🎶 Songs That Don’t Suck, Ep. 1 : New Year Vibes, Happy Songs & a Johnnyswim Bromance
👋 Who’s Behind the Mic?
Hey, I’m Mark—aging Gen Xer, husband, and dad to two teenage daughters. I’m on a mission to help folks discover music that doesn’t suck. If you haven’t already, check out Episode 0 for the full backstory.
🔄 Weekly Breakdown
Every week, I:
- Dive into Spotify’s top curated playlists (like New Music Friday, All New Rock, Fresh Finds)
- Preview tracks for 30–60 seconds
- Flag anything that grabs me for deeper listening
- Share the best 5 picks on the podcast + Spotify playlist
🎧 This Week’s Top 5 New Music Picks
1. “First of the Year” – Cuoco
🌀 Floydian vibes incoming! This track channels Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall with dreamy production and headphone-worthy effects. Think: lights off, headphones on, just vibe.
2. “Jim Carrey” – Billy Raphael
🎭 Thought it was Jim Carrey? Same. But Billy Raphael delivers with raspy vocals that hint at a young Tom Waits. Acoustic-driven, chill, and poetic—this one’s made for coffee shop playlists.
3. “Wish Me Luck” – Wallows
🎸 90s alt-rock nostalgia hits hard here. Think Smashing Pumpkins—but with better vocals (sorry Billy Corgan). Layered vocals and fuzzy guitar tones seal the deal.
4. “Blink” – The Moss
🤔 Not sure what it reminds us of—but it hooks fast. Great rhythmic shifts, space for build-up, and a vocal cadence that stands out. Help us out: what’s the influence you hear?
5. “Applause” – Lili
🔥 Track of the Week! If you saw Miley Cyrus & Dolly Parton’s NYE special, you saw Lili tear it up live. Guitar tones reminiscent of Nine Inch Nails and a killer bridge section. Massive energy.
🥳 Top 5 Happy Songs: Community Picks
After Episode 0 dropped, we asked listeners to submit the songs that make them happy. You delivered—a nearly 9-hour playlist of smiles.
🎧 Most-Submitted Songs:
- “Cut to the Feeling” – Carly Rae Jepsen
- “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” – Tears for Fears
📈 Most-Mentioned Artists:
- Queen
- The Happy Fits
- The B-52s
- Soldier Story (underground gold!)
💬 Mark’s Personal Happy 5:
- “Happy” – Travis (The Man Who album, also played at Mark’s wedding 💍)
- “Weatherman” – Eddie Benjamin (Beach memories from Punta Cana 🇩🇴)
- “New Mistake” – Jellyfish (One of the best opening lyrics ever)
- “Can’t Get Next to You” – The Temptations (Thanks, Broadway!)
- “Married in Vegas” – The Vamps (The ultimate pre-Vegas hype song 🎰)
🎄 Live Show Review: JohnnySwim Christmas Tour 🎤
Mark and his daughter Jenna caught JohnnySwim live for the third time—this one during their Christmas tour stop in Pittsburgh. Here’s the TL;DR:
- Venue: Carnegie Hall of Homestead (beautiful but vintage…bring a cushion)
- Band: Abner Ramirez & Amanda Sudano (plus Jonathan Berlin on guitar)
- Vibe: Cozy, intimate, like being in their living room—with holiday projections & home video montages
- Setlist Highlights: Don’t Let It Get You Down, Pass Me a Pint, Take the World, and more
🧡 The Bromance Is Real
Mark had a surreal moment when Abner paused mid-show to personally wave and say hello—yep, third concert sighting in 6 months earned some recognition. (Guitar pick and signed setlist included.)
Pro tip: If Johnnyswim is coming to your city, go. One of the most authentic and emotionally resonant live acts around.
🎤 Fun Fact: From Opening Act to Pop Powerhouse
Back in the early 2000s, Mark’s band Emmett opened for a little-known band called Steel Train at Cleveland’s Agora. The frontman? Jack Antonoff—who would go on to form fun., launch Bleachers, and produce for Taylor Swift (yep, Anti-Hero, Bejeweled, and more).
