Benjamin Kassel
OneRepublic's original cut of "Apologize" remains a sentimental favorite
My 210th Senior Year Soundtrack selection is a staple of 2000s pop... sort of.
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Benjamin Kassel
Mar 20, 20224 min read
"Enjoy the Silence": fitting music for an ironic title
Depeche Mode's most successful song is an inner monologue, formed in a moment when the outside world is quiet.
Benjamin Kassel
Mar 16, 20224 min read
"B.O.B": misunderstood frantic goodness
Outkast's magnum opus has taken on quite an interesting life since its 2000 release.
Benjamin Kassel
Mar 4, 20223 min read
"Paradigm" is my kind of deep house
CamelPhat are leaders of the style now, and I saw it coming with this 2015 production.
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 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 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 12, 20225 min read
"Sacrifice" is both a dance floor-ready pop anthem and a narrative turning point
In The Weeknd's newest single, he revels in his old lifestyle one last time before his outlook on love shifts across the rest of the album.
Benjamin Kassel
Jan 2, 20223 min read
"Call On Me" — but not the one you're probably thinking of — is a call for perseverance
Between its beat and its lyrics, Ryan Riback's retouching of Starley's dance-pop number is one of my favorite productions from the late 10s.
Benjamin Kassel
Dec 27, 20214 min read
DubVision's remix of "Ocean" sonically captures an emotional reunion
In examining a complete revamping of a pop production, I think of how stylistic choices can change our perception of a melody and lyrics.
Benjamin Kassel
Dec 16, 20215 min read
"Never Forget You" captures the emotions of remembering past friends
The memories will always be there, and Zara Larsson and MNEK's presentation of working through them really resonates with me.
Benjamin Kassel
Dec 13, 20214 min read
"I'm Not Alone": a self-reckoning on self-destruction
Who knew that a house track could breed such philosophical discussion?
Benjamin Kassel
Nov 17, 20214 min read
"Tear It Down" and the art of crafting a true sonic narrative in dance music
The Aston Shuffle expertly execute a slow, but sure build, capping it off with the most satisfying release in the final break.
Benjamin Kassel
Oct 29, 20214 min read
Bob Sinclar and Steve Edwards say, "World, Hold On"... but how do we do that?
And to what exactly are we supposed to hold on? Well, the answer is... a lot of things.
Benjamin Kassel
Oct 11, 20214 min read
"Hard to Beat" lives up to its name
It's a shame most Americans don't know this dance-inducing indie/garage gem.
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