Benjamin Kassel
"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.
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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.
Benjamin Kassel
Feb 23, 20225 min read
"The Catalyst" describes how I feel given current events in Ukraine
*inhales*
*SCREAMS INTERNALLY*
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 3, 20224 min read
Carpenter Brut's cover of "Maniac" places the listener inside the mania
A "darksynth" retooling of a 1980s movie soundtrack classic gives the lyrics and title a much more fitting treatment.
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
Nov 9, 20214 min read
In its various forms, "Beggin'" has been a standout song for over a half-century...
...and I had to figure out which one version I liked / wanted to write about the most.
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.
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?
Benjamin Kassel
Aug 29, 20214 min read
Pray that "The Saints Are Coming" for real this time
As Hurricane Ida causes destruction in Louisiana, this entry pays tribute to a people and a city who have risen from the ashes before.
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