Benjamin Kassel
"Tiny Dancer" ever so slowly builds to something magical
Some pop songs could be cut short and still feel somewhat satisfying. "Tiny Dancer," simply put, is not one of those songs.
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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.
Benjamin Kassel
Sep 15, 20215 min read
Atonement involves recognizing my “Dark Necessities”
Yom Kippur offers me the opportunity to reflect as I bare my soul in the hope of bettering myself.
Benjamin Kassel
Sep 14, 20216 min read
“Burn the Witch” soundtracks yet another harrowing election day in my mind
I hate that this beautiful song is the one that jumps out to me as fitting today’s mood, but that's how I'm feeling.
Benjamin Kassel
Sep 12, 20214 min read
"Lights" instantly threw me back a decade when I heard it, and I both did and didn't mind that
Sometimes you forget how much you love a song until you hear it for the first time in years. Thanks to autoplay, this is one of those songs.
Benjamin Kassel
Sep 9, 20215 min read
Silk Sonic "Skate" us back in time a half-century with buttery smoothness
In a pop scene inundated with 80s throwbacks, a tribute to the early 70s is a breath of fresh air and then some.
Benjamin Kassel
Sep 8, 20214 min read
"Semi-Charmed Life," another not-really-happy song, and how I experience it
I can't help but smile when I hear this song, but man, it's messed up. (And holy cow, a 90s track! About time.)
Benjamin Kassel
Sep 6, 20216 min read
"I Wanna Be Adored" drew me into a theological self-inspection
Shanah Tovah! ...This time of year never sits quite right with me, and The Stone Roses of all bands helped capture my feelings today.
Benjamin Kassel
Aug 30, 20213 min read
"Spill the Wine," an early 70s gem that comes from just about everywhere
Eric Burdon and War prove to be the perfect soundtrack for a lazy weekend day near the start of the school year.
Benjamin Kassel
Aug 27, 20213 min read
"Everyday People": diff'rent strokes for Berkeley's folks
The sights and sounds of Bancroft and Sproul inspire today's entry.
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