By Henry Thomas
We’re in peak foliage season in New York, so why not celebrate autumn with my favorite albums for a walk in the woods!
- George Harrison- Early Takes Volume 1 (2012)
This collection of demos was released with the massive documentary George Harrison: Living in the Material World in 2012. I love it for its simplicity, but it’s also cool to hear iconic songs like “All Things Must Pass” and “My Sweet Lord” in an embryonic state. It’s chill, disarming, and friendly… just like a walk in the woods!
- Sufjan Stevens- Carrie and Lowell (2015)
You simply can’t go wrong with Sufjan in the woods. Despite its sad backstory (inspired by the death of his mother), this album pairs nicely with the crunching of leaves under your feet.
- Florist- Holdly (2015)
It’s not a full-length album, but it’s perfect for a quick solo trek in the woods. Emily Sprague is a Hudson Valley native, so these songs are great for a Sunday stroll in Upstate NY. Florist’s new album Emily Alone is also currently featured in the WSPN hotbox! Give it a spin on air!
- Grateful Dead- Workingman’s Dead (1970)
Arguably the most “country” Dead album, WD is as comforting as warm apple cider on an October night. From the opening lines of “Uncle John’s Band” to the classic road trip romp “Casey Jones”, the laid back pedalsteel-heavy atmosphere will match up nicely with fall foliage. If you want to take it a step further, check out WD’s spiritual sibling, American Beauty.
- Big Thief- Two Hands (2019)
The most recent album on this list, Two Hands is simply changing the course of my autumn. “Forgotten Eyes” is one of the best songs of the year, but this album is packed top to bottom with fantastic songs. The second record of 2019 for Big Thief, Two Hands is the “Earth Twin” of March’s release U.F.O.F. Whereas that album was spacey and freaky, Two Hands plays like campfire songs on steroids. As of this post being written it is not in the WSPN hotbox, but keep an eye out! Thanks for reading!
Oct 14, 2019
featured image: Big Thief