All Songs Considered

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

NPR | Hosted by Robin Hilton | Nov 11, 2025

Overview

In “The Contenders, Vol. 24,” Robin Hilton is joined by Ann Powers and Daoud Tyler-Amin to refresh NPR’s running list of the year’s best songs. This episode features passionate deep dives into new music from rising and established artists—including JADE, S.G. Goodman, Cleo Reed, Liquid Mike, and Ken Pomeroy. The hosts share personal stories, dissect lyrics and sounds, and reflect on big themes like nostalgia, artistry, and the ways music resonates in daily life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Falling for Benson Boone (00:12–03:20)

• Robin confesses his newfound appreciation for pop sensation Benson Boone.
  • Robin describes a moment with his son and how hearing Boone’s “Mystical, Magical” sparked his interest.
• Boone’s performance style and vocal mimicry: Ann notes Boone’s “uncanny vocal cosplay,” even likening him to Adele at times.
• Cultural perception: The hosts discuss whether Boone is the “new Freddie Mercury or Meatloaf.”
  • Notable quote:
    • “Jacob Ganz has made the case to me that Benson Boone’s public presentation is sort of pushing the idea that he’s the new Freddie Mercury, and if they would just admit that he’s actually new Meatloaf, then the whole thing would come together.” — Ann Powers (02:53)

2. Introducing Liquid Mike – “Double Dutch”

Segment: 04:03–08:54

• Daoud brings in Liquid Mike, a band from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
  • The track “Double Dutch” from Hell Is an Airport is highlighted, praised for massive, power-pop energy and tight songwriting.
• Parallels to indie favorites:
  • References to Oso Oso, Jeff Rosenstock, Superchunk, Pup, Joyce Manor, and Front Bottoms for context.
• Themes:
  • Small-town life challenges are reflected in both “Double Dutch” and its companion track, “Crop Circles.”
• Notable quote:
  • “Big cathartic guitar pop, those power pop chords. It’s awesome.” — Robin (07:58)

3. Cleo Reed – “Always the Horse, Never the Jockey”

Segment: 08:57–15:19

• Ann showcases Cleo Reed, a New York artist with a punk and arts background.
  • The song is from Reed’s concept album Country, which explores labor, artistry, and survival in America.
• Musical complexity:
  • The hosts compare the song to musical theater and praise its shifting structures and poetic lyrics.
• Notable quote:
  • “Every minute or so, it turns into a different song.” — Ann, on the song’s evolving nature (14:15)
  • “At the heart of every song... is just a fundamentally super tight, singable, poetic expression of what she’s trying to get at—which is, you know, how hard it is to survive, how much hustle we have to do.” — Ann Powers (14:59)

4. The “Old Songs Considered” Project

Segment: 16:43–18:23

• Robin promotes Ann and Daoud’s new biweekly deep-dive series on classic songs under the “All Songs Plus” label.
• Purpose: Exploring what makes certain songs persist through time and culture.
• Notable quote:
  • “It’s like, is this a song with staying power, or is it just a good song that we like?” — Daoud (17:27)

5. JADE – “Plastic Box”

Segment: 18:23–24:55

• Daoud introduces solo work by Jade, formerly of Little Mix.
  • "Plastic Box,” from That's Showbiz, Baby, is compared to Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own” but with a twist: it's about jealousy in a current relationship, not heartbreak after a breakup.
• Emotional rawness:
  • Lyrics explore the irrationality of wanting to erase a partner’s past.
  • Hosts reflect on the balance between relatable jealousy and borderline “serial killer” energy.
• Notable quotes:
  • "She is 100% upfront about being totally irrational with the thing that she is doing and also being like. But the feeling is there and the feeling is real." — Daoud (22:40)
  • "Can I have your heart in a plastic box? And it’s this thing that you just understand right away that not only is that impossible, but it’s creepy." — Daoud (23:49)

6. S.G. Goodman – “Snapping Turtle”

Segment: 25:04–34:51

• Ann turns to S.G. Goodman for a heavier, story-driven song from Teeth Marks called “Snapping Turtle.”
  • The song narrates a true childhood event, intertwining rural violence and adult themes of survival, nostalgia, and trauma.
• Exploring limits and humanity:
  • “Small towns, where my mind gets stuck” becomes a poignant, recurring refrain.
• Notable quotes:
  • “The thing that absolutely gets me about this song is the lyrical hook... which is the line, small towns where my mind gets stuck." — Ann (31:45)
  • "People just overly romanticize small town living... it’s not Mayberry. It’s got all the same problems... sometimes worse.” — Robin (33:22)
  • “I thought maybe you misspoke and you meant humanity, but no, you actually mean humidity." — Robin, on the “humidity” of the song’s atmosphere (34:47)

7. Ken Pomeroy – “Stranger” (Final Track)

Segment: 35:32–37:10

• Anne closes with her “favorite discovery of this year”—Ken Pomeroy, a Cherokee artist from Oklahoma.
  • The song “Stranger” from the album Cruel Joke is highlighted for its devastating, raw opening lines and a glimmer of hope in the lyric “Not once while driving did I think about dying. That’s new.”
• Notable quotes:
  • “The wind keeps on hitting me like my mother used to. Unlike her, I feel like it doesn’t want to.” — (Ken Pomeroy lyric, 36:11)
  • "Not once while driving did I think about dying. That's new. That's new.“ — Quoted by Robin and Ann as a moment of subtle hope (36:22)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [00:12–03:20] — Benson Boone discussion
• [04:03–08:54] — Liquid Mike – “Double Dutch”
• [08:57–15:19] — Cleo Reed – “Always the Horse, Never the Jockey”
• [16:43–18:23] — "Old Songs Considered” segment
• [18:23–24:55] — Jade – “Plastic Box”
• [25:04–34:51] — S.G. Goodman – “Snapping Turtle”
• [35:32–37:10] — Ken Pomeroy – “Stranger”

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Ann on Cleo Reed:
  • “Every minute or so, it turns into a different song.” (14:15)
• Robin on Small Towns:
  • "It’s not Mayberry. It’s got all the same problems... sometimes worse.” (33:22)
• Daoud on Jade:
  • "She is 100% upfront about being totally irrational... but the feeling is there and the feeling is real.” (22:40)
• Ann on Ken Pomeroy’s opening lyric:
  • “I don't think a lyric tops the first lines of this song... The wind keeps on hitting me like my mother used to. Unlike her, I feel it doesn't want to." (36:11)

Overall Tone and Takeaways

The episode is lively, passionate, and thoughtful, lacing artist analysis with personal anecdotes and social commentary. The song selections traverse genres and emotions—celebration, introspection, raw confession—delivering an engaging cross-section of 2025’s most resonant new music. The hosts’ chemistry and deep love for music discovery come through, making this a compelling listen for both veteran listeners and newcomers eager to find their next favorite song or artist.