Song Smart

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...

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! (Re...

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 st...

... 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'...

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...

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 try...

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 202...

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 s...

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 losi...

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. (R...

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 Sep...

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...

Don appropriate footwear and join proud nerd-metal enthusiasts Dan and Joe down at Fernhill Farm for a fond look back at this year's ArcTanGent Festival. Why is ATG the best festival Dan has ever attended? Which drummer somehow managed to be "loose but tight"? How would a little schoolboy French have come in handy? The answers are but a click away... (Recorded September 2024.)

The gang are back to discuss the latest studio albums of Elbow ( AUDIO VERTIGO ) and Shakira ( Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran ). Which album is maybe the antithesis of Alex's personal taste? What caveat prevents Joe from fully enjoying 'Puntería'? How exactly does Evanescence's 'My Immortal' factor into the equation? Settle down with this (overly ambitious!) double review episode and find out. (Recorded...

Join Alex, Dan and Jonathan as they pick away at some of their own musical preconceptions and sore spots. Who can't abide a marimba at the climbing gym? What is a doughy album, exactly? Who does Jonathan find crushingly disappointing? Sit down for a whinge with us and all will come to light! (Recorded April 2024.)

Hi everyone, welcome to Song Smart! Join the gang for a light-hearted chat about themselves and this project. Who thinks recording a podcast is the same as enjoying junk food? When does Dan think Green Day lost their way? How are John Coffey and Beyoncé linked? Press play and all will be revealed... (Recorded March 2024.)