Benjamin Kassel
Confronting my past through "This Is Gospel"
*deep breath* This is a pretty personal piece, but that's because of what this song means and has meant to me.
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Benjamin Kassel
Jan 16, 20224 min read
"That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" is uniquely structured in its depressive dealings
I was first drawn to this Smiths track by its odd form, but with every listen, I feel a deeper connection to the lyrics and their setting.
Benjamin Kassel
Dec 24, 20214 min read
I come to Johnny Cash's cover of "Hurt" in my own time of pain
It's a powerful reminder of the wide-ranging consequences of not taking care of oneself.
Benjamin Kassel
Nov 11, 20214 min read
"Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" Our veterans certainly have
In a thousand-yard stare of a song, CCR — contrary to many other artists — reflect on how darkness can always penetrate the light.
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.
Benjamin Kassel
Nov 6, 20215 min read
With "One Headlight," the Wallflowers resolutely navigate toward better days
Jakob Dylan and company paint the end of youthful innocence as a time for reaffirming oneself and continuing to move forward.
Benjamin Kassel
Oct 17, 20214 min read
"Hyperballad" stands the test of time... and honestly, we've yet to reach its time
A quarter-century after its release, Björk's ethereal dream sequence song still sounds like it's ahead of our current musical era.
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.
Benjamin Kassel
Sep 20, 20215 min read
Is an everyman a "Parasite"?
Nick Drake presents the difficulty of looking past the negativity that lies on the world's surface.
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