For many, the end of summer means the party is over and it’s once again time to face reality. The vacation days have ended and unless you live in tropical destinations, the weather is about to take a sharp turn (unless global warming keeps up, but that’s for another time). That being said, I decided to pick these eight songs because in some way or another, they are linked together by the introspectiveness and self-evaluation that comes with a seasonal change. Musically, they range from avant-garde to uptempo rock to simple lo-fi magic. No matter the tune or artist, each carries the theme of self-evaluation. Whether it’s thinking about a love lost, the things we carry or feeling sorry for ourselves, these emotions can all hit when the seasons change.

Band of Horses-“Laredo”

I’ve been on a huge Band of Horses kick lately and their new album, Inifinite Arms is nothing short of fantastic. This live version from the 98.7 FM studios in Los Angeles captures the vibe of change. The line “I’m at a crossroad with myself/I got no one else” is a perfect example of lead singer Ben Bridell’s beautiful vocals capturing the meaning of the song’s lyrics. The acoustic guitars also sound great on this version of “Laredo.”

 

Alex Winston- “Play With Fire”

 

I’m a sucker for covers, especially Rolling Stones songs. I’ve heard many Stones covers before, but hardly any are as interesting as this version. Alex Winston recently released an EP of covers, aptly titled The Basement Covers EP. Winston’s ruffled vocals that hide behind piano and keyboards would make Jagger and company proud. The tone of the song is eerie as spending a night with the Addams Family. In fact, this song would fit in well in any Tim Burton film due to its tone.

 

The Bird & The Bee- “Private Eyes”

Well, the gloom and doom had to end somewhere. This cover of the Hall & Oates classic is fun and Inara George’s vocals are pitch perfect. Greg Kurstin’s synths and keyboards lay the foundation for the track and make it an easy listen.

 

Carl Broemel- “Carried Away”

Let’s put this out there: I’m a big fan of My Morning Jacket and it extends to its individual members. Carl Broemel recently released his solo debut, All Birds Say, which interestingly enough, doesn’t sound much like his full-time band. This song has the feel of a late summer afternoon when the sun is ready to set. When I close my eyes, I envision myself sitting on a hammock deep in the country with a beer in hand. The slide guitar on here is great and gives the song its soul to compliment Broemel’s croon.

 

Eastern Conference Champions “Bloody Bells”

This is one of my favorite songs from the Los Angeles-based outfit via Philadelphia. Singer Josh Ostrander’s vocals combined with the song’s up-tempo vibe have that feeling when you are leaving from work for the weekend. This is a song that if it were the first to play on your radio when you left the office, you’d be in a great mood. I like the way the song changes midstream and the ending is very dramatic, almost epic.

 

Novaflow “The Breaks”

Lead singer Jeff Stevens puts it best when he opens the song with the lyrics, “Summer came and summer went/with it went my confidence.” The chorus and intensity of the ending has a voice trying to forgive itself yet at the same time having problems moving on with his life. The music provides the soundtrack to the emotions the narrator is feeling. If that doesn’t spell out the meaning of self-evaluation, then I don’t know what does. Brit-pop driven blues has never felt and sounded so good.

 

Saint Motel “Pity Party”

The Los Angeles band has made waves over the past year, taking on and conquering all that stand in its path. To me, the intro lick and beginning build epitomizes what a great song should sound like. It’s catchy and gets your head moving to the point where you can’t stop. The title sums up singer A.J. Jackson’s lyrics in a nutshell.  The song’s break features the guitar wizardry of Aaron Sharp and adds another element to this gem. This “Pity Party” may seem like fun, but listen carefully to the lyrics and it fits the theme of this playlist.

 

The XX “Crystalised”

Of all the songs that The XX has put out, I’m really drawn to this one because of its lo-fi simplicity. For the first part of the song, all you hear are lyrics and hardly any instrumentation. Then the song picks up with a guitar coming in that fits right in. The dark vibe channels the Velvet Underground, but only if they were putting out their first album now. The dueling vocals drive the track and are best listened to while in your car because you focus on the song’s deeper meaning.