🌀 Forgotten Bands, Found Sounds, and 5 Songs That Stick With You 🎧
🧠 The Nostalgia Spiral: Music You Forgot You Loved
Before diving into the latest picks, Mark hits rewind on a deeply personal story triggered by a doom-scroll and a Tesla concert clip. One moment, he’s on the couch—next, he’s transported back to 1986 by the sheer sonic power of a band he hadn’t thought about in decades.
💡 What Sparked It?
- 📹 A live Tesla video on social media
- 🧠 Ratatouille-style flashback to teen years
- 🎸 Fond memories of the Five Man Acoustical Jam album
❝ It hit like that Ratatouille moment—the taste that teleports you. That was me with Tesla. ❞
🎤 The First Show That Stuck Forever
Mark’s deeper revelation? A nearly-forgotten glam rock band called Big Bad, which he saw live in a pub in England as a teen—his first ever live music experience.
Why It Mattered:
- Double-bass drum kits 🥁
- Vivid visuals and emotional connection
- An obscure 3-song cassette bought after the show
- One track in particular: “Hey, She Don’t Dance”
And the kicker?
❝ I FOUND IT. On SoundCloud. 30+ years later. Full dopamine hit. Undefeated, Internet. ❞
🎧 5 Songs That Don’t Suck This Week
1. ✨ Seein’ Stars – Turnstile
Hardcore punks doing… The Police? This track is smooth, groovy, and totally unexpected. Like if Sting had a cool nephew who ditched ska for surf-pop.
🎧 For fans of: The Police, BadBadNotGood, genre-jumping bands
“I love when bands break their own mold. More of this.”
2. 🪩 How I Love – Bungalow Collect
Disco rap, and it works. Funky grooves + clean bars = irresistible. Mark discovered them on TikTok and was instantly hooked.
🎧 For fans of: De La Soul, Anderson .Paak, early Kanye vibes
“Try not to bob your head—I dare you.”
3. 🌿 Growing Everything Out – Noah Floersch
Warm, pop-folk with “divorce-core” lyrical wit. Layered harmonies by the artist himself give it that extra cozy texture.
🎧 For fans of: Ben Folds, Sufjan Stevens, Vance Joy
“Nobody harmonizes with you better than you. This proves it.”
4. 🎻 Grieving – Leith Ross
Folk with teeth. Airy vocals, earthy percussion, and lyrics that punch softly but land hard. Heartbreaking but uplifting.
🎧 For fans of: Phoebe Bridgers, Iron & Wine, Brandi Carlile
“Grief is love drawn backward. And this song moves.”
5. ✉️ With Love From A to Z – Counting Crows
New track from the Crows’ latest album Butter Miracle: The Complete Sweets. It’s raw, loose, and has that “live in the room” magic.
🎧 For fans of: Counting Crows (obviously), The Wallflowers, Tom Petty
“Just Counting Crows doing what they do best. And it’s great.”
📦 Bonus Reflection: What Else Have We Forgotten?
Mark leaves us with a powerful question:
❝ What other music have you forgotten that used to bring you joy? ❞
No answer yet—just an invitation to keep your ears (and heart) open.
🌐 Dig Deeper, Stay Weird
🖥️ SongsThatDontSuck.net
→ Stream all 5 tracks + find full episode archive
→ Read show notes, browse playlists
→ Submit music recs, join the newsletter
→ Merch that doesn’t suck (promise)
📱 Follow on Instagram and BlueSky
🚫 No Facebook, Threads, or TikTok echo chambers
🎨 …and I quote…
❝ Music you forgot you loved isn’t lost—it’s just waiting for a cue. ❞
— Mark Bradbourne 🎙️
