Fall is arguably the best time for music; it invites a deeper kind of listening. Simple things like taking a walk, driving home and cooking a meal are more poetic when you have the right album to listen to. Music becomes more than just background noise. It becomes part of how we process the season. In no particular order, here are five albums that are perfect for getting the fall season started.

1. Siamese Dream by The Smashing Pumpkins

When I think fall, I think about this album. I might go so far as to say that I wait all year to listen to “Siamese Dream.” It’s rich, layered and emotionally charged, it shows the true nature of the season. The fuzzy guitars and melodies just feel like the leaves are changing color. One of my favorite songs of all time is “Luna.” It closes out the album with a soft warmth, it’s a gentle love song that feels calm after a long journey. It’s emotional without trying too hard, and the whole album kind of wraps around you the way fall does, a little sad, but really comforting.

2. She Hangs Brightly by Mazzy Star

This album makes my heart physically ache. It’s hazy, slow and full of that quiet, drifting feeling that comes with the season. Hope Sandoval’s voice floats over the music, and the reverb-soaked guitars give everything a soft, distant glow. My favorite song on the album is “Give You My Lovin.” The first guitar riff hits like a punch in the gut and makes my stomach drop every time. It drifts along with a dreamlike quality, it blends vulnerability and warmth in a way that feels intimate and distant. There’s a stillness to it that pairs perfectly with the calmness that fall brings.

3. Louder Than Bombs by The Smiths

“Louder than Bombs” makes me want to fight in the Vietnam War. It’s a perfect fall album, full of jangly guitars and clever melancholy lyrics. Morrissey’s lyrics are dramatic and sincere, making everyday emotions feel bigger, which somehow just works when the weather turns colder. The mix of upbeat rhythms and introspective lyrics is easy to get lost in during a long walk or a quiet afternoon. It’s that mix of sharp wit and soft sadness that makes it hit differently in the fall. It stings a little, but feels good at the same time.

4.  The Bends by Radiohead 

If you know me, you know I had to fit Radiohead into this list somewhere. “The Bends” is the first album that was ever gifted to me and it has a special place in my heart. I always find myself running back to it as soon as fall starts. It’s not too heavy, but it’s not exactly light either, it lives in that in-between space. Guitars swell and fade throughout the album, and Thom Yorke’s voice carries a kind of quiet achy feeling that lingers. It’s not dramatic, just deeply felt, perfect for this time of year.

5. Disintegration by The Cure 

Just the sound of this album is perfect for fall. It’s rich with layered, spooky melodies, slow tempos and a kind of bittersweet energy. Its emotional depth and textured soundscapes make it easy to get lost in, especially when everything feels more thoughtful. Listening from top to bottom, the songs almost think for you., It’s impossible to think about anything else except what the song is talking about.