Fall music.

I don't like winter or summer, I pretty much tolerate spring because it's not winter, so the only time of the year I really like is fall. Also, the music that I associate with fall seems to be some of my favorite...to me, that means stuff that's often depressing, but in an 'elegant' and abstract kind of way.

These are the albums I rock pretty hard all season long:

Burzum - 'Filosofem'

Basically the best black metal album of all time, but one that really transcends the genre. The three opening tracks are all it should take to become totally obsessed with black metal like I was. From the lo-fi production to the artful throat-shredding vocals, this album IS a forest losing its leaves.

 The Cure - anything, but specifically 'Faith,' 'Disintegration' and 'Seventeen Seconds.'

There are very few things I don't like about The Cure, but these three albums define autumn to me. Some of their work is only good if I'm in a really bad mood ('Pornography,' 'The Top') and other things I only really play if I'm in a Cure-kinda mood ('Kiss Me x3') but I can listen to these three records all season long.

Funeral - 'Tragedies'

Just look at that goddamn album cover. Slow, long and moody pieces that feature really great (although totally out-of-place) female vocals. Somehow the simple vocal patterns and melodies make these songs feel like they stepped out of the 19th century, even though it's a doom metal album...

Slint - 'Spiderland'

Best listened to at night by yourself. Creepy, abstract, weird, and emotionally muted. I guess these songs are depressing, but it's like a confusing, dream-state depression...cliche I guess, but it's like a David Lynch film. A word that comes to mind is 'secretive.' This is what I would listen to if I was an undercover detective.

Codeine - 'Frigid Stars'

Like 'Spiderland' with everything sucked out of it except the melancholy. This is less artful and more just straight up depressing. Not recommended unless you're feelin' real bad. I always listen to this while driving in the autumn dark with the windows down even if it's cold as fuck.

Echo and the Bunnymen - 'Ocean Rain'

I never got past this album...as soon as I realized none of their other releases really had the full orchestra like this one, I didn't pay too much attention. I'm sure they're good 'n all...just not 'Ocean Rain.' Sure, it's sissy English-guy music, but it's way better than any Oasis or Ride or whatever.

Guided by Voices - 'Bee Thousand'

Okay, this record is pretty good for any season...and I rocked it all summer long, but 'Smothered in Hugs' and 'Tractor Rape Chain' have this vibe that sits best with being way too stoned on a rainy fall morning. Maybe you're too 'grown up' to be in that situation, but I'm not.

Creedence Clearwater Revival - 'Chronicle, Vol. 1'

I also tend to listen to a lot of 'classic' rock in the early days of fall...Creedence is such an earthy, forest-y kinda thing. I always get the feeling these guys wanted to blow up every city and just live in the fuckin' woods. Try listening to their version of 'I Put a Spell on You' and not feel cool.

Black Sabbath - 'Black Sabbath

Maybe it's because of Halloween, but Black Sabbath IS October.

Big Star - '#1 Record'

The ultimate 'back to school' album....it IS 1972 and I AM trying to score a date to the homecoming dance when I hear this record. Usually I listen to side one of this, followed by Chris Bell's solo work. I love Alex Chilton and all he did, but the stuff with Bell has that chilly seasonal vibe...'specially 'Better Save Yourself' and 'I Am the Cosmos.'

The Cure

I've been listening to pretty much exclusively The Cure for the past couple of weeks, and have no plans to change my listening habits anytime soon.

It's been a good half-decade since I seriously sat down and listened to their music, and even sold off a lot of my old Cure CD's in that time. Now I kinda wish I hadn't. For a while it was 'oh, the old punk stuff is good and so is 'The Top' but everything else sucks,' then 'I guess 'Disintegration' is pretty cool, too,' then, 'oh fuck it, it's all good, even the stuff that isn't.'

So, on that note, here is how I NOW rank The Cure's discography from favorite to least favorite:

The Top (1984)
Not too typical of the 'Cure' sound, but what album is, really? This one is by far the weirdest and hardest listen, but maybe that's why it's still my favorite overall. Or maybe it's because there are the doom and gloom tracks ('Shake Dog Shake')AND the upbeat pop tracks ('The Caterpillar'.) It sounds like Robert Smith on acid, and apparently that's exactly what it is (as he was using LSD daily at this point)

Disintegration (1989)
I used to hate this record for some reason...thought it was kinda boring and dated-sounding. Now I see that's not the case at all, and that 'Plainsong' is even heavier than the heaviest Electric Wizard tracks. Seriously. Turn those synths into distorted guitars and see what happens.

Seventeen Seconds (1980)
This was close...and honestly, this is probably one of the lesser-listened-to albums of theirs, but the overall mood can't be beat. I would put it further down on the list, but in the right time and place, this one is aces.

Three Imaginary Boys/Boys Don't Cry (1979)
These two are together because it's basically the same record, give or take a couple tracks. If you compile them all together, it makes one big great punk record. Simple songs with really odd lyrics and arrangements. Listening to this, it's no surprise why these guys got so many second chances (and they almost always disappoint some people, which is another reason why I like them so much--that they're not afraid to do this.)

The Head on the Door (1985)
A pop record...kind of...this is one of the albums most people know. Everything on it is great, even the tracks that weren't singles. I especially like 'Push.'

Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987)
To me, this and 'Head' are pretty much interchangeable, although this one is a good deal longer. Same mood, same types of songs, etc.

Bloodflowers (2000)
The more I listen to this album, the more I like it. Similar to 'Disintegration' but with more 'modern' production techniques. It'll probably end up moving up in the list someday. Maybe. Ha.

Pornography (1982)
Used to hate this one, too...it's not so bad, really. REALLY dark stuff, but the best songs on it are perhaps some of the Cure's best songs overall.

Japanese Whispers (1983)
This isn't really an 'album,' but it is 8 songs that don't appear on any other release (other than their respective singles.) THIS is the only Cure album that really sounds dated to me now, with all the cheesy synths, but 'Lovecats' is so damn good.

Wish (1992)
Good, not great. That's all I gotta say about it. The singles are good, and a couple other tracks stand out.

Faith (1981)
Never got into this one too much. Still don't like it all that well. It sounds too much like a 'lesser' version of 'Seventeen Seconds'--like those songs without the cool vocals effects and mood pieces. I gave it multiple tries. Oh well. Not every one is a winner.

Wild Mood Swings (1996)
Gonna have to re-listen to this one, too, but it's kind of like 'Wish' in that nothing really stands out too much. 'Mint Car' is a really gay song and I don't like it too much.

I haven't listened to their two most recent albums (4:13 Dream and S/T) so I can't really say anything about those. Didn't like what I heard from S/T, but what I heard from 'Dream' wasn't all that bad.

...once again, just 'cuz some of these are lower on the totem pole, that doesn't mean I HATE them, per se. I actually appreciate all the music Robert Smith has created, and I think he's one of the best living songwriters. Obviously not every song he writes is a home run, but for how many albums his band has done, I'd say they're pretty much untouchable.

...also, as an honorary mention, 'The Exploding Boy' doesn't appear on any album but the 'Join the Dots' B-Sides collection, and is my FAVORITE Cure song of all time. It almost moves that compilation to the top, even though some of it isn't that good. Actually, the first disc is about 80% great. 'Mr. Pink Eyes,' a b-side from 'The Top,' is another favorite of mine.

The list, overall, is a little inaccurate too, because it probably varies from day to day. For example, today I've been rocking 'Bloodflowers' nonstop, and haven't even given a thought to 'Kiss Me x3.' Oh well.

Pretty soon here, I'm gonna post a collection of lo-fi Cure covers that myself and the Coma Nova folk have been putting together. Some are pretty straightforward, others not so much.

Now go out there and give your entire paycheck to Robert Smith in exchange for these wonderful albums.