“Autumn wins you best by this its mute appeal to sympathy for its decay.” – Robert Browning

There’s nothing like the majestic melancholy of autumn. The cooling winds, wood smoke and mosaic of sunburned colors make for a truly magical few weeks, tainted only by a quiet apprehension of winter.

Maybe it’s the slow fade of fall that makes me nostalgic, but every October, I’m reminded of the autumns from years past, and specifically, what I was listening to in those times. Here’s a hint: the timbre of an acoustic guitar is sweet honey when enjoyed with falling leaves.

Nick Drake

You may have heard him in a car commercial or buried under the clatter of a Starbucks or on the immensely popular soundtrack for “Garden State.” The songs of Nick Drake, an influential folk musician from the early 70s, are commonly pegged as “autumnal,” and with good reason. Ornate finger picking and alien chord changes build songs that are purposefully sparse, ideal for contemplation. The perfect soundtrack to Sunday afternoon drives.

Nick Drake – From The Morning

Radiohead’s In Rainbows

Radiohead certainly are an intentional group of fellows, and I would venture that the October release of In Rainbows was no accident. The tender electric guitars, rim clicks and the most lush string arrangements this side of Billie Holiday’s Lady in Satin, are proof. Better still, In Rainbows sees the band getting their R&B on when Yorke does Al Green on “House of Cards.” Best enjoyed with a lover.

Radiohead – Nude

Radiohead – Faust Arp

The Roots’ Game Theory

The music of autumn should feel detached and lonely, but still pine for company. Game Theory embodies this by behaving like a belligerent child, furious one moment (“In the Music” openly scoffs at police) and welcoming the next (“Long Time”). Roots songs embody a variety of characters, from a caustic girlfriend to a redeemed prince of the ghetto. The common denominator(s)? Realism, soul singers and FUNK-Y guitars.

The Roots – Baby

Dave Brubeck Quartet’s Time Out

Brubeck will never get the respect of jazz greats like Miles Davis or John Coltrane because, unlike those artists, he’s always been content to coast for miles on one aesthetic. Where Davis and Coltrane continued to reinvent themselves late into their careers, Brubeck is still playing “Take Five” at all his shows. He must know it’s a shtick, but he also must know that it’s a good one. The gimmick of Time Out is strangely endearing; it’s a quaint jazz record with an outsider mentality.

Dave Brubeck Quartet – Blue Rondo A La Turk

That’s right The Roots are going to be playing live on Late Night with Jimmy Kimmel every night.  How weird is that.  That seems to be reason enough that it won’t tank after just one season.  Although I wonder how long they’ll want to do that.  What would be cool though is if after a season then he gets another band to come and do it for a year.  I wouldn’t doubt it if after this news there are a a bunch of bands contacting the other evening and late night hosts about becoming a permanent feature on their show.

Anyway, props to Jimmy for getting The Roots to join his crew.  Maybe he will continue to bring artists with actual talent on his show as guests every night.  I’m not getting my hopes up though. The one band that popped into his head as he was showing where the band would play on his model studio was Green Day.  Well here are a few tracks from Rising Down, the newest release from The Roots.

The Roots – The Show (feat. Common and Dice R)

The Roots – Rising Up (feat. Wale & Chrisette Michele)