Winter is a time often associated with the holiday season; thus, holiday music tends to top the charts. However, if you search deeper, there’s plenty of winter music that doesn’t fit into the typical holiday trope. Here’s my list of essential winter albums and songs, varied in sound and feel, that are sure to get you in the winter spirit.

Fall songs are accompanied by a depth of storytelling that showcases this type of reflection — bonus points for any song that includes references to the fall season.