psychedelic | Unfortified Castle

Benjamin Kassel

Mar 23, 20223 min read

"Evil Ways": the birth of Latin cool

Okay, how has it taken me this long to talk about Santana on here? That's borderline criminal — and I'm remedying that ASAP.

"(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 appreciate "Day 'n' Nite" now more than I ever did before

Benjamin Kassel

Mar 2, 20224 min read

I appreciate "Day 'n' Nite" now more than I ever did before

I only came around to hip hop a few years ago, but more recent developments make it resonate with me even more now.

"Undun," the Guess Who's jazzy warning against acid

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.

"After the Storm" is a dreamy combo of neo soul and P-Funk

Benjamin Kassel

Feb 16, 20224 min read

"After the Storm" is a dreamy combo of neo soul and P-Funk

Kali Uchis and Tyler, the Creator provide the former feeling, while the latter comes from the space bassist, Bootsy Collins himself.

With its throwback sound, "Walkin' on the Sun" is far deeper than I realized

Benjamin Kassel

Feb 9, 20223 min read

With its throwback sound, "Walkin' on the Sun" is far deeper than I realized

It's also just a plain good song from a band that, yes, isn't just a meme.

"Spinning Wheel" is a most unusual jazz fusion track... and I love it

Benjamin Kassel

Jan 31, 20224 min read

"Spinning Wheel" is a most unusual jazz fusion track... and I love it

This song is out there, but it's a good kind of out there because of how Blood, Sweat & Tears mediate all its intricacies and oddities.

"Black Hole Sun" was my gateway into grunge

Benjamin Kassel

Jan 26, 20223 min read

"Black Hole Sun" was my gateway into grunge

Soundgarden's mainstream breakthrough served as a personal eye- (and ear-) opener, allowing me to appreciate a sound that defined the 90s.

"Gospel for a New Century": organized anxious chaos

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.

"Kids" makes us think back to simpler times... with heavy consequences

Benjamin Kassel

Dec 30, 20214 min read

"Kids" makes us think back to simpler times... with heavy consequences

MGMT's tribute to youth is far from rose-colored, reminding us of just how much we impact the world from the day we're thrown into it.

"Waterloo Sunset" examines a complex case of escapism

Benjamin Kassel

Dec 7, 20213 min read

"Waterloo Sunset" examines a complex case of escapism

The Kinks' beautiful psychedelic pop rock track has a narrator who just can't let himself enjoy life to the fullest.

"Fire" reflects its title through the raw energy of the Jimi Hendrix Experience

Benjamin Kassel

Nov 19, 20213 min read

"Fire" reflects its title through the raw energy of the Jimi Hendrix Experience

Is it pyromania? No, but it's a frantic and psychedelic trip that makes you feel like something's burning inside you.

"96 Tears": Grounded in its time, or anticipatory of rock's future?

Benjamin Kassel

Nov 7, 20213 min read

"96 Tears": Grounded in its time, or anticipatory of rock's future?

Its sound as as mid-60s as you can get, but its perspective might lend itself to being a forerunner of more contemporary movements.

"Grazing in the Grass" has a heck of an origin story and a decade-defining sound

Benjamin Kassel

Oct 8, 20215 min read

"Grazing in the Grass" has a heck of an origin story and a decade-defining sound

It doesn't get more 60s than how the Friends of Distinction spun an instrumental classic. And how do Zambia and Jim Brown each play a part?