Songs That Don't Suck

"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.

Episode 149: When Christmas Music Got Cool: Nostalgia, New Tracks, and Year-End Vibes

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.

12-08
20:45

Episode 148: Power Pop, Ticketing Chaos, and Olivia Dean’s Stand Against Scalpers

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

12-01
17:14

Episode 147: Symphonies, Silicon Ghosts & Songs That Don’t Suck

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

11-24
20:52

Episode 146: Uncharted Territory and 5 Songs That Don’t Suck

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

11-17
22:39

Episode 145: Mixtapes, Not Algorithms: Sequencing Songs That Don’t Suck

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

11-10
20:18

Episode 144: Stop Reusing That Song! Nostalgia Overload in TV & Film + 5 Tracks That Actually Feel Fresh

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

11-03
21:29

Episode 143: High Fade Live & Fresh Tracks to Wrap the Month

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

10-27
18:38

Episode 142: When Metallica Headlines Your Work Conference + 5 Songs That Don’t Suck

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

10-20
19:30

Episode 141: Concert Crisis & Songs That Don’t Suck: Why Indie Venues Are Flatlining While Feeding the Economy

America’s indie venues are powering local economies—and still going broke. This episode of Songs That Don’t Suck breaks down why your favorite small venue is barely hanging on, plus fresh tracks from Spanish Love Songs, Blonde Rose, Joel Tyler King, AIRFLO, and Shua.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

10-13
21:44

Episode 140: Live Vibes from the Bridge City Sinners + Fresh Tracks You Need to Hear

Join host Mark on this week’s episode of Songs That Don’t Suck — from a rollicking Bridge City Sinners concert review to deep dives on fresh tracks by Megadeth, The Utopiates, Twin City, The Clause, and Scarhaven. 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#MusicDiscovery #NewMusic #IndieMusic #MusicPodcast #GenX #NowPlaying #MusicLovers #MusicIsLife #ListenNow #TuneIn #SupportIndieArtists #DiscoverNewMusic

10-06
19:21

Episode 139: Spotify’s AI Crackdown & Concert Ticket Outrage + 4 New Tracks You’ll Love

On this week’s Songs That Don’t Suck, Mark rants on Spotify’s AI crackdown, Live Nation’s price gouging, and serves four new tracks you need to hear — from Wednesday to Tom CorscaddenTo 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

09-29
16:11

Episode 138: The Lost Art of Listening: Alone with the Music

This week on Songs That Don't Suck, Mark reflects on the lost art of truly listening to music—alone, undistracted, and emotionally immersed. Plus, he dives into five killer new tracks you need to hear now from Roxferry, RAGEFLOWER, YungBlood + Aerosmith and More!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

09-22
23:39

Episode 137: Planning Final Playlists: Death, Grief & Songs That Don’t Suck

In this powerful episode of Songs That Don’t Suck, host Mark Bradbourne opens up about pre-planning his parents' funerals and the deeply personal role music plays in saying goodbye. Plus, he dives into killer new tracks from KT Tunstall, Stella and the Very Messed, Brian Dunne, and Hayden Everett.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

09-15
22:35

Episode 136: Nostalgia Strikes Back: The Cassette Revival and 5 Songs You Need to Hear

Explore the surprising comeback of cassette tapes, the enduring power of physical media, and discover five fresh tracks from artists like Glitterfox, Will Hoge, and Big Thief in this week's episode of Songs That Don't Suck.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

09-08
22:17

Episode 135: Nine Inch Nails in Cleveland + 5 New Tracks You Need Now!

Dive into Mark's electric concert recap of Nine Inch Nails’ Peel it Back Tour in Cleveland, plus five new songs from Maya Lakhani, Sydney Shea, The Mukherjee Development, Giobia, and Cinema Stereo. Discover music that doesn’t suck!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

09-01
25:28

Episode 134: Fake Folk, Real Rage & Songs That Actually Rock

This week on Songs That Don’t Suck, Mark dives into the eerie rise of AI-generated music faking indie and folk artists—including full albums appearing under real artist names on Spotify. Plus, killer new tracks from The Bogards, The Publics, Scarhaven, and Nuns of the Tundra. Tune in for truth, riffs, and resistance.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

08-25
18:07

Episode 133: The 18%: Why Super Fans Are Keeping Music Alive (and Festivals Are Failing)

In this episode of Songs That Don't Suck, Mark Bradbourne dives into Luminate’s 2024 mid-year report, unpacks the decline of music festivals, champions physical media, and shares five fresh tracks from Goose, The Royston Club, The Trusted, Grace Potter, and Spinal Tap (ft. Elton John). Are you part of the 18%? Let’s find out.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

08-18
20:35

Episode 132: The Struts & Dirty Honey Live in Cleveland + 4 Must-Hear Indie Rock Tracks

Live music lovers, rejoice 🎸 — full review of The Struts & Dirty Honey at House of Blues Cleveland + 4 new indie rock tracks you need in your playlist.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

08-11
18:21

Episode 130: Ship of Theseus Meets Rock Bands — When Is a Band Still the Band?

Explore the Ship of Theseus paradox in rock bands: who’s the real band when no originals remain? Plus, discover six standout new tracks in this week’s episode of Songs That Don’t Suck. Includes Leona Rue, Jayler, Dinosaur Pile‑Up, The Thing, Oston, and Laura Jane Grace.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

07-28
23:48

Episode 129 - MTV Was Our Algorithm: Singer-Songwriter Gems & a Farewell to Music Television

This episode of Songs That Don't Suck dives deep into the cultural power of MTV as the original social media, before spotlighting five powerful new singer-songwriter tracks. From synth-soaked nostalgia to protest folk-rock, it’s a playlist you won’t want to miss.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

07-21
18:57

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