Unfortified Castle

Nico & Vinz were all over the radio in my early teens with this song, but only now did I finally put a closer lens to it.

Elliot Lurie and Looking Glass relay just enough to the listener to make their story both succinct and rich.

...but the song has more than just that to offer. It ends up lending itself to a discussion on risk taking in pop writing and production.

Amidst the stress of finals prep, small gestures and acts of kindness can go a long way. Today I managed to grind out my English final...

A R I Z O N A sonically track their narrator's heart opening up as they unexpectedly feel love.

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

...and the marching band rendition of the track I heard tonight.

Labelle's smash hit is so catchy because nearly every individual element is infectiously memorable on its own.

Alabama Shakes strike a beautiful balance between the deeply personal and the globally applicable in the narrative of their debut single.

Gabriel's vocal and instrumental arc work in lock step to form a marvelously complete, love-centered narrative.

It's a song I consider a sports anthem, and just a track that gets you in the mood for a thrashing.

Snail Mail's superb second record begins with a tone-setting build-up and bang.

Upon a close listen, the load-bearing in the chorus leads to a reconfiguring of the entire narrative and outlook of the tune.

...well, I'm writing about this song and band for the first time, but the theme of love and desire is nothing new for me or music at large.

Just as much as music has the ability to transport oneself to another place and time, it can also further ground you in your present surroun

Few songs haunt like Chris Isaak's signature hit and the unavoidable attraction it describes.

Perhaps my favorite 70s one-hit wonder has a great narrative build which really pays off in its latter half.

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

Why does it feel like so few songs even remotely touch on the theme of working through relationships?

Motown meets wall of sound meets breakup angst meets— wait, this song has an actual ending? Sick!