All Songs Considered

The Contenders, Vol. 24: JADE, S.G. Goodman, Cleo Reed, more

November 11, 2025

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  • The hosts of "All Songs Considered" opened the episode by debating the surprising appeal and vocal talents of artist Benson Boone, noting his energetic stage presence and vocal comparisons to Adele and Freddie Mercury. 
  • The episode introduced new contenders for the year's best songs, starting with Liquid Mike's power pop track “Double Dutch,” which exhibits concision and influences from bands like Super Chunk and Jeff Rosenstock. 
  • Cleo Reed's track “Always the Horse, Never the Jockey (feat. IWEWE)” from the album ‘Country’ was highlighted for its theatrical structure and exploration of labor and survival, while S.G. Goodman's “Snapping Turtle” offered a brutal, personal narrative about small-town life and confrontation with cruelty. 

Segments

Benson Boone’s Appeal and Flips
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(00:00:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Benson Boone’s live performance includes leaping off his piano and flipping in the air, a move the hosts speculate about performing on the Tiny Desk.
  • Summary: One host admits to falling for Benson Boone after hearing his music, prompted by his son’s recognition of a song. The discussion centers on his physical stage antics, specifically his piano flips. The hosts also noted moments in his album where his vocals resemble an Adele impression.
Liquid Mike Power Pop Introduction
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(00:03:58)
  • Key Takeaway: Liquid Mike, hailing from Marquette, Michigan, gained profile through viral attention and their album ‘Hell Is An Airport’ features concise, high-gain power pop reminiscent of Oso Oso and Jeff Rosenstock.
  • Summary: The band Liquid Mike originated as the solo project of Mike Maple before solidifying as a group. Their album ‘Hell Is An Airport’ is notably short, under half an hour in total length. The track “Double Dutch” showcases blown-out pop rock with heavily gained lead lines.
Cleo Reed’s Eclectic Country
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(00:08:56)
  • Key Takeaway: Cleo Reed, formerly of the punk band Pretty Sick, released the album ‘Country’ which thematically addresses labor and productivity through a song structure described as theatrical and constantly shifting.
  • Summary: Cleo Reed has an eclectic background, having attended the Harlem School of the Arts and Berkeley. Her album ‘Country’ explores the hustle required for an artist to survive. The featured song, “Always the Horse, Never the Jockey (feat. IWEWE),” features a dramatic vibe shift a couple of minutes in.
Jade’s Intense Pop Maximalism
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(00:19:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Jade, formerly of Little Mix, delivers intense, maximalist pop on her album ‘That’s Showbiz Baby!’ with the song “Plastic Box” exploring obsessive jealousy over a partner’s past relationships.
  • Summary: Jade’s solo work is characterized by an over-the-top emotional delivery, similar to her earlier track “Angel of My Dreams.” The song “Plastic Box” is compared favorably to Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own” but twists the premise to focus on irrational jealousy. The lyrics explicitly request the partner’s heart be kept in a ‘clean, never used’ plastic box.
S.G. Goodman’s Brutal Story Song
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(00:25:46)
  • Key Takeaway: S.G. Goodman’s song “Snapping Turtle” recounts a true, difficult childhood incident where she defended a turtle from abusers, linking that confrontation with cruelty to the struggles of an adult friend.
  • Summary: The song “Snapping Turtle” is from Goodman’s extraordinary album ‘Planting by the Signs’ and details an event from her youth in Hickman, Kentucky. The lyrical hook, “Small towns where my mind gets stuck,” captures the lasting impact of severe small-town limitations. The music is described as expansive and almost psychedelic, contrasting with the plain-spoken lyrics.
Ken Pomeroy’s Sad Reflection
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(00:36:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Ken Pomeroy, a Native American Cherokee artist from Moore, Oklahoma, offers the deeply sad track “Stranger” from her no-skips album ‘Cruel Joke’.
  • Summary: The opening lines of “Stranger” compare the feeling of the wind to a mother’s touch, but unlike her, the wind does not want to. A single hopeful line in the song is, “Not once while driving did I think about dying.” The song suggests leaning into art about loss can be therapeutic against sinking into despair.
Podcast Promotion and Wrap-up
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(00:17:16)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts promoted their bi-weekly companion podcast, “All Songs Plus,” which features deep dives into single, older songs to investigate their staying power.
  • Summary: Listeners are encouraged to leave reviews on Apple Music or Spotify and send feedback to [email protected]. The new companion show, sometimes jokingly called “Old Songs Considered,” investigates songs that remain relevant over time. The first featured song on that show was Stevie Wonder’s “When I Fall in Love, It’ll Be Forever.”