🎙️ Songs That Don’t Suck: Nostalgia, Numbness, and New Anthems Worth Your Time

Welcome back to Songs That Don’t Suck, where your host Mark Bradbourne serves up new tracks that rise above the digital noise. But this week, the music is wrapped in reflection. What happened to the world where we used to leave the house for entertainment? Why are local shows empty while our screens overflow with content?

Mark starts this week’s episode with a full-on ‘90s lament—and if you’ve ever flipped through Cleveland Scenemagazine or waited until 5 PM to use your cell phone minutes, this one’s gonna hit you right in the nostalgia gland.

📼 The ‘90s Were Loud, Live, and Full of Discovery

Mark recounts a recent experience attending a show at Cleveland’s historic Masonic Temple. It was everything a local show shouldn’t be: a sparse crowd made mostly of the other bands, a cavernous room echoing missed connections, and a vibe that screamed digital fatigue.

“It’s meant to be shared. You want someone else to hear it and appreciate it.”

The problem? Everything is too accessible now. With the entirety of music history, film, books, and doomscrolling at our fingertips, we no longer need to go out. But in that convenience, something precious is being lost: connection.

And yeah, Mark’s aware of the irony—he’s delivering this truth bomb via a podcast you can stream anytime. But maybe acknowledging the contradiction is part of the solution.

🎶 This Week’s Songs That Absolutely Don’t Suck

Despite the melancholic mood, Mark still manages to find four standout tracks to brighten the algorithmic haze. And yes—there’s some Queen-level drama, Ice-T’s metal resurgence, and even indie pop perfection.

1. Spencer Sutherland – “Drama”

👑 Glam Rock | Queen Influence | Modern TheatricsDiscovered via TikTok, this one screams ‘70s Freddie Mercury camp but with modern swagger. Spencer brings a growlier vocal edge and loads of harmony layers. If you love Queen, Jellyfish, or anything glitter-dipped and dramatic, this will make your eyeliner run (in a good way).

🎧 Mark says: “Like Greta Van Fleet is to Zeppelin, but better.”

2. Body Count (feat. David Gilmour) – “Comfortably Numb”

🔥 Gangsta Metal Cover | Pink Floyd Reimagined | Grit & GeniusYes, that Body Count—Ice-T’s metal project—teams up with David Gilmour in a cover that’s barely a cover. Rap verses over Floyd’s iconic chord structure, a reimagined chorus, and of course, Gilmour’s unmistakable guitar magic.

🎧 Frisson factor: The fusion of grit, politics, and that classic “Hello… is there anybody out there?”

3. Chime School – “The End”

☀️ Indie Pop | Beatlesque Melodies | Smart HooksDon’t worry—it’s not that “The End.” Chime School delivers jangly indie pop reminiscent of James with hints of early Beatles charm. The album, The Boy Who Ran the Paisley Hotel, is full of feel-good earworms and vintage tones.

🎧 Mark’s take: “Ringo-style drums, tension-building melodies—this is just catchy goodness.”

4. BRKN LOVE – “2020 Vision”

🎸 Alt Rock | Heavy Basslines | Muse EnergyLast heard back in episode 2 with “Spell,” BRKN LOVE returns with a track that blends Muse’s fuzzy basslines and big hooks with polished rock production. This one hits hard—and yes, they’ve released a ton more since that first feature.

🎧 Verdict: Still killer. Still catchy. Still worthy.

💬 Final Thoughts: We’re the Problem, But Also the Solution

“I create a podcast you can stream whenever you want. I’m part of the problem. But I’m looking for a solution—or at least a balance.”

Mark invites us to be intentional. Go to a local show. Share music in real life. Be the audience that makes the band’s night. Or at least… don’t just wait for the next TikTok sound to hit your feed.

📸 …and I quote…

❝ I would give all of it up tomorrow to see human connection return to our species. ❞

— Mark Bradbourne, Songs That Don’t Suck 📼