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 9, 20224 min read
As a production, "Otis" has blown me away for more than a decade
You don't sample and rap over Otis Redding and get away with it... right?
Unless you're Ye and Jay.
Benjamin Kassel
Mar 6, 20223 min read
"Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" is my top pick from the 2000s garage revival
The White Stripes' 2001 single showcases their unmistakable sound in my favorite ways.
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 8, 20223 min read
"California Dreamin'," as heard from a Californian's perspective
What can I say? It's a winter's day.
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 22, 20224 min read
An examination of 'art pop' through "Running Up That Hill"
I examine why Kate Bush's work stands out from that of her contemporaries through one of her most successful songs in the mainstream.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 21, 20224 min read
"Bitter Sweet Symphony" is a Britpop hit unlike any other
Between its sampling dispute, its distinctive vocal elements, and its point of view, the Verve's enduring anthem leaves a unique impression.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 17, 20224 min read
"Gospel for a New Century": organized anxious chaos
I got hooked on Yves Tumor's sound from this track alone and the complex internal war it captures.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 6, 20223 min read
"Call Me" and the timeless sound of 1980
Blondie's Moroder-produced movie soundtrack anthem presents the state of pop at a sonic inflection point — a sound people still love today.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 2, 20223 min read
"Call On Me" — but not the one you're probably thinking of — is a call for perseverance
Between its beat and its lyrics, Ryan Riback's retouching of Starley's dance-pop number is one of my favorite productions from the late 10s.
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.
Benjamin Kassel
Dec 11, 20214 min read
Tommy Roe's key changes make me "Dizzy"
...but the song has more than just that to offer. It ends up lending itself to a discussion on risk taking in pop writing and production.
Benjamin Kassel
Dec 3, 20215 min read
"Lady Marmalade" and hook theory
Labelle's smash hit is so catchy because nearly every individual element is infectiously memorable on its own.
Benjamin Kassel
Dec 1, 20213 min read
"Dreams" demonstrates the power of recurrence
Gorgon City utilize mediated repetition — particularly of a single element — to create and reinforce their track's titular aura.
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 26, 20216 min read
'Innovative' doesn't even begin to describe "I'm Not In Love"
Nor does 'unique' or another similar adjective. 10cc's masterpiece merits so many more words, given its story, sound, and lasting impact.
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.
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