Join Jonathan as he goes head-to-head with the latest album from the behemoth of pop music herself, Taylor Swift. Which latent theme does Jonathan think critics and fans alike have overlooked? To whom does he think 'Eldest Daughter' is addressed? Why does he have such a problem with tracks 7 to 10? If you're after a review which tunes out the background noise surrounding Taylor Swift and hones in on the album's various accomplishments and shortcomings, this might be just the one for you! (Recorded October 2025.)
To celebrate one year of Song Smart officially launching the gang sit down and talk over the project so far, from the fantastic to the fumbled. Which early episodes were left on the cutting room floor? How did the podcast end up with its squawking seagull logo? What have the guys learnt about themselves through a year of listening back to their own musings? Grab a slice of cake and join us as we cover the past, present and future of this podcast, including announcing which member will be taking a step back for a while in the immediate future... (Recorded September 2025.)
Join Alex and Jonathan on a side quest through the fascinating world of music in video games. Which extra considerations need to be made for music in games compared to music in films? How do extreme sports games use music to enhance the atmospheres they are creating? What is it about retro video games' soundtracks that the guys speculate shields them from becoming annoying, even when they're simple and repetitive? Pick up the spare controller and join us for an episode decades in the making! (Recorded August 2025.)
Alex introduces the gang to not only his album of the year but one of his all-time favourite albums... ever! What does Alex mean when he says he finds silence in music heavy? How does Jonathan think the album's structure aids in developing and conveying its core themes? Which of the record's guitar parts does Dan find most fun? Join us and bask in the warmth of Alex's admiration for this somewhat icy, undead project. (Recorded July 2025.)
Stop us if you've heard this one before...! Joe leads the gang in a discussion centred around covers while Dan has his co-hosts guess which tracks he grew up not realising were cover versions. How does additional context enhance No Doubt's take on 'It's My Life'? Is it even worth an artist covering something as iconic as 'We Will Rock You'? Did Dan really think 'Since U Been Gone' was an A Day To Remember song? Listen along to some of our favourite covers (Song Smart Ep #24: Cover Versions - playlist by Song Smart | Spotify) and strap in for a rollercoaster ride through totally new territories as of yet untouched on this podcast! (Recorded May 2025.)
The (silver) tongues are out for another game night! Play along as Alex, Dan and Jonathan try to guess the correct endings to lyrics while also attempting to sell their own fake offerings as the real deal. Can Dan reclaim his crown as game episode champion? Will Alex's theory of the best option usually being the correct one take him to victory? Does Jonathan have too much faith in anaphora? Listen along and see just how difficult it can be to spot fact from fiction. (Recorded July 2025.)
Alex, Dan and Joe earn their 'biggest gigger' credentials by talking over the many-splendoured world of festivals, shows and tours. What does Dan love about folk gigs in particular? Which aspect of recently seeing Motionless In White live really impressed Alex? How important does Joe find show bill construction? From the methodologies of artists forging a connection with their audiences to the worrying monetary realities looming over music venues in 2025, settle in for an extensive investigation into the realm of all things live music. (Recorded May 2025.)
This time Alex leads the charge and introduces Dan, Joe and Jonathan to the synth-heavy, industrial world of Aesthetic Perfection in those all-important 10 tracks. Give Alex's picks a spin (Song Smart Ep #21: Aesthetic Perfection In 10 - playlist by Song Smart | Spotify) and contemplate with us whether industrial pop is inherently something of a paradox, the ways in which Aesthetic Perfection injects industrial sensibilities into non-industrial soundscapes and just how deep Dan's bag of unexpected points of reference goes. (Recorded April 2025.)
Join Alex, Dan and Jonathan as they light the candles and burn the incense for a soothing round of musical therapy - that is, a discussion all about the ways in which music and emotion interact. Is the main purpose of music to engender an emotional response? What exactly does 'emotional tourism' mean in a musical context? Which childhood memory does Jonathan still associate with 'Happy Birthday'? Settle down and get to know us a little better in (theoretically) our most zen episode to date. (Recorded May 2025.)
Alex, Dan and Jonathan ponder the occasionally apocalyptic undertones of Miley Cyrus's new album Something Beautiful. Why does Jonathan think there's tension beneath the album's hooky, fuzzy soundscape? Which track is Alex's clear, unexpected standout? What is it about 'End Of The World' which divides opinion within the group? Join us as we put another of this year's big name pop releases under the microscope! (Recorded June 2025.)
Alex and Joe pool their resources to assess the world of heavy music as it currently stands. Why does Alex think nu metal bands like Korn have enjoyed such a resurgence in the last year or so? What are Deafheaven doing which keeps Joe so excited and engaged as a listener? How does Joe measure whether an act is ready to headline a festival? From Sleep Token to Calva Louise and Spiritbox to Electric Callboy, join us for a dive into the thrashing waves of the heavy music space. (Recorded May 2025.)
As the weather heats up the guys let off some steam by sharing a few of their musical hot takes with each other. Who thinks sound design > rhythm > melody? Which modern modifications does Dan think classical music is overdue embracing? Why does Jonathan think success is the worst thing to happen to Adele? Join the gang for a good-natured exorcism of some very particular musical opinions! (Recorded April 2025.)
The gang tackle one of life (or at least this podcast)'s great mysteries: does genre really matter? How does Alex think genres are similar to Italian food? Could Dan fairly be accused of gatekeeping the emo playlist at his climbing gym? Is pop even a genre? Discover the answers on our journey through one of our most labyrinthine prompts yet! (Recorded February 2025.)
It's Dan's turn to take the plunge and introduce Alex, Joe and Jonathan to an artist whose discography he adores - this time Scottish star Hamish Hawk - in just 10 tracks. Listen along to Dan's picks (Song Smart Ep #15: Hamish Hawk In 10 - playlist by Song Smart | Spotify) and join us as we discuss how Hamish Hawk's lyrics serve as his own mission statement, the progression in style of his vocal delivery and why his recent output makes us so excited to hear more from him in the future. (Recorded March 2025.)
... you all saw this coming, right? In the wake of their 'Beginner's Guide' the gang come together again to discuss Lady Gaga's new album MAYHEM. How does the album's visual direction complement its core themes? Why does Jonathan love 'Vanish Into You' so much? Has anyone softened on their feelings towards 'Die With A Smile'? From the magic of Gesaffelstein's touch on 'Garden Of Eden' to the darkness of the self-referential lyrics in 'Perfect Celebrity', join us for a deep dive into one of the year's most exciting pop releases to date. (Recorded March 2025.)
Dan shares one of his favourite albums with fellow folk enthusiast Joe (who yes, already knows it) and Jonathan (who most certainly doesn't). How did Johnny Flynn's sound mark him out from his contemporaries on the nu-folk scene? What does Dan love so much about 'The Wrote & The Writ'? Has Jonathan uncovered a dark secret within the dense lyrics of 'Sally'? Roll around with us (like marbles on the floor) as we tackle this thought-provoking album head-on. (Recorded January 2025.)
The guys put their heads together to see if they can agree on any essential quality a theoretical perfect album must contain. To what extent should an album's length be tailored to its soundscape and energy level? Which factors do the gang feel anchor an album most coherently as a unit? Just how long is a piece of fish? Alas, not every question has an answer but that won't stop us from trying! (Recorded November 2024.)
The sweet smell of retribution is in the air as the gang play another round of 'Who Said That?', a game of musical truths and social deceptions. Was discovering new music better pre-streaming? Are debut albums held in too high esteem? Who is coming out of the closet as a covert Ed Sheeran defender? Press play and all will be revealed... but not necessarily forgiven! (Recorded September 2024.)
Joe and Jonathan have a cosy chat about everything pop, from what's dominated the space recently to their own tastes and preferences. Which shared quality draws Joe to both pop and metal? Do Taylor Swift and Charli xcx's latest releases have more in common than first meets the ear? What does Jonathan think the pop climate in 2025 might incline towards? (Recorded January 2025.)
The gang sit down to chew over the importance of lyrics in music. Can a lyric be separated from how it's delivered? Does 'woah' count as lyrical content? Are certain genres more lyrically idiosyncratic than others? Pick over this hefty topic with us and ask yourself the million dollar question: do lyrics really matter? (Recorded July 2024.)