Song Smart

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.)

Ahead of the release of Lady Gaga's 7th (pop) studio album in March, Jonathan brings Alex, Dan and Joe up to speed on her remarkable career to date. Who thinks The Fame is an impressively astute debut album? What might the 'Applause' music video have to do with Shakespeare's The Tempest? Which pop trope is Joanne potentially subverting? Listen along to some of our favourite Gaga songs (Song Smart Ep #08: A Beginner's Guide To Lady Gaga - playlist by Song Smart | Spotify) and muse over the discography of Mother Monster along with us. (Recorded December 2024.)

Joe rises to the gargantuan task of introducing Alex, Dan and Jonathan to one of his all-time favourite bands - Baroness - in just 10 tracks. Listen along to Joe's introductory playlist (Song Smart Ep #07: Baroness In 10 - playlist by Song Smart | Spotify) and ponder along with us what makes Baroness's guitar work so distinctive, how they've experimented with and evolved their sound without losing their identity and whether or not they could ever be accused of recording a power ballad. (Recorded May 2024.)

Put on your glad rags and help the guys wave 2024 off in style by attending the first ever Song Smart Awards! In a year jam-packed with excellent music who will take home prestigious titles including 'Best Song', 'Best Gig' and 'The New Horizons Prize'? From Maruja and Hamish Hawk to FEVER 333 and Halsey, prepare for a smorgasbord of stuff worth celebrating from 4 very different musical worlds. (Recorded December 2024.)

Get your Miss Marple on and prepare to point fingers with the gang as they play a game of 'Who Said That?', wherein bold statements must be correctly tied to the person who submitted them. Who thinks funk is the vegan meat of music? How can the claim 'rock is dead' be defended? What does Jonathan think of folk music? Brace yourself and trust no one for our most deceptive episode yet! (Recorded September 2024.)

Join Alex, Dan and Jonathan for something between a pontificating probe and a scrying session into AI's place in the world of music. Where do the guys think AI will make a big impact in the near future? What do they think AI will struggle to replicate? Do they think gatekeeping will shut AI out of the creative process? Plug in, press play and ponder over a mere handful of the possibilities with us. (Recorded June 2024.)