🎙️ Songs That Don’t Suck Ep. 3 : AI vs. Authenticity, De La Soul Magic & Fuzzy Rock Revival

Welcome back to Songs That Don’t Suck, the podcast where music discovery meets zero algorithm fatigue. I’m your host, Mark, a drummer, lifelong music junkie, and curator of songs with actual soul.

🤖 AI in Music: Soul vs. Software

This week’s episode is more than just recs—it’s a deep dive into authenticity, sparked by a YouTube video from music guru Rick Beato featuring Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan. The TL;DR?

• 🎛️ AI tools + autotune = music losing its humanity
• 🧠 Beato & Corgan agree: art needs imperfection
• 🪩 The villain origin story? Cher’s “Believe” (yep, that 1998 vocoder smash)

“There is beauty in imperfection… and something’s lost when everything is polished to death.”
— Mark (and probably Billy Corgan)

So this week’s new music picks are filtered with that lens: Is it real? Is it human? Does it breathe? Let’s dive in.

🎧 This Week’s Top 5 Songs That Don’t Suck

1. Måneskin – “Gossip” (feat. Tom Morello)

🎸 Social media darlings Måneskin team up with Rage Against the Machine guitar wizard Tom Morello for a glam-punk stomper. It’s loud, cheeky, a little silly—and insanely groovy.

Standout Moment: Morello’s solo. Vintage chaos meets modern glam.

2. Dirty Honey – “Heartbreaker 2.0”

🎙️ Modern blues rock, served gritty. Mark’s been watching this band for years—and while this isn’t their strongest track, it’s still dripping with swagger. Think: The Black Crowes meet Led Zeppelin Jr.

🔥 Prediction: If they stay focused, Dirty Honey has real staying power.

3. De La Soul – “The Magic Number” (New Release)

🧠 Hip-hop nostalgia with lyrical sophistication. Yes, De La Soul sampled the 1970s Schoolhouse Rock track—and it slaps. It’s clever, groovy, and refreshingly real.

💡 Fun fact: Their back catalog is finally streaming!

4. The Answer – “Want You to Love Me”

🎸 70s fuzz + vintage warmth. Thick, crunchy guitars and powerhouse vocals from a band that’s huge in Europe, but largely unknown in the U.S. If you love classic rock with fresh energy, this one’s for you.

🎶 One of the most satisfying guitar tones you’ll hear all week.

5. Sun Room – “Cadillac”

🌊 California surf rock meets British skiffle and Iggy Pop punk energy. It’s retro, it’s modern, it’s impossible to categorize—and that’s exactly why it works.

🏄‍♂️ Vibe: If The Rolling Stones surfed, this would be on their boombox.

💡 Featured Inspiration: “The River” – Madeline Finn

As a nod to our Geography Top 5 theme, this week’s inspiration track on the full episode was “The River” by Madeline Finn. It’s haunting, powerful, and emotionally grounded in place.

🔗 Listen to “The River” here (Link added in show notes)

📝 Wrap-Up: Keep It Human

This week reminded us why music made by humans still matters. Whether it’s fuzzy guitar tones, clever lyrics, or off-kilter vocals—real music feels. And that’s what we’re here for.

Until next time…
🔁 Keep spinning, keep sharing, and keep listening to songs that don’t suck.