1970s

"Carry On Wayward Son": mega-hit motivation

Benjamin Kassel

Mar 29, 20224 min read

"Carry On Wayward Son": mega-hit motivation

I've felt down and out lately, but hearing Kansas on the radio got me mentally trending the right way to remedy that.

"Where is the Love": seventies soul done right

Benjamin Kassel

Mar 26, 20223 min read

"Where is the Love": seventies soul done right

Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway's duo is my favorite of the multiple songs with this title.

"Time in a Bottle" and the ephemerality of life

Benjamin Kassel

Mar 23, 20223 min read

"Time in a Bottle" and the ephemerality of life

Jim Croce's ballad is never an easy listen for me, especially now as I think of major life changes coming in the short term.

"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" is more than a meme

Benjamin Kassel

Mar 18, 20224 min read

"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" is more than a meme

...but the meme's wide reach means that's how most think of the Blue Öyster Cult's classic tune.

I needed the calmness of "Black Water" tonight

Benjamin Kassel

Mar 13, 20223 min read

I needed the calmness of "Black Water" tonight

I'm stressed as [CENSORED]. This Doobie Brothers gem helped mitigate that a bit.

Revolutionary commentary from the early 70s (2/2)

Benjamin Kassel

Mar 8, 20224 min read

Revolutionary commentary from the early 70s (2/2)

Gil Scott-Heron took on a decidedly different perspective from the Last Poets in his response to "When the Revolution Comes."

Revolutionary commentary from the early 70s (1/2)

Benjamin Kassel

Mar 7, 20224 min read

Revolutionary commentary from the early 70s (1/2)

As I ponder various current events and prospects for "revolution," I turn to the Last Poets' Harlem-based perspective toward social change.

"Could It Be Magic": From Chopin to Manilow — with a slight detour

Benjamin Kassel

Mar 1, 20223 min read

"Could It Be Magic": From Chopin to Manilow — with a slight detour

This site is dedicated to discussion of popular music, but explaining today's choice necessitates a flashback to the Romantic era.

"Message in a Bottle": togetherness... in loneliness?

Benjamin Kassel

Feb 24, 20223 min read

"Message in a Bottle": togetherness... in loneliness?

As weird as that sounds, that's exactly how Sting positions his lyrics in one of the Police's many timeless hits.

"Ain't No Sunshine" is a clinic in musical succinctness

Benjamin Kassel

Feb 21, 20223 min read

"Ain't No Sunshine" is a clinic in musical succinctness

125 seconds. 26 "I know"s. Four chords. One perfectly short piece of art.

"Strawberry Letter 23" fits today's date

Benjamin Kassel

Feb 14, 20223 min read

"Strawberry Letter 23" fits today's date

Is it cool? (Is it cool?) I don't know, but it's February 14, and it feels right.

"American Pie," a memorial to lost innocence as much as lost musicians

Benjamin Kassel

Feb 3, 20224 min read

"American Pie," a memorial to lost innocence as much as lost musicians

As Don McLean captured, "The Day the Music Died" was only the beginning of a period of sweeping cultural change in the United States.

On the soul masterpiece that is "Midnight Train to Georgia"

Benjamin Kassel

Jan 29, 20223 min read

On the soul masterpiece that is "Midnight Train to Georgia"

Gladys Knight & the Pips' classic combines outstanding vocals with a compelling lyrical narrative that has a surprising twist in its chorus.

"How Deep Is Your Love": a mature sound and discussion for the disco era

Benjamin Kassel

Jan 19, 20223 min read

"How Deep Is Your Love": a mature sound and discussion for the disco era

The Bee Gees delved into what happens after an initial romantic attraction in their most widely acclaimed number.

"Sultans of Swing" is pure pub rock with a story of a jazz experience

Benjamin Kassel

Jan 14, 20223 min read

"Sultans of Swing" is pure pub rock with a story of a jazz experience

Dire Straits don't directly echo the music implied by their story, but they embody it just enough to tell a convincing and memorable tale.

Small decisions make "Go All the Way" stand out from the pop rock pack

Benjamin Kassel

Jan 5, 20224 min read

Small decisions make "Go All the Way" stand out from the pop rock pack

Little changes go a long way for Eric Carmen and the Raspberries.

I ring in 2022 with "Comfortably Numb," of all songs

Benjamin Kassel

Jan 1, 20224 min read

I ring in 2022 with "Comfortably Numb," of all songs

Why? It just kind of happened once, and I've kept it up since... but I try to read into it anyway.

"The Guitar Man" and the sustaining of fame (or lack thereof)

Benjamin Kassel

Dec 29, 20213 min read

"The Guitar Man" and the sustaining of fame (or lack thereof)

Bread's hit celebrates the music maker while also reminding listeners that fame is so often temporary.

"Riders on the Storm," a master class in atmosphere

Benjamin Kassel

Dec 23, 20213 min read

"Riders on the Storm," a master class in atmosphere

The song doesn't even have the word "rain" in it, but its presence is undoubted, as is that of Jim Morrison's most personal character.

"Life on Mars?": or, when Bowie outdid Frankie

Benjamin Kassel

Dec 17, 20215 min read

"Life on Mars?": or, when Bowie outdid Frankie

I celebrate and tell the story of my very favorite track from the Starman on the golden anniversary of its initial release.

Unfortified Castle

Music opinions thrown from a glass house.