Benjamin Kassel
"(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.
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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.
Benjamin Kassel
Mar 11, 20223 min read
"Stars": searching for an answer
I reflect on a song I had trouble finding which itself asks a question of its lyrical subject in light of infatuation.
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.
Benjamin Kassel
Feb 28, 20223 min read
"Reach Out I'll Be There" is... a bit more unusual than I realized
I didn't realize that until I looked a little closer for this post, which also led me to appreciating the song even more.
Benjamin Kassel
Feb 25, 20225 min read
"Inner Light" speaks to my anxious self in a re-emerging social climate
Elderbrook and Bob Moses' lyrically driven house production has been a personal anthem since I first heard it about half a year ago.
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.
Benjamin Kassel
Feb 20, 20223 min read
"Undun," the Guess Who's jazzy warning against acid
One of the finest pop compositions of the 60s is very much embedded in its time.
Benjamin Kassel
Feb 15, 20224 min read
On "Dirt," Keane are true to themselves as they decry an all-too-familiar conflict
Their title track from last summer's EP has an unavoidable gravitas as it speaks to the fallout the innocent suffer from war.
Benjamin Kassel
Feb 11, 20225 min read
"Intrasport" shouldn't work as well as it does, but I can't stop dancing to it
In complete King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard style, its weirdness only makes it better.
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.
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.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 4, 20223 min read
"Next to Me," a standout of 2012 that remains fresh a decade on
Emeli Sandé's praiseful breakthrough hit is as catchy and singalong-friendly today as it was when she burst onto the scene.
Benjamin Kassel
Dec 20, 20213 min read
"White Winter Hymnal" is an odd song to be associated with Christmas
A lyrical analysis displays why and then some.
Benjamin Kassel
Nov 30, 20215 min read
"Let Me Love You," a beautiful 21st-century ballad with a lot going on under its surface
Mario's signature song may seem simple at first, but closer inspection reveals several largely small, but impactful changes throughout.
Benjamin Kassel
Oct 25, 20214 min read
"Kiss from a Rose" yields a momentary, yet troubling warmth
Much more than a movie ballad, Seal's signature song deals with a duality between love and addiction for its entire duration.
Benjamin Kassel
Oct 12, 20214 min read
Fugees' cover of "Killing Me Softly With His Song" holds its own and then some
In reinterpreting Roberta Flack's soul classic, Lauryn Hill does the heavy lifting, but she's also never alone.
Benjamin Kassel
Oct 1, 20214 min read
"Dancing in the Moonlight" is the sound of harmless joy and escape...
It's light, it's upbeat... and the context in which it was written definitely explains its sound.
Benjamin Kassel
Sep 26, 20214 min read
"She's Not There" combines various influences into a stirring pop rock hit
The title of the Zombies' jumpstart single is an answer, but it, along with the rest of the song, only breeds more questions.
Benjamin Kassel
Sep 25, 20216 min read
"Second Chance" shows the power of paying attention to the little things as much as the big picture
It sounds like a lot of tracks from its era, but its creators' attention to detail and its dramatic but relatable lyrics make it stand out.
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