An October Playlist

In my first year at St Andrews, as a result of equal parts homesickness and anticipation for a new season in a new home, I crafted the playlist “October,” which has become one of my most-played and most treasured projects. It captures the essence of the fall season, instilling a sense of contentment and excitement in a way few can.

Lightly inspired by the soundtrack of Stranger Things, various ‘70s and ‘80s horror flicks, and the overall vibe of attending the most haunted university in the UK, what I love about this playlist is its versatility. It functions beautifully as a September-into-October transition soundtrack, or background music to study sessions carried out amongst tombstones. Many a pumpkin bread baking session and Halloween house party have been known to sample songs from it. I find it pairs particularly well with cider and grilled cheese.

I often find I enjoy this playlist so much because certain songs, lyrics, or key changes unsettle me (like in ‘The Twilight Zone’ or ‘Rare Bird’), pulling me from reality into the upside-down of experimentation. There is magic here, and it’s that magic that brings this playlist back into my life and heart year after year. The ghost who resides on the top floor of McIntosh Hall is rumored to have listened to it, so take that endorsement as you will.

Evocative of the slightly sinister underbelly of the season, a poisonous selection of techno-pop (‘Baby’s Eyes’, ‘Street Level’) and 80’s-inspired synth (‘Small Car Big Wheels’, ‘Cutthroat’) stake their claim. Designed to play on the nostalgia of October without sacrificing spunk, you’ll find classics tucked in amongst more enigmatic picks, as nods to slashers and strange television shows alike.

The playlist is full of what I fondly refer to as “midwestern alt rock” (‘Raise a Little Hell’, ‘Bad Moon Rising’) as well as tried-and-true favorites (‘Evil Woman’, ‘There is a Light That Never Goes Out’). They’re the kind of tracks your dad probably put into a cassette mix during his college days. It conjures up visions of shearling denim jackets, ‘76 Camaros, and it might inspire you to stay out past curfew.

Much like the communal punch bowl at a Halloween party, this playlist is spiked with something special. It does its part to honor the spirit of Halloween, with hints to the supernatural (‘Season of the Witch’, ‘The Ghost in You’), and Halloween classics (‘Love Potion Number Nine’, ‘Ghostbusters’) thrown into the brew. When the 31st passes, and the ghouls go to bed, some of its magic and novelty will begin to rust, but it’s a mix I will always return to for the comfort it brings and mystery it promises. This is a playlist for the cult-classic conscious, for when the fall air starts to bite, and for small towns with something to hide.

October

‘The Ghost in You’ - The Psychedelic Furs 4:17

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‘The Twilight Zone’ - Rush 3:20

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‘Baby’s Eyes’ - Neon Indian 6:26

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‘Girls on Film’ - Duran Duran 3:28

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‘Whisper To a Scream’ - The Icicle Works 3:49

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‘Ghostbusters’ - Ray Parker Jr. 4:05

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‘Evil Woman’ - Electric Light Orchestra 4:12

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‘Raise a Little Hell’ - Trooper 3:42

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‘Small Car Big Wheels’ - Enjoy 3:01

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‘Street Level’ - Neon Indian 4:01

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‘There Is a Light That Never Goes Out’ - The Smiths 4:04

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‘Bad Moon Rising’ - Creedence Clearwater Revival 2:22

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‘Love Potion Number Nine’ - The Searchers 2:06

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‘Rare Bird’ - Tangerine Dream 3:56

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‘Season of the Witch’ - Donovan 4:54

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‘Cutthroat’ - Survive 4:02

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‘Psycho Killer’ - Talking Heads 4:20

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‘For What It’s Worth’ - Buffalo Springfield 2:34—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

‘Out of Limits’ - The Marketts 2:09

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‘Waiting for a Girl Like You’ - Foreigner 4:50

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‘Love My Way’ - The Psychedelic Furs 3:32

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‘Stylo’ - Gorillaz 4:31

Grace Roberts

October