Benjamin Kassel
"Here Comes the Rain Again" and a lesson on the second scale degree
Bear with me, because this is actually pretty cool in the context of this song.
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Benjamin Kassel
Dec 9, 20213 min read
Thanks to its synth pad, "Let Me Touch Your Fire" narratively leans into its title
A R I Z O N A sonically track their narrator's heart opening up as they unexpectedly feel love.
Benjamin Kassel
Dec 8, 20213 min read
"Maps," fragile yet simultaneously rocking
Through lead singer Karen O, Yeah Yeah Yeahs find a balance between soft, heartfelt vocals and a powerful alt rock instrumental.
Benjamin Kassel
Nov 30, 20215 min read
"Let Me Love You," a beautiful 21st-century ballad with a lot going on under its surface
Mario's signature song may seem simple at first, but closer inspection reveals several largely small, but impactful changes throughout.
Benjamin Kassel
Nov 25, 20214 min read
"In Your Eyes" reflects Peter Gabriel's deep understanding of his lyrics
Gabriel's vocal and instrumental arc work in lock step to form a marvelously complete, love-centered narrative.
Benjamin Kassel
Nov 20, 20213 min read
"Someone To You" and the effects of the simple desire to be loved
BANNERS displays the longing for a feeling he may not really know... but the way he does it is compelling.
Benjamin Kassel
Nov 14, 20213 min read
As the Temptations say, "Get Ready" for what lies ahead in the near future
In my excitement for this coming week, I hear this tune capturing my eagerness to go full speed ahead into these next few days.
Benjamin Kassel
Nov 12, 20215 min read
The 10-minute version of "All Too Well" is a pop magnum opus
10 minutes, 13 seconds. 111 lines of lyrics. It's a daunting feat to attempt, but Taylor Swift passed her own test with flying colors.
Benjamin Kassel
Nov 5, 20214 min read
"Valentine" excels as an album opener
Snail Mail's superb second record begins with a tone-setting build-up and bang.
Benjamin Kassel
Nov 4, 20214 min read
"Come and Get Your Love," a premier Native American success story in the music world
Redbone's indigenous background is also reflected through their simple, but profound lyrical message.
Benjamin Kassel
Oct 27, 20214 min read
"Love is the Drug," and I'm writing about it again...
...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.
Benjamin Kassel
Oct 26, 20214 min read
"Adorn" is classy 10s R&B at its best
Miguel's most successful song is a modern configuration of the genre, with an old-fashioned word at its core.
Benjamin Kassel
Oct 25, 20214 min read
"Kiss from a Rose" yields a momentary, yet troubling warmth
Much more than a movie ballad, Seal's signature song deals with a duality between love and addiction for its entire duration.
Benjamin Kassel
Oct 22, 20214 min read
The soft but captivating "Wicked Game" set the stage for the modern 'love song'
Few songs haunt like Chris Isaak's signature hit and the unavoidable attraction it describes.
Benjamin Kassel
Oct 16, 20214 min read
Behind the ultra-80s pop of "Love Is a Battlefield" is a powerful message on the reality of romance
Why does it feel like so few songs even remotely touch on the theme of working through relationships?
Benjamin Kassel
Sep 26, 20214 min read
"She's Not There" combines various influences into a stirring pop rock hit
The title of the Zombies' jumpstart single is an answer, but it, along with the rest of the song, only breeds more questions.
Benjamin Kassel
Sep 24, 20214 min read
My thoughts on one of my father's favorite songs, "I Think I Love You"
Happy birthday, Dad. Thanks for all your love, guidance, and CDs.
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 16, 20214 min read
"You've Got a Friend": Simple and heartfelt, as it should be
Sometimes it's best to say things as we feel them, because that's when they sound the most real and impactful.
Benjamin Kassel
Sep 10, 20216 min read
"Never Tear Us Apart" is a beautiful song on its own...
...but the INXS gem becomes even more special in the context of one Australian rules football team, who will hear it at home tonight.
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