Benjamin Kassel
"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.
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Benjamin Kassel
Mar 20, 20224 min read
"Enjoy the Silence": fitting music for an ironic title
Depeche Mode's most successful song is an inner monologue, formed in a moment when the outside world is quiet.
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.
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
Feb 26, 20223 min read
"I'm So Excited" has a lot going on under its surface
The Pointer Sisters' eternally catchy hit is more than meets the ear.
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.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 28, 20223 min read
"I Want to Know What Love Is," a power ballad that's more than a cut above
Foreigner put lyrics first en route to creating one of the greatest love anthems in all of popular music.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 25, 20223 min read
With "Love on the Brain," Rihanna made doo-wop modern
Few pop songs have genuinely surprised me in a positive way on first listen more than today's selection did.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 23, 20223 min read
I'd been hoping for a Years & Years collaboration like "Sweet Talker," and it delivered
Olly Alexander finally making a true house track — alongside Galantis — was an excellent decision in the production of his first solo album.
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.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 18, 20223 min read
"Sweet Disposition" and the innocence of young love
The Temper Trap's indie anthem soundtracks a nostalgia-driven afternoon walk in the aftermath of classes restarting.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 12, 20225 min read
"Sacrifice" is both a dance floor-ready pop anthem and a narrative turning point
In The Weeknd's newest single, he revels in his old lifestyle one last time before his outlook on love shifts across the rest of the album.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 9, 20223 min read
"3005" is an inner monologue on "real" friendship and love
Through his celebrity lens, Childish Gambino questions the trustworthiness of, frankly, anyone who seems to be a friend in the digital age.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 8, 20224 min read
"Crystalised" presents the inner monologues that persist in relationships
The xx's debut single explores the fragility of love through two partners' ever-present individual thoughts.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 7, 20223 min read
"Dreams" displays its title being (somewhat) realized
A lighter entry early in the Cranberries' discography kept me in the right mood when I heard it for the first time today. Thank you,...
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
Dec 27, 20214 min read
DubVision's remix of "Ocean" sonically captures an emotional reunion
In examining a complete revamping of a pop production, I think of how stylistic choices can change our perception of a melody and lyrics.
Benjamin Kassel
Dec 22, 20213 min read
Joni Mitchell's re-recording of "Both Sides, Now" fully captures its lyrical essence
I'm far too young to truly appreciate the meaning this song carries, but I'll take a stab at discussing it anyway.
Benjamin Kassel
Dec 18, 20214 min read
Heart elevate "Alone" with their cover by understanding its message
Yes, it's a cover, and yes, they made a couple small changes that really make their version superior to its predecessors.
Benjamin Kassel
Dec 16, 20215 min read
"Never Forget You" captures the emotions of remembering past friends
The memories will always be there, and Zara Larsson and MNEK's presentation of working through them really resonates with me.
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