Benjamin Kassel
"Where is the Love": seventies soul done right
Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway's duo is my favorite of the multiple songs with this title.
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Benjamin Kassel
- Mar 22, 2022
- 3 min
OneRepublic's original cut of "Apologize" remains a sentimental favorite
My 210th Senior Year Soundtrack selection is a staple of 2000s pop... sort of.
Benjamin Kassel
- Mar 14, 2022
- 3 min
I needed the calmness of "Black Water" tonight
I'm stressed as [CENSORED]. This Doobie Brothers gem helped mitigate that a bit.
Benjamin Kassel
- Mar 1, 2022
- 3 min
"Could It Be Magic": From Chopin to Manilow — with a slight detour
This site is dedicated to discussion of popular music, but explaining today's choice necessitates a flashback to the Romantic era.
Benjamin Kassel
- Feb 22, 2022
- 3 min
"Ain't No Sunshine" is a clinic in musical succinctness
125 seconds. 26 "I know"s. Four chords. One perfectly short piece of art.
Benjamin Kassel
- Feb 1, 2022
- 3 min
I felt down, but "KEEP IT UP" helped me be a bit more positive
Rex Orange County's new release is a simple indie pop slice that speaks to the drive one gets from valuing themself and their endeavors.
Benjamin Kassel
- Jan 24, 2022
- 3 min
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 22, 2022
- 4 min
"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 1, 2022
- 4 min
I ring in 2022 with "Comfortably Numb," of all songs
Why? It just kind of happened once, and I've kept it up since... but I try to read into it anyway.
Benjamin Kassel
- Dec 31, 2021
- 4 min
"Don't Look Back In Anger" is my New Year's Eve anthem
Move over, "Imagine" — Oasis provide the perfect soundtrack to changing calendars.
Benjamin Kassel
- Dec 23, 2021
- 3 min
Joni Mitchell's re-recording of "Both Sides, Now" fully captures its lyrical essence
I'm far too young to truly appreciate the meaning this song carries, but I'll take a stab at discussing it anyway.
Benjamin Kassel
- Dec 18, 2021
- 5 min
"Life on Mars?": or, when Bowie outdid Frankie
I celebrate and tell the story of my very favorite track from the Starman on the golden anniversary of its initial release.
Benjamin Kassel
- Dec 13, 2021
- 3 min
"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.
Benjamin Kassel
- Dec 12, 2021
- 4 min
Tommy Roe's key changes make me "Dizzy"
...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.
Benjamin Kassel
- Dec 1, 2021
- 5 min
"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 23, 2021
- 4 min
From Adele to her son and within herself, "My Little Love" presents a grappling with divorce
A standout from her new record, the string-guided track breaks new ground for Adele in just how personal she allows her narrative to be.
Benjamin Kassel
- Nov 20, 2021
- 3 min
"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, 2021
- 3 min
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
- Oct 25, 2021
- 4 min
"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 21, 2021
- 4 min
"People, I've been sad" perfectly captures how the world has been as of late...
Last year, Christine and the Queens delivered a song which became increasingly poignant in the months following its release.
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