🎙️ Songs That Don’t Suck – Episode 2: Real Instruments, New Anthems & Country Gems
Welcome back, music nerds and sonic explorers! 🎧
In Episode 2 of Songs That Don’t Suck, host Mark is back with fresh tracks, real talk on music preferences, and another killer playlist of songs that don’t suck.
🎯 What’s This Podcast About?
This show is a space for music discovery—curated with intention, a little sarcasm, and a deep love for artistry. If you’re tired of algorithm sludge and pop-chart clones, you’re in the right place.
📅 Monthly Feature: Top 5 Listener Playlists
After a 9-hour flood of joyful submissions in Episode 1, we’re slowing things down a bit. From now on, listener Top 5s will be featured in the first episode of every month.
🎯 Current Challenge:
Top 5 Songs About Places 🌎
Cities, countries, streets, highways—if it’s a geographic location, it counts.
🚫 Bonus points if you don’t include “I’ve Been Everywhere, Man.”
🧠 Mark’s Musical Preferences: The Sonic Rules
As a drummer and longtime music lover, Mark’s taste leans toward:
- 🥁 Real drums (please, no endless 4-bar loops)
- 🎸 Actual musicianship over programmed shortcuts
- ✍️ Thoughtful lyrics (no more “June / Moon / Spoon” crimes!)
- 🎤 Authentic vocals — autotune overload is a hard pass
- 🎼 Composition and variation — give us a bridge, a key change, something alive
Bottom line? If it sounds like it was made in GarageBand in 20 minutes, it’s probably not making the cut.
🔥 7 New Songs You Need to Hear (According to Mark)
Here’s this week’s carefully curated lineup—straight from Spotify’s best new releases:
1. Smashing Pumpkins – “Beyond the Vale”
🎸 Veteran alt-rock done right. Instead of chasing old glories, Billy Corgan sounds fresh, modern, and more focused than ever. This isn’t your dad’s grunge (but he’ll still dig it).
2. BRKN LOVE – “Spell”
🎧 Hooks for days, strong vocals, and an A+ bridge. Classic hard rock structure meets modern execution. Also: it’s “BRKN,” not “broken.” Because vowels are optional in 2025.
3. DMA’S – “Olympia”
🚗 Britpop-adjacent vibes with a road trip-worthy feel. Think Travis meets early Oasis. Melodic, nostalgic, and made for driving with the windows down.
4. Viper Club – “Retweet”
🌀 Funky groove + unconventional vocals = sleeper hit. Spoken-word-ish verses give way to a chunky chorus. It grew on Mark—and it might grow on you too.
5. Phoebe Bridgers – “So Much Wine”
🌾 Pure Americana. Stand-up bass, mandolin, fiddle—the works. Bridgers blends timeless country textures with heartfelt storytelling. A welcome pivot from cliché-laden modern country.
6. The Wombats – “Dressed to Kill”
🕺 Quick hit of modern new wave. Catchy as hell, with a lyric that’s stuck in our heads: “I’m dressed to kill and no man can resist.” Think: 80s flair meets 2020s swagger.
7. Elle King – “Tulsa” (Featured Track of the Week)
🔥 Elle is back with a vengeance—and a slide guitar. “Tulsa” gives serious outlaw country energy, channeling Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings with modern polish. It’s witty, fierce, and probably destined to blow up.
🎧 Listen to the full playlist on Spotify: Songs That Don’t Suck – Episode 2
💬 Final Thoughts
✅ Subscribe + Share: Your reviews and referrals keep the good music flowing.
Until next time, keep your playlists fresh and your lyrics clever. ✌️
