If September clutches onto humid days, summer ladies or boys and the hazy reflections of Summer’s worry free incidents, then what the heck does October’s last seven days of Autumn do? Answer! Mornings become more brisk as the air catches hints of woodstoves warming up while leaves fall south like birds in flight. The crisp scent and sight of nature’s transformation wind-out the midterms of the Fall semester while coat pockets and iPod’s create the home for cold pumpkin carving hands and hot chocolate soothed souls.
Music often recalls memories, whether happy or sad. It is with the correlation between music, memory and nature that the “Seven Songs to End Autumn On” will find a fitting place to help instill these notions that Robert Frost so aptly put, “Dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay,” let these melodic and political tracks help take some weight off those overworked scholastic minds.
The notion of chilly mornings alone, is often reason enough for students to take the first class of the day off but, with a little help from The Appleseed Cast, starting the day out could be more relaxing than a 12:30p.m. message appointment at the HUB. The Appleseed Cast’s, “Fishing The Sky,” off their release “Mare Vitalis,” is the perfect supplement for the quick walk to class. The track begins with a harmonious guitar solo that reaches energized tones as the drums come in, providing a less rock more roll start to a hefty agenda. Singer and guitarist Christopher Crisci’s gallant voice entwines itself with the instrumentals while lyrics discuss the oceans glory and its power to wash things away, making room for newer, brighter days. The progressive track’s instrumental value allows time for the listener to forget about the lyrics if he or she so pleases and focus on the natural occurrences before even noticing the door to Biology is only three short feet ahead.
Finally those mornings classes are over and it’s a chance to catch up on some work or allow the brain to filter the ten handwritten pages of lectures notes that had elbow posted heads sliding off desks all class. Grab a fresh cup of coffee, throw on Modest Mouse’s “Novocain Stain” and breath. Heavy though quiet chords paired with the low-fi sound of Jeremiah Green’s drums ease into a reflective state as singer Issac Brock helps his listeners, “Remember through sounds, remember through smells, remember through colors, remember through towns,” the experiences inside and outside of the natural world, past, present and future.
Acoustic guitars appear to be the dream catchers of life’s musical subtleties as N.H. raised artist matt pond PA captures nostalgic ideals inside, “New Hampshire.” Composed mostly of guitar and gentle vocals, the somewhat lengthier of matt pond PA tracks is another installment of thought provoking melodies which allows time to unwind and absorb views of Highland St. and Campus before bringing the focus back to that tedious term paper. The instrumental value of “New Hampshire” balances out the references to the town of Bethel and N.H.’s myriad lakes, inevitably helping aid vivid images of Plymouth’s quintessential atmosphere.
The last of the debates are now a week behind though its still necessary to keep governmental speculations in high concern as election day creeps up in less than ten days. Collect those thoughts harnessed around the natural world and store them away for a moment to allow room for evoking the content inside Against Me!’s politically packed, “Impact.” From first sentence to last statement, front man Tom Gable shreds his guitar in defiance to mistakes led by Bush and former presidential candidates. Gable shouts his concerns with the America’s global agenda questioning the countries involvement worldwide while addressing the issues as pure entertainment for the American T.V. viewing audience. A shorter, faster and louder politically enhanced track is one from Boston’s, The Suicide File. Charged with negative sentiments towards past political mishaps and current pop culture influx, “Ashcroft” cuts hard, “through the red, through the white and through the blue,” as singer Dave Weinberg puts it.
Coming out from the cold snap of governmental importance, The Get Up Kids take time to sound off about longing to see best friends, partners and family on “Stay Gold, Ponyboy.” Lightly distorted guitars and a rhythmic drum beat keeps the backbone of the song in place while allowing the lyrics to beat down to the heart of the matter. Quietly the last of Fall’s leaves are making their descent to earth, piles collect, blowers blow and noses start to run rampant in a chase for daylight. As the leaves complete this cycle, “Stay Gold, Ponyboy” keeps in mind that only a few moments are left until seeing those held close are not too far out of reach and the instrumental value of the tracks breakdown halfway mimic the anticipation of knowing that only a few weeks remain until Thanksgiving break.
Don’t let The Get Up Kids melancholy notions lurk too heavily. Song seven is a fresh number by Archers of Loaf. “Scenic Pastures,” the title speaks for itself, is the prime jam for cruising up the Kanc or along Route 3. Though a drive might sound something only Gram and Gramp do on Sunday afternoons, don’t be misled. The song’s bass heavy tempo united with the guitars light pitch and steady drum rythm are the staples for an upbeat journey through N.H.’s picturesque meadows and vast mountain ranges. Groggy vocals overcome the track for brief segments with easily learned lyrics and a positive inflection. The track generates the perfect audio environment for mulling over the accumulation of academic and environmental knowledge from the previous six tracks to bring these observations forth in school, life and most importantly the self.