Benjamin Kassel
"Intrasport" shouldn't work as well as it does, but I can't stop dancing to it
In complete King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard style, its weirdness only makes it better.
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Benjamin Kassel
Feb 9, 20223 min read
With its throwback sound, "Walkin' on the Sun" is far deeper than I realized
It's also just a plain good song from a band that, yes, isn't just a meme.
Benjamin Kassel
Feb 4, 20224 min read
Close to a decade on, "Caliban's Dream" continues to embody the Olympic spirit
As Beijing 2022 begins, I return to Underworld's musical setting for the 2012 cauldron lighting.
Benjamin Kassel
Feb 3, 20224 min read
"American Pie," a memorial to lost innocence as much as lost musicians
As Don McLean captured, "The Day the Music Died" was only the beginning of a period of sweeping cultural change in the United States.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 31, 20224 min read
"Spinning Wheel" is a most unusual jazz fusion track... and I love it
This song is out there, but it's a good kind of out there because of how Blood, Sweat & Tears mediate all its intricacies and oddities.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 29, 20223 min read
On the soul masterpiece that is "Midnight Train to Georgia"
Gladys Knight & the Pips' classic combines outstanding vocals with a compelling lyrical narrative that has a surprising twist in its chorus.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 28, 20223 min read
"I Want to Know What Love Is," a power ballad that's more than a cut above
Foreigner put lyrics first en route to creating one of the greatest love anthems in all of popular music.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 26, 20223 min read
"Black Hole Sun" was my gateway into grunge
Soundgarden's mainstream breakthrough served as a personal eye- (and ear-) opener, allowing me to appreciate a sound that defined the 90s.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 25, 20223 min read
With "Love on the Brain," Rihanna made doo-wop modern
Few pop songs have genuinely surprised me in a positive way on first listen more than today's selection did.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 24, 20223 min read
"Iko Iko," a thoroughly New Orleans record from a 60s girl group
The Dixie Cups' cover of a traditional song from their hometown stands out from the time's typical pop fare in nearly every way.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 23, 20223 min read
I'd been hoping for a Years & Years collaboration like "Sweet Talker," and it delivered
Olly Alexander finally making a true house track — alongside Galantis — was an excellent decision in the production of his first solo album.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 21, 20224 min read
"Bitter Sweet Symphony" is a Britpop hit unlike any other
Between its sampling dispute, its distinctive vocal elements, and its point of view, the Verve's enduring anthem leaves a unique impression.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 20, 20224 min read
Early 2000s pop punk meets late 2010s future bass in "Good Things Fall Apart"
In hindsight, these styles are perfect for each other — unlike the former relationship the song describes. Bravo, ILLENIUM and Jon Bellion.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 19, 20223 min read
"How Deep Is Your Love": a mature sound and discussion for the disco era
The Bee Gees delved into what happens after an initial romantic attraction in their most widely acclaimed number.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 18, 20223 min read
"Sweet Disposition" and the innocence of young love
The Temper Trap's indie anthem soundtracks a nostalgia-driven afternoon walk in the aftermath of classes restarting.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 17, 20224 min read
"Gospel for a New Century": organized anxious chaos
I got hooked on Yves Tumor's sound from this track alone and the complex internal war it captures.
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
Jan 14, 20223 min read
"Sultans of Swing" is pure pub rock with a story of a jazz experience
Dire Straits don't directly echo the music implied by their story, but they embody it just enough to tell a convincing and memorable tale.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 13, 20223 min read
"A Whiter Shade of Pale" is Baroque pop with plenty of additional intrigue
A J.S. Bach-inspired structure yields a unique and iconic recording.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 8, 20224 min read
"Crystalised" presents the inner monologues that persist in relationships
The xx's debut single explores the fragility of love through two partners' ever-present individual thoughts.
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