Henry’s Favorite Albums for Fall
Fall in Eugene is kicking ass. The sun is setting around five, more and more leaves are falling, and many jackets are being worn over jackets. We’re heading into week seven, folks. With whatever sanity you have left, I am here to make these last four weeks a little more bearable for you. Good music can make or break your day; at least, it does for me. I have very carefully selected three of my favorite albums for you for the rest of the term to help through these brisk fall days.
Spiderland (1991). This was the second and final studio album recorded by the post-rock, genre-bending Louisville, Kentucky, group Slint. This album rips so, so hard. The crunchy guitars and piercing drum snares on tracks like “Good Morning, Captain” or eerie tracks that build in intensity like “Don, Aman,” make for incredibly dynamic, emotional songs. There is anger, loss of innocence and madness. Imagine a lightbulb swinging from a wire in a dark, wet room. That is this album. Slint was composed of four band members: Brian McMahan (vocals, guitar), Britt Walford (drums, vocals), Todd Brashear (bass) and David Pajo (lead guitar). They were all in their late teens and early 20s when they released arguably the most influential post-rock and math rock album ever. With only six tracks on the album, Spiderland sits at just 39 minutes long but is absolutely a no-skip album. My recommendation: throw on a rain jacket, put some earbuds in, throw this album on and go on a walk in the rain.
I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One (1997). This was the eighth studio album by the New Jersey indie rock band Yo La Tengo. The band is composed of Ira Kaplan (guitars, piano, vocals), Georgia Hubley (drums, piano, vocals) and James McNew (bass, vocals). This is the textbook cozy album. Last night, I was making homemade tomato soup, drinking tea, trying to get over a cold. I needed an album and immediately, this one came to mind. Tracks like “Green Arrow,” “Damage” and “Moby Octopad” have such an intimate feeling to them. I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One was recorded entirely on a 24-track analog tape machine, literally giving it a warm sound, which fits very well. This is a great walk-to-class album. I definitely recommend throwing this album on the next time you are walking through your neighborhood. Go walk through the leaves.
Racing Mount Pleasant (2025). Racing Mount Pleasant is the self-titled second studio album by the Ann Arbor, Michigan, indie band Racing Mount Pleasant. The band is composed of seven members, so bear with me: Casey Cheatham on drums and background vocals; Kaysen Chown on strings, harmonium, synth guitar and background vocals; Sam DuBose on guitar, piano and vocals; Connor Hoyt on alto saxophone, flute and background vocals; Callum Roberts on trumpet, guitar and background vocals; Tyler Thenstedt on bass, slide guitar and background vocals; and Samuel Uribe Botero on tenor saxophone, piano, synth, background vocals and engineering. Holy shit. This album has been arguably my favorite album of 2025. It is so raw and jazzy, and the lyrics hurt tremendously. It reminds me much of the Midwest emo wave during the pandemic but a little less whiny and with more trumpet and saxophone. Tracks like “Emily,” “Your New Place” and “Racing Mount Pleasant” (we get it) have such strong emotion and really feel like you’re crying alongside Sam DuBose. This album is perfect for walking back from the bar; it’s drizzling a little, and you feel like you need to wallow.