Benjamin Kassel
Diving into "21st Century Schizoid Man" in memory of Ian McDonald
As I've done twice before, I pay tribute to a recently deceased musician by looking back at one of their works.
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Benjamin Kassel
- Jan 18, 2022
- 4 min
"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
- Dec 26, 2021
- 3 min
Ever-danceable hit "Roll With It" bridges the 60s, 70s, and 80s
Steve Winwood struck a balance between older R&B and soul and his own era's pop rock on one of his biggest songs.
Benjamin Kassel
- Oct 27, 2021
- 4 min
"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 20, 2021
- 4 min
"Smoke from a Distant Fire," a polished, way-too-catchy master class in figurative lyrics
Perhaps my favorite 70s one-hit wonder has a great narrative build which really pays off in its latter half.
Benjamin Kassel
- Sep 10, 2021
- 6 min
"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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