Fall 2026 Playlist: Annotated

We’ve had so many musical greats die recently, and all the big ones are represented on my Fall 2026 playlist (Spotify | Qobuz).

For the first time since switching to Qobuz, there’s a difference between the two versions of the playlist! Two of the artists I included have pulled their music from Spotify, so for the full version, you’ll need Qobuz. That said, I don’t think the two absences mess up the transitions too much.

1) “King Midas in Reverse” by The Hollies - I’ve been working part-time at a horror bookstore here in Louisville where we play the local public radio station. This song came on one day, and I heard it with new ears. Immediately obsessed. The harmonies!

2) “Royal Courts (Great Misfortune)” by Portraits of Tracy - I think I heard about Portraits of Tracy on TikTok; I love how this song takes several turns in melody and tempo. It almost reminds me of a modern Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song.

3) “Try” by Dizzy Fae - This song popped up on my social media feeds in the wake of Dolly Parton’s death, as the Dizzy Fae was apparently inspired by her when writing it. What can I say? It slaps. Catchy as hell.

4) “Baby Teeth” by Ashnikko - If you’ve been listening to my playlists for a while, you’ll know that I love artists who are just…weird. And Ashnikko is definitely weird. I feel like “Baby Teeth” is a spiritual companion to Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road.” A Pop/Hip Hop/Country melange.

5) “Little Sparrow” by Dolly Parton - I’ve always been a great admirer of Dolly Parton the person, but I’ve never really listened to anything more than her greatest hits. Her death prompted me to do so, at least a little, and I was struck by this song. She so rarely seems to write in a minor key, so it stood out to me. Seemed appropriate for fall.

6) “Peasants Revolt” by Creekbed Carter Hogan - Trans socialist folk music. In this day and age, we need it more than ever.

7) “Atchafalaya” by Orville Peck (featuring Noah Cyrus) - I know Orville Peck just put out a new album, but I’ve been waiting since late last year for fall to roll around so I could use this one from his 2025 Appaloosa EP. Why don’t artists schedule their releases based on my playlist drops? It would be so much more convenient that way.

8) “Gruesome” by Bad Stuff - I love a song that sounds like it belongs at the Roadhouse in Twin Peaks.

9) “Reveal” by Messa - A few weeks ago I drove to Nashville specifically to see this Italian metal band open for Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats. 100% worth it.

10) “Psychic Wound” by King Woman - Surprising no one, I went to see Teenage Sex & Death at Camp Miasma recently, and I loved it. That got me on a Jane Schoenbrun kick, and I was reminded of this song while rewatching King Woman’s performance of it in I Saw the TV Glow. The intensity!

11) “Humours” by Chelsea Wolfe - Really enjoying Chelsea Wolfe’s latest album The Dark. It was hard to pick just one song, since the entire album is so autumnal! But I ended up with this banger.

12) “Here She Comes” by Lacey Guthrie - I’ve recently had a few opportunities to see local Louisville artist Lacey Guthrie live—including an incredible Dolly Parton tribute—and I’ve been getting into her music. She’s one of the artists who’s not on Spotify, by the way!

13) “church of no one” by L’Rain - I’m not really sure how to describe L’Rain’s music. Psychedelic jazz pop electronic? Whatever it is, it works at this point in the playlist.

14) “Kill Me” by Phoebe Bridgers - Sad girls let’s gooo!! New Phoebe Bridgers!! I actually don’t like the album as much as I expected, but I suspect I may like it more if I listen to it in winter. This is how my brain works.

15) “Funny Mouth” by Charli XCX- I know Charli’s onto her next release, but I’m still feeling the Wuthering Heights soundtrack she released earlier this year. Easily the best thing about that movie.

16) “My Mans” by Grave Ives - I see great things in Grave Ives’ future. Her sophomore album is pretty damn good. Love some indie pop.

17) “petal” by Ariana Grande - I’m not normally an Ariana Grande girlie, but this one hits. Don’t get me wrong—she has an amazing voice. I’m just not normally drawn to her radio hits. Until now, apparently.

18) “hello hello” by UCHE YARA - Can’t remember where I heard about this one, but I’m a sucker for psychedelia and a good beat.

19) “DO IT ANYWAY” by Ecca Vandal - Still very much enjoying this Ecca Vandal album. Definitely one of my favorite new artists. She’s like…what if Santigold were more punk?

20) “CANNIBALISM!” by Slayyyter - I still think Wor$t Girl in America is the best album I’ve heard this year. Every song is perfect, including this little bop.

21) “TV Guide” by Vince Staples - Can I be honest with you? I don’t understand why I enjoy Vince Staples’ latest album so much. On some level I think the songs are repetitive and boring. But some other part of my brain seems to be into the groove of it. There’s something really muddy about this one that I like.

22) “Night Terror” by Soji - One look at the news these days and I need to scream, too. Let’s all take a screaming break, shall we?

23) “Miss” by florence road - I saw this band open for The Last Dinner Party earlier this year. I very much appreciate how this song builds from quiet to bluster. Like an autumn storm, one might say.

24) “I Built You a Tower (b)” by Death Cab for Cutie - Genuinely didn’t know Death Cab could go this hard. Sonically conveys how devastating grief can be.

25) “The Head Tree” by Opus Kink (featuring The New Eves) - Wow! Two of my favorite new British bands in one! Singing a song about witchcraft! Yes!!

26) “Black Magick Radio” by Green Lung - Whereas Green Lung’s last album was giving rural England occult vibes, this album is giving urban England occult vibes, specifically referencing several locations in London with dark histories. Naturally, I love it.

27) “Don’t Let It Control You” by Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats - Look, if you make 70s-style occult rock, I’m probably on board. Had fun seeing them in Nashville the other week—their performance was relentless, rarely stopping to speak or drink water. They’ve also decided not to post their new music on Spotify!

28) “Ring of Stones” by Tele Novella - It’s giving 1960s medieval revival, and I’m here for it.

29) “The Payoff” by Father John Misty - Thank goodness we have Father John Misty to carry on the musical legacy of all four Beatles at once.

30) “Anyone Who Had a Heart” by Tim Curry - I was a Rocky Horror kid, so Tim Curry’s death was pretty devastating. Let’s all take a moment to appreciate his cover of Cilla Black’s Dionne Warwick cover.

31) “Once (Live)” by The Swell Season - We lost Glen Hansard, too. Not sure about that guy’s sexual proclivities, but boy oh boy, I was the perfect age for the film Once to hit particularly hard. Can’t help but miss him.

Need more Fall music?