Song Smart

Dan and Jonathan take the new album ranking system (first mentioned in episode 38) out for a spin, as promised! Did Shakira's 2024 offering ever grow on Jonathan? Why are Dan and Jonathan's rankings for Johnny Flynn's A Larum so far apart? Which album surprised both of them on a revisit with its quality? Join us for a blast through this project's past using a method which we hope will carry us on to the distant future. (Recorded October 2026.)

Silence in the exam hall, please! Dan is ready to settle down in the hot seat and tackle a fiendish music quiz of Jonathan's creation focussing largely on the pop music and stars of their childhoods. Did Lady Gaga really describe a Katy Perry song as "outdated, childish and unhelpful"? Were Sia and Seth MacFarlane responsible for writing Shakira's quirky bop 'She Wolf'? How many members of Destiny's Child were there in total? Keep an eye on the clock and be sure to read each question twice - when time's up will you be able to say you did better than Dan? (Recorded September 2026 - before the P!nk / Macklemore / Ed Sheeran situation.)

They say a picture paints a thousand words... Join Dan and Jonathan as they mull over whether or not the visual elements surrounding music ultimately offer anything of importance. Are music and film comparable mediums in terms of being hybrid audio-visual modes of expression? Which music video is so excellent Dan can't help but imagine it whenever he hears the song? To what extent do fashion and clothing choices impact an act's identity? From merch to artwork and videos to t-shirts, press play to embark upon an investigation into the role aesthetics play in the world of music. (Recorded August 2026.)

They greenlit the sequel! Dan and Jonathan return to share more of the songs they love most of all. What does Dan think 'Magnificent (She Says)''s opening line reveals about its hidden depths? How does 'Raspberry Beret' pull off happiness in a way Jonathan loves? Why does Dan credit Avenged Sevenfold with luring him down the path to prog metal? Join us for the full experience by listening along to our picks from this episode here: Song Smart Ep #39: The Best Songs... Ever? 2 - playlist by Song Smart | Spotify. (Recorded July 2026.)

Dan and Jonathan are ready for the world's latest spring clean, tackling your questions and tidying up a few matters relating to the podcast more generally. Just where is Joe? Is it meaningless to analyse an artist's vocal performance in a modern pop song? Do we (Joe included) really hate deathcore? How will our new system for reviewing albums work? Roll up your sleeves and grab a duster to join us as we put this house in order and address some of your most pressing inquiries! (Recorded July 2026.)

Serial yappers (and marathon listeners) Dan and Jonathan are back to ponder a question which they are arguably least naturally disposed to answer: how important is that all too fleeting first impression when it comes to music? Is it inherently a good thing for songs to be catchy? How significant in the long run were the first impressions Dan and Jonathan had of some of their favourite artists? Just what is demoitis? Join us as we cover as many bases as possible - including our recollections of our first impressions of each other! - in our attempt to leave a dent in this hydra-headed question. (Recorded June 2026.)

Are you going up or down? Join Dan and Jonathan as they squeeze in to review Hamish Hawk's lofty lift album from the inside! Why does Heavy Elevator hold a special place in Dan's affections? What structural secret does Jonathan think lies behind 'Vivian Comma' being the album's opener? Can either of the guys figure out why 'Heavy Elevator' is the project's title track? Hop in before the doors close to explore an album full of dense lyricism, creeping uncertainty and tantalising obscurity. (Recorded May 2026.)

Dan and Jonathan are back with an entirely new format, armed to the teeth with some of their favourite songs of all time! Listen along to the tracks (Song Smart Ep #35: The Best Songs... Ever? - playlist by Song Smart | Spotify) and discover: why does Jonathan consider 'The Roof (Back In Time)' to be one of the best songs ever written from a lyrical perspective? What is it about Anaïs Mitchell's delivery in 'Young Man In America' which Dan finds so successful on the storytelling front? Is 'Diary' the right track to finally help Jonathan convince Dan of Alicia Keys's excellence? Sidestep the cynicism and snobbery as we share some of the music we love most with each other and all of you. (Recorded March 2026.)

It's finally happening - ! Join Joe on an investigation into Dan's relatively recent (and still developing) love of jazz. How did Dan navigate the labyrinthine world of jazz when he was first starting to explore it in earnest? What impact did World War II have on the history of jazz? Why is it that the titans of jazz played with so many different bands over the years? Whether you don't know your bebop from your elbow or you're head of the Miles Davis fan club, strap in for a joyful journey of passion, discovery and massive hands. (Recorded February 2026.)

The guys are finally back together and ready to weigh up the assorted values and demerits of musical reviews. What extra information does Jonathan think Metacritic scores can reveal about an artist's career? Why does Dan not consider reaction videos to be a form of review? Are negative reviews ever worth perusing? Ease back into Song Smart with us as we try and decide whether or not reviews are worth the paper on which they used to be printed! (Recorded February 2026.)