sample | Unfortified Castle

"Tainted Love": a cover that defined the 80s sound

Benjamin Kassel

Mar 20, 20223 min read

"Tainted Love": a cover that defined the 80s sound

Soft Cell weren't the originators of this song, new wave, or synth-pop, but their take on Gloria Jones set the stage for a decade of music.

As a production, "Otis" has blown me away for more than a decade

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.

"Digital Love" is my favorite electronic track of all time

Benjamin Kassel

Feb 22, 20225 min read

"Digital Love" is my favorite electronic track of all time

...and I break it down today to pay tribute to the two robots with human souls who made it.

"California Love" was a perfect soundtrack to this year's Super Bowl Sunday

Benjamin Kassel

Feb 13, 20223 min read

"California Love" was a perfect soundtrack to this year's Super Bowl Sunday

...especially considering the halftime's West Coast hip hop theme perfectly matched the game's outcome.

Diving into "21st Century Schizoid Man" in memory of Ian McDonald

Benjamin Kassel

Feb 12, 20224 min read

Diving into "21st Century Schizoid Man" in memory of Ian McDonald

As I've done twice before, I pay tribute to a recently deceased musician by looking back at one of their works.

Benjamin Kassel

Feb 7, 20224 min read

Dissecting why I love "King Kunta"

Kendrick Lamar's funky 2015 single remains a personal favorite for a slew of reasons, many of which come back to what I like in older music.

"Bitter Sweet Symphony" is a Britpop hit unlike any other

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.

"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.

"aNYway" is house formed straight from its disco roots

Benjamin Kassel

Jan 11, 20223 min read

"aNYway" is house formed straight from its disco roots

Duck Sauce create "disco's revenge" by sampling the genre that preceded it, paying tribute to New York in the process.

"Toxic," the most unique pop song of this century

Benjamin Kassel

Nov 24, 20214 min read

"Toxic," the most unique pop song of this century

Baby, can't you hear? It's nothing like what you expect from an idol like Britney Spears, but it's arguably her biggest hit.

The whole of "Shook Ones, Pt. II" is far greater than the sum of its parts

Benjamin Kassel

Nov 16, 20214 min read

The whole of "Shook Ones, Pt. II" is far greater than the sum of its parts

From insane samples to hard-hitting rhymes and a splash of motivation, Mobb Deep's signature track is an all-time great rap cut.

A funky tribute to the "Outstanding" Ronnie Wilson

Benjamin Kassel

Nov 3, 20214 min read

A funky tribute to the "Outstanding" Ronnie Wilson

His accomplishments are visible throughout one of the Gap Band's signature and most evergreen songs.

India.Arie's "Video" is as honest as it gets in this gilded world of ours

Benjamin Kassel

Oct 19, 20214 min read

India.Arie's "Video" is as honest as it gets in this gilded world of ours

Rising above the weight of unrealistic physical expectations, she delivers a soulful, guitar-driven affirmation of her self-worth.

Fugees' cover of "Killing Me Softly With His Song" holds its own and then some

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.

Happy on a Wednesday? At the very least, I'm "Way Less Sad"

Benjamin Kassel

Sep 22, 20214 min read

Happy on a Wednesday? At the very least, I'm "Way Less Sad"

AJR present a quite positive, but easily embraceable lens on present-day living in one of the year's best pop tracks.

On "Love Rears Its Ugly Head," its opening sample, and the reading they provide together

Benjamin Kassel

Sep 17, 20215 min read

On "Love Rears Its Ugly Head," its opening sample, and the reading they provide together

A standout track of the early 90s is even more intriguing when one applies the context of its introduction to the rest of the track.

On house music and perspective through the lens of "Rain On Me"

Benjamin Kassel

Sep 3, 20214 min read

On house music and perspective through the lens of "Rain On Me"

A 2020 chart-topper is: 1) the kin of 90s French house; 2) a good starting point for a discussion on interpreting and connecting to music.

Simply put, we're all at least a little "Crazy"

Benjamin Kassel

Aug 31, 20214 min read

Simply put, we're all at least a little "Crazy"

I finally talk about a track from my lifetime, and it gives me a chance to appreciate sampling as well as its lyrical perspective.