29 - Pop Punk 101

32 - 2025 In Review

The Song Smart Awards are back! Join Dan, Joe and Jonathan as they shine a light on some of their top picks from 2025 in categories including 'Best Song', 'Best Album / EP' and 'The New Horizons Prize'. Whose song of the year connects them with their inner child? What gives the edge to Jonathan's pick for best album in a year with such stiff competition? Why is Joe generally wary of handing out 'The New Horizons Prize'? As 2026 looms large ahead of us, raise a toast and help us celebrate another year positively overflowing with excellent music! (Recorded December 2025.)

31 - JT vs. 2025

One man, 13 chart-toppers and no holds barred! Hang out with Jonathan as he sifts through the tracks which went to #1 in the UK this year and decides which of them - if any - are worth getting excited about. Why is he surprised that Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us' managed to top the singles chart? Which two established British pop traditions does he think Lola Young exists somewhere between? How can he defend describing Alex Warren's 'Ordinary' as "a load of old rubbish"? From predictions of continued success to somewhat politely phrased criticisms brace for impact as Jonathan discloses what he really thinks about some of this year's biggest hits. (Recorded November 2025.)

30 - Christmas Music

Dan earns his Santa's helper stripes by getting Scrooge and The Grinch - Joe and Jonathan - to share their feelings towards Christmas music and music at Christmas. How is it that all 3 of us consider 'Driving Home For Christmas' a classic? Who fondly remembers growing up attending carol concerts by the local primarily euphonium (citation needed) brass band? What was Dan's starring role in the Nativity at school? Listen along to some of our Christmas favourites (Song Smart Ep #30: Christmas Music - playlist by Song Smart | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3Duw2KpVBQM8sqMTTmgxkI]) and raise a glass with us to what many insist is indeed the most wonderful time of the year. (Recorded October 2025.)

29 - Pop Punk 101

Card-carrying pop punk lovers Alex and Dan relive the genre's golden era (by their own reckoning circa 1994 - 2009), from Green Day and blink-182 to Sum 41, Avril Lavigne and beyond! Which artists does Alex use as the benchmarks on his 'is it just pop? is it just punk?' spectrum? Why does Dan think the genre felt a little past its prime by the end of the noughties? What important discovery has Alex made recently about the Good Charlotte track 'Wondering'? Join us this time for a laid-back, laugh-filled journey down memory lane. (Recorded August 2025.)

28 - Taylor Swift's The Life Of A Showgirl (2025)

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.)