🎙️ Songs That Don’t Suck: The Power of Music, Streaming Rants & 5 Killer New Tracks

Welcome back to another sonically rich ride through Songs That Don’t Suck with your ever-passionate host, Mark Bradbourne. This week’s episode is a buffet of bold opinions, deep thoughts on audio psychology, and, of course, a lineup of new tracks that absolutely do not suck.

🚫 Dear Streaming Services: Chill Out

Mark kicks off the episode with a relatable, fiery monologue about the absurdity of video streaming password crackdowns—especially for college kids who are still, y’know, your kids. Netflix, Disney+, Max, Hulu—he’s looking at you.

“She’s a dependent in this household… just because her IP is on a college campus doesn’t mean she’s pirating ‘Bluey,’ people!” 🔥

He also raises a scary thought: will music streaming services follow the same path? If Spotify starts acting like Netflix, we might all be back to burning CDs again.

🎬 Soundtrack Psychology: Music’s Grip on Your Emotions

Ever watched a horror movie on mute? Mark breaks down how music literally rewires your perception. Drawing from a University of Rome study, he explains how background scores affect empathy, attention, and even what viewers notice visually.

• 🎵 Melancholy music = +16% empathy
• ⚠️ Anxious music = -15% empathy and more eye movement
• 🎧 Ambient music = the neutral control

This is why soundtracks matter, folks. Try watching Texas Chainsaw Massacre on mute—you’ll just feel bad for Leatherface’s rough childhood.

🎶 This Week’s Songs That Don’t Suck

1. Glass Beams – “Orb”

🎧 Psychedelic | Middle Eastern Rock | Melbourne Mystique
A hypnotic instrumental jam with trancey basslines and sitar-flavored guitar licks. If Tame Impala joined forces with Ravi Shankar’s ghost, this might be the result.

🧠 Fun fact: The band wears ornamental face coverings and remains largely anonymous. Think Daft Punk meets desert mysticism.

2. The Wild Feathers – “Stereo”

🎸 Modern Eagles Vibes | Slide Guitar Heaven
Mark’s third pick from these criminally underrated rockers. With just 73k monthly listeners, this is your cue to hit play and brag later. It’s all harmonies, all hooks, and all heart.

🦅 Vibe check: If you miss The Eagles, you’ll feel right at home.

3. Feel – “Find a Love”

🎤 Classic Rock Energy | Anthemic Southern Vibes
A Jordy-approved pick from last week’s guest, Feel is like Dirty Honey’s kid brother with Greta Van Fleet’s amps. Straight-up guitar joy for rock purists.

🔥 Listen if you like: The Commoners, Dirty Honey, classic rock that punches with polish.

4. Palaye Royale – “Dark Side of the Silver Spoon”

👑 Glam-Punk Whimsy | Harpsichord WTF Moments
A glam-glittered wild ride with jellyfish vibes and a surprise nod to “All The Young Dudes.” With 1.5M listeners, these guys are no secret—but this track is a standout.

🎩 Mark says: “Whimsical fun that slaps.” And we agree.

5. Fish and a Birdcage – “Rule Number 36: Long Way From Home”

🎻 Baroque Pop | Indie Cirque-core
Mark fell hard for this one-man band with a 40-song catalog where every title starts with “Rule.” Think Cirque du Soleil scoring a Neutral Milk Hotel opera.

✨ For fans of: Postal Service, Moxy Früvous, the beautiful weirdness of musical theater meets indie rock.

🛑 Mark’s Final Word: Get Loud, Stay Weird

“There’s no such thing as a guilty pleasure. Just enjoy the stuff that you enjoy—and do it loudly.” 🎤

Like Mark jamming Chappell Roan on a Harley at Costco, embrace your musical contradictions. It’s 2025. Let your playlists be chaos and your speakers be loud.

📲 Stay Connected

Check out SongsThatDontSuck.net for full transcripts (and to laugh at the AI’s attempt at transcription), social media links, and artist recommendations. Don’t forget to rate and review the podcast—five stars if you’re feelin’ generous. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

📸 …and I quote…

❝ Just enjoy the stuff that you enjoy—and do it loudly. ❞
— Mark Bradbourne, Songs That Don’t Suck 🎧