Benjamin Kassel
Thanks to its synth pad, "Let Me Touch Your Fire" narratively leans into its title
A R I Z O N A sonically track their narrator's heart opening up as they unexpectedly feel love.
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Benjamin Kassel
Dec 4, 20213 min read
On the calm disco-like indie pop of "Sit Next to Me"
...and the marching band rendition of the track I heard tonight.
Benjamin Kassel
Dec 2, 20213 min read
"Hold On" gives me the motivation I need this time of year
Alabama Shakes strike a beautiful balance between the deeply personal and the globally applicable in the narrative of their debut single.
Benjamin Kassel
Nov 27, 20214 min read
"Elastic Heart," a story of not losing oneself after heartbreak
Sia presents a tale of self-reckoning, but also acceptance and ultimately confidence that she can at least healthfully keep her pain inside.
Benjamin Kassel
Nov 23, 20213 min read
Few modern instrumentals capture me like "Bloodflow" does
Grandbrothers blur the boundary between classical and electronic worlds with this powerful, piano-driven production.
Benjamin Kassel
Nov 20, 20213 min read
"Someone To You" and the effects of the simple desire to be loved
BANNERS displays the longing for a feeling he may not really know... but the way he does it is compelling.
Benjamin Kassel
Nov 17, 20214 min read
"Tear It Down" and the art of crafting a true sonic narrative in dance music
The Aston Shuffle expertly execute a slow, but sure build, capping it off with the most satisfying release in the final break.
Benjamin Kassel
Nov 13, 20214 min read
The three-part artistic origin of "50 Ways to Say Goodbye"
I discuss a trio influences that lie behind one of my favorite songs from nearly a decade ago.
Benjamin Kassel
Nov 8, 20214 min read
Getting up from your "Falls" is what counts
With a more restrained, yet emotive break, ODESZA reminded me that nothing is to be gained from wallowing in one's pessimism.
Benjamin Kassel
Oct 31, 20215 min read
"Pursuit" captures how I want Halloween to sound
The industrial instrumental's dark, chilling nature makes it a great fit for the holiday — but it also isn't exclusively an October track.
Benjamin Kassel
Oct 30, 20214 min read
"Kill This Love": what a sound, and what a title
Furthermore, the title echoes a message not as frequently heard in the breakup song canon: kill it off now to save yourself the pain later.
Benjamin Kassel
Oct 26, 20214 min read
"Adorn" is classy 10s R&B at its best
Miguel's most successful song is a modern configuration of the genre, with an old-fashioned word at its core.
Benjamin Kassel
Oct 18, 20214 min read
On "Cranes in the Sky" and attempting to break free from a cycle of distractions
In trying to be productive post-heartbreak, Solange captures the difficulty in resolving to face our most pressing problems.
Benjamin Kassel
Oct 10, 20214 min read
Is it house? Is it electronica? Is it pop? All I know is that it's "Magnets," and it's awesome.
Disclosure's masterpiece with Lorde has a downright outrageous beat and great lyric / instrumental coordination to drive home its narrative.
Benjamin Kassel
Oct 4, 20215 min read
"Find U Again" is a masterpiece of unwanted loneliness
Mark Ronson and Camila Cabello combine for an anthem of post-heartbreak grief and processing.
Benjamin Kassel
Sep 28, 20214 min read
"Love Me Again" is a love letter to both an old flame and an old sound
John Newman's hit starts slowly, but he soon unleashes its northern soul flavor.
Benjamin Kassel
Sep 15, 20215 min read
Atonement involves recognizing my “Dark Necessities”
Yom Kippur offers me the opportunity to reflect as I bare my soul in the hope of bettering myself.
Benjamin Kassel
Sep 14, 20216 min read
“Burn the Witch” soundtracks yet another harrowing election day in my mind
I hate that this beautiful song is the one that jumps out to me as fitting today’s mood, but that's how I'm feeling.
Benjamin Kassel
Sep 12, 20214 min read
"Lights" instantly threw me back a decade when I heard it, and I both did and didn't mind that
Sometimes you forget how much you love a song until you hear it for the first time in years. Thanks to autoplay, this is one of those songs.
Benjamin Kassel
Sep 1, 20214 min read
"Here," the anti-party party song
Thank you, Alessia Cara, for providing a perspective to which I can so easily relate.
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