All Songs Considered

Why everyone is still talking about Geese

February 10, 2026

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  • The intense polarization surrounding Geese stems from their unconventional trajectory, lack of a clear scene origin, and the juxtaposition of vulnerable, beautiful lyrics with nonsensical or jarring moments. 
  • A major source of public contention regarding Geese centers on perceived inauthenticity, particularly concerning vocalist Cameron Winter's distinctive vocal style and the band's privileged, insular upbringing. 
  • Despite generating significant critical acclaim and polarizing discourse, Geese currently lacks mainstream commercial metrics like Grammy nominations or Billboard chart presence, suggesting their current buzz is largely concentrated within media and critical circles. 

Segments

Introducing Geese and Polarization
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(00:01:25)
  • Key Takeaway: Geese is characterized as one of the most talked-about and polarizing rock bands of the past six months, prompting the need for analysis.
  • Summary: The band Geese has recently released a Tiny Desk performance, fueling ongoing discussion about their polarizing nature. They are described as a Brooklyn rock band that has become one of the most talked-about acts in the last six months. The episode aims to make sense of the widespread fascination and division surrounding the group.
Guest Introduction and Background
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(00:02:26)
  • Key Takeaway: Yasi Salek, host of The Ringer’s Bandsplain podcast, is brought on as the ‘heavy artillery’ expert to analyze the band.
  • Summary: Yasi Salek joins the episode to help break down the Geese phenomenon. Salek hosts the Band Splain podcast, which often involves detailed, lengthy discussions about specific artists. Salek and host Ann Powers have previously collaborated on extensive deep dives, including a nearly seven-hour discussion on PJ Harvey.
Geese’s Trajectory and Origins
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(00:03:41)
  • Key Takeaway: Geese’s recent surge in buzz, following their late September album release, has proven sustained, partly fueled by a polarizing Saturday Night Live performance.
  • Summary: The band’s buzz began significantly blowing up around the release of their album in late September. The sustained interest is evidenced by ongoing arguments on platforms like Reddit, which were recently reignited by their Saturday Night Live appearance. The band’s trajectory is noted as being unusual because they developed in a very insular way, unlike scene-based bands.
Generational Shift and Context
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(00:06:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Geese represents a generational shift in rock music, developing in an insular ‘incubator’ rather than a traditional scene, similar to early Radiohead.
  • Summary: The band is seen as developing in an insular way, starting as teens, which contrasts with earlier New York music scenes like the ‘meet me in the bathroom era.’ This lack of scene context makes them difficult for some audiences to place, as listeners often demand a narrative of ’earning it’ in the music world. Their early signing from a SoundCloud presence mirrors precocious talent trajectories like Radiohead’s.
Album Evolution and Sound
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(00:09:24)
  • Key Takeaway: The 2023 album 3D Country was a ‘bonkers’ record, but the 2024 album Getting Killed marks a significant, ’toothier’ leap forward, showing a sharper, slower build.
  • Summary: Their first album, Projector (2021), was standard indie/art rock, sometimes reminiscent of Alt-J. 3D Country (2023) was described as a ‘bonkers record’ showing a young band figuring out its sound. Getting Killed is notably slower, more spacious, and features a sharper edge, with significant contributions from drummer Max Bass and guitarist Emily Green.
Youth Appeal and Complexity
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(00:14:02)
  • Key Takeaway: The band’s appeal to younger audiences is confounding because their complex, slow-building music seems counterintuitive to typical short-attention-span discovery methods like TikTok.
  • Summary: The host finds it baffling that young people latch onto Geese, as their songs often feature long intros, contrasting with the short attention spans observed in teenagers. However, one theory suggests younger listeners are hungry for a ’legible’ rock band, perhaps drawn to the distinct identities of the five members, similar to a pop group dynamic.
Paradox and Fluidity in Music
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(00:17:02)
  • Key Takeaway: The music’s attraction lies in its paradoxes—vulnerable yet staged vocals, and the exploration of fluid love and sexuality in a confusing world.
  • Summary: The music contains many paradoxes, including vocals that are simultaneously vulnerable and staged, inviting listeners to unravel its complexities. One theory suggests the music resonates with Gen Z due to its exploration of fluid gender and sexuality, particularly in Cameron Winter’s deep voice singing bereft love songs with unstable desire. This destabilized sexuality, alongside spirituality, is seen as a major attractive thread.
Authenticity and Vocal Complaints
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(00:24:35)
  • Key Takeaway: The primary complaints about Geese—including the vocalist’s singing ability—are rooted in audience discomfort with perceived inauthenticity and genre expectations.
  • Summary: The top complaint is that Cameron Winter ‘can’t sing,’ often compared to Jim Morrison or Fozzie Bear, but the hosts argue this is a stylistic choice aligning with non-conventionally ‘good’ rock voices like Lou Reed or Bill Callahan. The core issue driving complaints about the voice and lyrics is the audience’s struggle with authenticity and intent. The band’s background as ‘bohemian Nepo babies’ also fuels resentment, though the hosts argue they are talented and doing the work.
Influence Hunting and Overhype
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(00:35:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Critics often struggle to pinpoint Geese’s influences, but the band incorporates elements from a vast array of artists, from Bowie and The Pixies to dub reggae, reflecting their access to all recorded music.
  • Summary: The band is frequently accused of ripping off predecessors like Bowie, Animal Collective, and The Rolling Stones, though the hosts view this as natural absorption by highly talented young musicians with access to all music history. The intense hype surrounding Geese has created an ‘inverted FOMO,’ where those who dislike the band feel alienated by its widespread acceptance among peers and critics. The hyperbole that Geese is ‘saving rock’ is seen as unfair, as many other great rock bands currently exist.
Future Longevity Assessment
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(00:53:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Geese possesses the necessary talent and creativity to evolve and have a long shelf life, provided they maintain their inventive curiosity.
  • Summary: The ultimate question is whether Geese will last or be a flash in the pan, but their talent suggests longevity through continued evolution. Cameron Winter’s simultaneous success with his solo album places him at a crossroads, though evidence suggests the band remains strong as a unit. Their inventive nature means they are likely to keep reimagining their sound, ensuring continued interest.