The Science of Earworms & Hidden Gems From the Vault

Welcome back to Songs That Don’t Suck! I’m your host, Mark. Usually, I’m sifting through hundreds of new drops to find you the absolute essentials, but this week we are doing something a little different.

The music selection lately has been a bit suboptimal, but more importantly, I’ve been plagued by a series of wicked, unexpected earworms. If my brain is forced to loop these tracks, I figured it was only fair to share the “infection” with my fellow 18 percenters

🧠 The Psychology of the “Brain Worm”

Technically known as Involuntary Musical Imagery, earworms affect about 90% of the population. It’s that catchy, repetitive fragment of a song that stays with you for hours

Here are a few quick facts about why your brain won’t hit “stop”:

• The Triggers: They are often sparked by memories or hearing words that match specific lyrics.
• The Gender Gap: While men and women experience them equally, research suggests they last longer and are more irritating for women.
• The Anatomy of a Hit: According to a 2016 study, earworms usually have fast tempos, easy-to-remember melodies, and unusual intervals. Think Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance or Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
• The “Cure”: Science suggests engaging your working memory with puzzles (Sudoku or anagrams), chewing gum, or listening to the entire song to satisfy the brain’s need for a climax.+2

💿 From the Vault: This Week’s Earworms

If you’re ready to risk a musical loop, here are the five tracks currently dominating my headspace:

1. Peter Mulvey – “29 Cent Head”

This one came back to me after Peter actually followed the podcast on Threads! We bonded over a shared love for “imperfect” music—leaving in the studio artifacts so we know it’s not AI-generated. Peter has a massive catalog dating back to 1993, and his intricate guitar picking is truly world-class

• The Vibe: Prolific singer-songwriter brilliance with fascinating harmonic work

2. Jump Little Children – “Rains in Asia”

Served up by an AI DJ, this track from their 2004 album Between the Dim and the Dark is a total addiction. They were an incredible live band with diverse songwriting that, for some reason, never reached the mainstream heights they deserved.

• The Vibe: Musically interesting and deeply nostalgic indie rock

3. Billy Vera and the Beaters – “At This Moment”

If you’re a Gen Xer, this song likely triggers an immediate vision of Michael J. Fox as Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties. It is true storytelling magic

• The Tip: Seek out the live version—it hits much harder than the studio recording

4. World Leader Pretend – “Punches”

This New Orleans-based band popped back into my head after I ran into a friend at an Ellis Paul show. My old band, Emmett, actually opened for these guys when they were touring their major label debut. They broke up due to artistic differences shortly after, but this title track remains fantastic

5. Lynch Mob – “Wicked Sensation”

A total 80s/90s throwback triggered by seeing Ricky Rackman (of Headbangers Ball fame) on social media. This was guitarist George Lynch’s project after Dokken

• The Vibe: Deep hair metal/glam roots with a riff that will burn in your soul like a flame

Hopefully, my earworms find a happy home in your playlist (or at least pass quickly!). Until next time, keep supporting these artists and keep searching for songs that don’t suck