And just like that, it’s the most beautiful time of the year. It is strange watching seasons pass while in a new place, but at least fall will always be fall and Iz FM will always be Iz FM.
Candidly, I have no idea if the article below is cohesive in any way. I’ve listened to a lot of great music over the past couple of months, and I really want to share it with you all. But there’s a great potential that what lies below is a whole lot of word vomit. If you don’t make it to the bottom, here’s been my recent playlist: Fall Rock. **spoiler alert: it’s filled with loads of fun ‘70s and ‘80s random rock like Bowie, The Zombies, Double, Lenny Kravitz, and even Robert Plant, as well as some artists that I’ll be touching on more below.
So who’s the treacherous trio of artists/bands that we’ll be diving into today? Drumroll please…
- Duran Duran
- Dire Straits
- Frank Sinatra
**in order of appearance in my life recently
Duran Duran
Duran Duran THEN: the band I previously knew strictly for “Hungry Like a Wolf” and “Rio” (which are 2 drastically different songs and always confused me about what kind of vibe this band even wanted to cultivate). Duran Duran NOW: the first victim of my locked-in-at-my-computer-listening-obsession.
This British band, which blurred the line between new wave and punk rock, among other things, had been hiding in my peripheral for quite some time. I’ve had my time with The Human League, The Thomson Twins, A Flock of Seagulls, and plenty of UK-born bands from this time period, and it all led to my fall of 2026 obsession with Duran Duran. Rewind about fifty years, and you’ll see Duran Duran stepping onto the New Romantic scene–an underground movement thriving in London and Birmingham nightclubs in the late ‘70s that was inspired by glam rock artists like Bowie. They showed up and showed out with a synthesized sound, a nasally lead singer, and classic eccentric attire.
While “Hungry Like the Wolf” and “Girls on Film” put Duran Duran at the forefront of the Second British Invasion, these aren’t the songs that have been streaming through my AirPods as of late. The one song that will definitely end up somewhere in my Spotify Top 10 this year is “Come Undone.”
Who do you need?
Who do you love?
When you come undone
I wouldn’t say I listen to it very literally, as the themes are a little intense for my day-to-day, but it is quite grounding for my train ride or walk into the office. I have my moment, walking along a crowded sidewalk, glancing around at buildings and faces, nodding along to the beat, then continuing on with my day. Nothing too dramatic.
Some more favorites of mine have been “The Reflex,” “Save a Prayer,” “Too Late Marlene,” and “Union of the Snake” (especially those last two). Each song is so different from the other, yet they’re all so Duran Duran (now that I know their target sound a little better). I would love to listen to them all late at night on the beach, yet somehow, I’m trapped so far from a warm, breezy night on the shore. So instead, I have “Too Late Marlene” on my laptop speakers in my stuffy apartment on this rainy evening. Nevertheless, I’ll get that beach moment soon enough.
I’ll wrap Duran Duran up there. I think I gave their self-titled album a listen but don’t have any desire to pass that entire album on to you all. Just know those titles above are pretty great, and you should at least give those a listen.
Dire Straits
Next up, I’m highlighting a band I’ve spoken pretty highly of in the past: Dire Straits.
Basically, two years ago, in the August, North Carolina heat, my first deep passion for Dire Straits was ignited. That fall, I was intoxicated with all things “Sultans of Swing” and Communique–which you can read more about here. I could recognize their bluesy yet spicy sound from a single opening guitar strum. Two years later, and that passion is blazing strong as I keep uncovering more of their music that I just absolutely love.
The forefront of these recent discoveries was a song from Communique itself, “Where Do You Think You’re Going?” Funny enough, I didn’t mention it once in that article I wrote, and now here we are, and it might be my favorite off the whole album. Go listen to those first lines right there and try to tell me you’re not already intrigued.
Where you think you’re going?
Don’t you know it’s dark outside?
Where you think you’re going?
Don’t you care about my pride?
By the 40th second, Mark Knopfler adds in some little strums, and you know the greatness that you sensed all along is in reach.
If you ain’t with me girl,
You’re going to be without
Sorry, I’m just actually obsessed. The whole song is under 4 minutes, but it still delivers a classic Dire Straits build-up to an incredible finale. By the end of the second minute, every guitar has been introduced, all playing on top of each other, in such imperfect melodies. Magical.
By this point, I’ve definitely given their albums Dire Straits, Brothers in Arms, and Communique their fair plays, and I’d recommend a full listen to each of them. But if you don’t have the time and/or desire, let me save you some time and tell you about the other singles that have truly messed me up recently: “Planet of New Orleans,” “Fade to Black,” “Your Latest Trick,” and “Down to the Waterline.”
Those first two are tucked away on On Every Street, and they are so devilishly magnificent. Both could probably be described as guitar ballads with some sprinkles of Knopfler’s voice–and that’s what makes them so spectacular. All he needs is that guitar and boom the song is written and the story is told.
I also was never even a “Money For Nothing” girl. I went to an allegedly-Southern school and was never converted into a “Money For Nothing” fan, even with all of the college bands that loved to play it live. That was until I watched this live performance: Live at Knebworth. And trust me, now I get it. The things I would do to see Dire Straits live.
So basically: live, love, Mark Knopfler.
Frank Sinatra
Now, you’re going to have to stay with me for the switch-up of a lifetime. While most would never classify Duran Duran, Dire Straits, and Frank Sinatra in the same family or even realm of music, we can all admit that the latter two both border opposite sides of the blues landscape. And I believe that’s why I’ve been so drawn to both artists at the same time, and therefore can link this whole blog post together!
So anyway, up until the past few months, the most familiar I was with Frank Sinatra was New Girl’s Winston Bishop calling himself “Prank Sinatra” and, separately, the many instances where bicyclists are riding around the city blasting “New York, New York.” That’s all to say, I couldn’t really pinpoint a catalyst that drove me into this deep Sinatra exploration. One day, I just started to really understand the world’s obsession with “My Way” and continued listening to his hits.
I’ve now come to learn, I just love his dramatics. He sings with so much hurt, so much joy, so much emotion–it’s all too engaging. From wallowing to “Rain In My Heart” to twirling around to “Strangers In The Night,” he makes even my life feel so theatrical.
Some of his loveliest pieces (yes, pieces, not songs) to me right now are “Moonlight Serenade,” “I Will Wait For You,” “(They Long To Be) Close To You,” “My Funny Valentine,” and, of course, “Somethin’ Stupid.”
Probably my most peaceful afternoon was the day I listened to Sinatra/Jobim: The Complete Reprise Recordings. From the beginning notes of “The Girl From Ipanema” to the clarinet on “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars,” it’s simply the most mesmerizing jazz album I’ve come across (I haven’t listened to that many, but I make assumptions).
As a whole album, it paints one brilliant autumnal picture with falling crunchy leaves under pale, dull skies. It’s like if the Vince Guaraldi Trio wrote songs that were meant to have words over them. I swear, Sinatra doesn’t even sing that many real words, most times they’re just ad libs, like most of “Baubles, Bangles, and Beads.”
Baubles, bangles
Hear how they jing, jinga-linga
And even better, the whole album finishes off with a sweet little song, “Bonita.” You think he’s talking about me, maybe? It’s really a shame that the Ol’ Blue Eyes had such a questionable media persona. I never said this, but I do choose to separate this artist from the art.
Now, if you’ve made it all the way to the end, massive kudos. I don’t even know if I will make it this far ever again now that it’s all written. I hope you found some music recs or, at the very least, enjoyed my little ramblings!
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