Music

Playlist: October Rain

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Well, that was abrupt. Earlier this week I was sweating in front of my fan, desperate for some air to flow into my third floor converted-attic apartment. Today it is 50 degrees and raining, my fingers have turned to icicles, and I am piled under all my blankets, hunkered down and refusing to leave the house, even though it’s Coven Night at the monthly queer dance party. I can’t say that I’m mad about this new dreary weather, though. I’m excited to be wearing pants again; I’m excited to cook things on my stove without regretting how hot it makes the whole apartment; I’m excited to read and drink tea on my couch while listening to gloomy music. I’m excited for when the rain clears up and leaves a slight lingering melancholy to mix with invigoratingly crisp air.

This would be me if my fingers weren't frozen to my keyboard. via Shutterstock

This would be me if my fingers weren’t frozen to my keyboard. via Shutterstock

So in honor of in-between month, I bring you a playlist for cold, autumn rain. Break out your stew recipes and hot cocoa mix, sharpen your pumpkin-carving knife, unearth your slippers from the back of the closet, press play, and settle in for the fall.

Oh Sister – Andrew Bird
Living Proof – Cat Power
Wanna Be On Your Mind – Valerie June
Sentimental X’s – Broken Social Scene
Archive – Mal Blum
Swimming in Your Ocean – Crash Test Dummies
Ghosts – Ibeyi
Your Apartment – Jenny Owen Youngs
Write to Your Brother – Perfume Genius
Every Time the Sun Comes Up – Sharon Van Etten
That’s the Way – Led Zeppelin
Afraid – Posse
Where I Will Be – Emmylou Harris
November Rain – Guns N’ Roses

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Autostraddle staff writer. Copy editor. Fledgling English muffin maker. Temporary turtle parent. Zine creator. Swings enthusiast. Political human who cares a lot about healthcare and queer anti-carceral feminisms. I asked my friend to help me write this bio and they said, "Good-natured. Friend. Earth tones." Another friend said, "Flannel babe. Vacuum lover. Kind." So. Find me on Twitter or my website.

Maddie has written 100 articles for us.

25 Comments

  2. Don’t have a Spotify, but I must say that’s a lovely list.

    I have something you’d probably never run into that would probably fit in it.

    La Toussaint

    It’s most rainy day music sounding Cajun song I’ve ever heard and it’s about the now neglected All Saint’s Day traditions.

    • it just sounds like rain! like you are sitting in your car in the late afternoon and rain is pouring down your winshield and the streetlights are starting to come on and you are feeling melancholy about something but then you will take a deep breath and drive to wherever you need to go.

  11. i opened this just as it started softly raining outside!

    my rainy playlists always include cat power’s ‘metal heart
    & a steady dose of melancholy bob dylan (‘one too many mornings,’ ‘not dark yet’). speaking of dylan, i’d never heard that andrew bird cover of ‘oh sister’– which is one of my favorites. this is all so great, thank you.

  12. i love a good rainy autumn playlist and i ESPECIALLY love a good rainy autumn that doesn’t have any bon over on it. NC is having a few days of mild autumn, but as soon as it gets gloomy again, this will be the perfect ‘walking to school at 7 am when the sun still isn’t completely up with a mug of tea’ playlist

  15. I live in Northern California and hopefully it actually does rain for more than a few minutes here. The impending El Niño is only supposed to soak SoCal, which does nothing to help alleviate the drought (we need snowpack).
    In any case, if it does rain, I will listen to your playlist-so thanks!

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