone asks is usually consistent: “Basically, this barber kills his patrons and launches their bodies to the pie shop downstairs to be baked into meat pies.”
The disgust mingled with curiosity etched on people’s faces makes every gruesome retelling worth it.
From the ensemble’s chilling chants in “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd” to the titular character’s descent into madness for the broiling “Epiphany,” there is nothing more quintessentially “spooky season” than Stephen Sondheim’s sinister musicality.
Sweeney is packed with shock and vengeance; but my favourite thing about the show is its subtle layers of love and loyalty. That balance of dark and light elements encapsulates my favourite feelings about fall. For every cool, autumn breeze, is a warming, pumpkin-spiced latte cure.
Justin Ball: Podcast host, Volume 54
Fall pick: Field Guide
Fall is known for its crunchy wet leaves, brittle air and underwhelming pumpkin spice lattes. However, an overlooked aspect of the autumnal season is cozying up under heavy covers and lying in bed all day in an odd, pensive state.
If you are looking for a soundtrack to the ultimate autumn bed rot, look no further than the indie melancholy strums of Field Guide. No matter the reason for reflection, this Canadian artist is here to get you in all the feels as the leaves change.
With somber lyrics and an echoey ambiance, Field Guide structures his music around a yearning for the mundane aspects of life and relationships. Whether you are moving out or moving on, this artist will have you incapacitated, wishing you could use your broken washing machine just one more time.
My favourite tracks are “Rootin’ For Ya,” “Tupperware” and “Make Peace with That.”
The best part is that Field Guide will be in Ottawa on Nov. 9. Grab tickets now and brag about how you saw him before he was popular.
Bianca McKeown: Arts editor, Volume 54
Fall picks: Fantastic Mr. Fox and Juno
When the weather starts getting cooler, I tend to gravitate toward cozy comfort movies to get me through the fall season. These two films are ones in my fall rotation every year.
First up, an all-time classic fall movie for me is Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox. Released in 2009, this animated movie brings 2000s nostalgia while still remaining fresh and relevant on every rewatch. What makes this a fall movie is the beautiful autumn colour palette of red, yellow, and, of course, orange that every shot embodies, showing off Mr. Fox’s shenanigans to the perfect fall backdrop.
Next, it’s not fall without a rewatch of Jason Reitman’s Juno. Maybe it’s the fact that the movie begins at the start of the school year in September, maybe it’s Michael Cera in his red-and-yellow running get up, but Juno is distinctly a fall movie for me. Following pregnant high schooler Juno, the movie touches on what it’s like to be a teenager and not know who you are. Bonus, going as Juno and Paulie Bleeker is an insane couples costume for Halloween!
Fall pick: NHL hockey
For some people, the beginning of fall is when they’re absolutely fiending for hockey season to finally get underway. As one of those people, I’ve been overwhelmed with thankfulness for the gift of exciting NHL hockey to watch every night. On the other hand, there’s the introduction of an annual stressor to my life that is the Pittsburgh Penguins’ unpredictable game-to-game performance.
Still, if you’re on the fence about hockey, don’t be dissuaded by this. Aside from your emotions being tied like a string to the performance of an eternally underachieving goaltender like the Penguins’ Tristan Jarry, there’s the unbridled joy of rubbing those sweet victories in the face of your hockey adversaries.
And if you’re feeling lucky, throw your hard-earned money into a fantasy hockey league that you could conceivably make back in eight months with a healthy dose of luck. Trust me, it’s the best!
Sadeen Mohsen: Culture and Community editor, Volume 54 & Alisha Velji: Graphics editor, Volume 53 and Volume 54
Fall pick: Red (Taylor’s Version)
We knew we’d all choose the only album played during the fall season, and so we decided to collaborate. The album is autumn’s colourful crunchy leaves in its most authentic form and encapsulates everything October truly is.
Besides screaming the 10-minute version of “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version),” here are some other songs that hit particularly deep:
Alisha: “Message in a Bottle (Taylor’s Version)” stands out as my favourite track off the album. It takes me back to the fall of 2021, a time filled with crisp air and bittersweet memories, perfectly capturing the beauty and hope of new beginnings during this enchanting season.
Sadeen: “Treacherous (Taylor’s Version)” is one that has been on repeat for me this autumn. It makes me look out the window and get lost in crunchy, colourful leaves as I think more deeply about the song’s storyline of taking risks and embracing unpredictability. In this scene, I have a warm pumpkin chai in my favourite mug, and maybe a red scarf?
Featured graphic by Alisha Velji/The Charlatan.
