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Songs That Don't Suck
Songs That Don't Suck
Author: Mark Bradbourne
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© Mark Bradbourne
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"Songs That Don't Suck" is a podcast hosted by an aging GenXer who scours through hundreds of newly released songs each week, seeking fresh artists and sounds to avoid replaying the hits of his youth. Covering all genres from folk to heavy metal, this dedicated music enthusiast navigates through the overwhelming daily deluge of 100,000 new songs, separating the gems from the noise. Tune in weekly to discover standout tracks as the host unearths the best of the best from the streaming platforms' vast and varied offerings.
164 Episodes
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~Episode 161~Dive into the reality of Spotify's Loud and Clear report, the "infinite shelf" myth, and 5 fresh tracks from Marc Valentine, Michael Stipe, and more that actually deserve your ears.Head to the Songs That Don’t Suck website to check out this week’s songs, join the Patreon (it’s Free), and more. Be sure and like, review, and subscribe to the podcast where ever you may be listening, and if you want, connect with Songs That Don’t Suck on social media including Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads.
~Episode 160~From a "totally f***ing acoustic" set with folk legend Ellis Paul to swampy crooner covers by Barns Courtney, Mark breaks down this week's top tracks and shares a "kismet" encounter with an old friend.Head to the Songs That Don’t Suck website to check out this week’s songs, join the Patreon (it’s Free), and more. Be sure and like, review, and subscribe to the podcast where ever you may be listening, and if you want, connect with Songs That Don’t Suck on social media including Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads.
Episode 159Dive into the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominations with host Mark and guest Seymour. They break down the fan vote math, the 17 nominees, who’s a lock (and who isn’t), plus why the Rock Hall keeps lighting the internet on fire every single year... oh, and after all that, there are 4 songs that do indeed not suck! Head to the Songs That Don’t Suck website to check out this week’s songs, join the Patreon (it’s Free), and more. Be sure and like, review, and subscribe to the podcast where ever you may be listening, and if you want, connect with Songs That Don’t Suck on social media including Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads.
Episode 158Is music still capable of being “unavoidable” in the streaming era? From Michael Jackson’s MTV dominance to Taylor Swift’s algorithm-powered empire, we explore how monoculture died and what replaced it. Plus, new music from Cardinals, Evermore, Highland Cinema, Alan Doyle, and The Sophs.Head to the Songs That Don’t Suck website to check out this week’s songs, join the Patreon (it’s Free), and more. Be sure and like, review, and subscribe to the podcast where ever you may be listening, and if you want, connect with Songs That Don’t Suck on social media including Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads.
Episode 157!Can a city engineer a music scene? This week on Songs That Don’t Suck, Mark dives into Huntsville’s music strategy, questions whether scenes can be optimized, and spotlights killer new tracks from Hollerado, Leith, Big Big Train, Crooked Fingers, and The Other End.Head to the Songs That Don’t Suck website to check out this week’s songs, join the Patreon (it’s Free), and more. Be sure and like, review, and subscribe to the podcast where ever you may be listening, and if you want, connect with Songs That Don’t Suck on social media including Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads.
Episode 156Rock isn’t dead it’s just exhausted. In this episode of Songs That Don’t Suck, Mark reflects on the brutal reality of band life, the slow fade of rock on the charts, and four killer new tracks that prove the genre still has a pulse.Head to the Songs That Don’t Suck website to check out this week’s songs, join the Patreon (it’s Free), and more. Be sure and like, review, and subscribe to the podcast where ever you may be listening, and if you want, connect with Songs That Don’t Suck on social media including Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads.
Episode 155From Dirty Dancing to Barbie, we break down why iconic movie soundtrack hits have disappeared—and spotlight 5 new indie songs that absolutely don’t suck. A deep dive into music, movies, culture, and discovery in the streaming age.Head to the Songs That Don’t Suck website to check out this week’s songs, join the Patreon (it’s Free), and more. Be sure and like, review, and subscribe to the podcast where ever you may be listening, and if you want, connect with Songs That Don’t Suck on social media including Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads.
Episode 154Why modern music sounds “perfect” (and why that’s boring). This week on Songs That Don’t Suck, we explore quantization, imperfect tempos, and five standout new songs from The Brook & The Bluff, The Claypool Lennon Delirium, The Band LIGHT, Lime Garden, and Silversun Pickups.Head to the Songs That Don’t Suck website to check out this week’s songs, join the Patreon (it’s Free), and more. Be sure and like, review, and subscribe to the podcast where ever you may be listening, and if you want, connect with Songs That Don’t Suck on social media including Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads.
Episode 153: Bandcamp takes a bold stand against AI music as Luminate’s 2025 data reveals streaming slowdowns, vinyl’s rise, and rock’s resurgence plus five killer new songs that definitely don’t suck.Head to the Songs That Don’t Suck website to check out this week’s songs, join the Patreon (it’s Free), and more. Be sure and like, review, and subscribe to the podcast where ever you may be listening, and if you want, connect with Songs That Don’t Suck on social media including Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads.
A fiery Songs That Don’t Suck episode takes on monoculture, streaming 2.0, and the myth of the music industry’s “golden age,” before spotlighting five standout new tracks from Ellur, Dark Sun, Telander, Puscifier, and The Steel Wheels.Head to the Songs That Don’t Suck website to check out this week’s songs, join the Patreon (it’s Free), and more. Be sure and like, review, and subscribe to the podcast where ever you may be listening, and if you want, connect with Songs That Don’t Suck on social media including Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads.
Episode 151 - Season 4 of Songs That Don’t Suck kicks off with host Mark resetting the mission, dunking on media “best of” lists, and spotlighting five killer new tracks—from Dicey Hollow to Tom Morello—that prove great new music is still out there if you know where to look.Head to the Songs That Don’t Suck website to check out this week’s songs, join the Patreon (it’s Free), and more. Be sure and like, review, and subscribe to the podcast where ever you may be listening, and if you want, connect with Songs That Don’t Suck on social media including Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads.
Celebrate the Songs That Don’t Suck Season 3 finale (Episode 150) with a look back at three years of music discovery, Spotify Wrapped insanity, big podcast growth, “concert church” highlights, and the 2025 Don’t Sucky Awards winners across seven gloriously chaotic categories.To check out this week’s songs on your platform of choice head to the website Songs That Don’t SuckConnect with Songs That Don’t Suck ~ Instagram | BlueSky
Dive into the holiday spirit as Mark revisits the legacy of A Very Special Christmas and spotlights this week’s four standout tracks from Snocaps, AVTT/PTTN, Van Buren, and The Lone Bellow. A nostalgic, music-packed episode perfect for indie fans and Christmas-playlist builders alike.
A power-pop-packed week on Songs That Don’t Suck! Mark breaks down Olivia Dean’s battle against scalpers, the live music ticketing crisis, and five retro-influenced tracks you need to hear right now. Discover Beatles-esque harmonies, indie grooves, and baroque-pop brilliance.To check out this week’s songs on your platform of choice head to the website Songs That Don’t SuckConnect with Songs That Don’t Suck ~ Instagram | BlueSky
Dive into this week’s episode of Songs That Don’t Suck as Mark contrasts the soul of human-made music with the rising tidal wave of AI-generated tracks. Plus: four incredible new indie, emo-leaning, and atmospheric songs from Juno Pearl, Spanish Love Songs, Searows, and The Rooks. To check out this week’s songs on your platform of choice head to the website Songs That Don’t SuckConnect with Songs That Don’t Suck ~ Instagram | BlueSky
Dive into this week’s episode of Songs That Don’t Suck, where host Mark Bradbourne geeks out over a new book that fuses music history with deep data—Uncharted Territory by Chris Dalla Riva. Plus, five must-hear new tracks from The Format, The Boondocks, Ugly UK, The Pale White, and Scarhaven. Data nerds and music lovers, this one’s for you.To check out this week’s songs on your platform of choice head to the website Songs That Don’t SuckConnect with Songs That Don’t Suck ~ Instagram | BlueSky
This week on Songs That Don’t Suck, Mark dives into the lost art of mixtapes, what made them magical, and contrasts them with today’s algorithm-driven playlists. Plus, four killer tracks from Robert Delong, Tors with Jade Bird, Black Orchid Empire, and Howl Owl Howl.To check out this week’s songs on your platform of choice head to the website Songs That Don’t SuckConnect with Songs That Don’t Suck ~ Instagram | BlueSky
On this episode of Songs That Don't Suck, Mark dives into the overuse of nostalgic songs in TV and film, asking when it’s clever versus just lazy. Plus, five killer new tracks you’ve probably never heard — and should.To check out this week’s songs on your platform of choice head to the website Songs That Don’t SuckConnect with Songs That Don’t Suck ~ Instagram | BlueSky
Mark dives into the latest episode of Songs That Don’t Suck, where we deliver a high‑voltage concert review featuring the funk‑rock powerhouse High Fade and the prog‑jam juggernaut Round Trip — plus four freshly released tracks you gotta hear.To check out this week’s songs on your platform of choice head to the website Songs That Don’t SuckConnect with Songs That Don’t Suck ~ Instagram | BlueSky
This week on Songs That Don’t Suck, host Mark shares an unreal experience: seeing Metallica perform live… at his company’s corporate conference. 🤯 Yes, you read that right. Plus, he unpacks a heavy week of live music and brings us five fresh tracks you need on your radar—from grunge revival to Americana gems.To check out this week’s songs on your platform of choice head to the website Songs That Don’t SuckConnect with Songs That Don’t Suck ~ Instagram | BlueSky




