š§ Songs That Donāt Suck ā Episode 16 Recap: Music as Memory, CeeLo Covers Band of Horses, and 5 New Tracks Youāll Want to Replay
Welcome back to Songs That Donāt Suck, the podcast that helps you find meaningful music in a world of 100,000 new songs a day. š¶ In Episode 16, host Mark Bradbourne celebrates the showās 1,000-stream milestone, waxes poetic on musicās role in every stage of life, and introduces another Brain Bending Cover you didnāt know you neededāthis time from CeeLo Green.
Letās get into it š
šÆ Milestone Unlocked: 1,000 Streams!
Big shoutout to all of you listenersāSongs That Donāt Suck has crossed the 1,000 stream mark just 15 episodes in! Mark didnāt expect to hit that so quickly, and heās sincerely grateful for the love, shares, and reviews. š
āI just wanna let you know that I appreciate you.ā
š¼ Music Is Lifeās SoundtrackāLiterally
Mark takes a thoughtful detour this episode, reflecting on how music accompanies every stage of our lives:
- š¶ Lullabies as babies
- š« Educational jingles for ABCs & state capitals
- š Soundtracks to first loves & dances
- š Wedding songs & first dances
- ā°ļø Even funerals have hymns to honor life
From Star Wars themes at age 3 to Spotify playlists during work hours, Mark makes it clear: āI cannot imagine a world without music.ā
š Brain Bending Cover: CeeLo Green ā āNo Oneās Gonna Love Youā
This weekās unexpected cover comes from none other than CeeLo Green, taking on Band of Horsesā haunting track āNo Oneās Gonna Love You.ā
āI just wouldnāt picture CeeLo covering thisāand thatās exactly what makes it so great.ā
Itās surprisingly faithful to the original, but still unmistakably CeeLo. A cool twist on an indie classic.
š§ Check it out on Spotify
šÆ Got a favorite weird-but-wonderful cover? Send it to songsthatdontsuck.net
š This Weekās Five Songs That Donāt Suck
š¤ļø 1. Aeros in Action ā āHead in the Cloudsā
- š From: Gainesville, Florida
- āØ Vibe: Optimistic pop-rock with authentic mood-lifting energy
- šø Background: First release in 2017; each song has its own sound
Mark admits: Gen X was built on grunge, but sometimesā¦ we just want a little sunshine. This track nails that emotional reset button.
šø 2. Galaherās Green ā āWhere Do I Begin?ā
- š From: Manchester, UK
- š Style: Unpretentious, straight-ahead rock
- šæ DIY Roots: Fully independent and self-produced
Despite listing iconic influences like Oasis and Foo Fighters, Mark hears something more fresh and original here. Bonus points for surviving the start of the band in early 2020 and coming out stronger with a more polished second album.
š¦ 3. Beauty ā āPolar Bear Ice Creamā
- š From: New Jersey
- šØ Vibe: Quirky, retro-modern indie pop
- šø Influences: Cheap Trickāand yep, it checks out
This track is pure fun. From the title to the arrangement, it oozes charm and whimsy. With less than 2,000 monthly listeners, Beauty may be an underrated gem ready to pop.
āItās a vibe. A mood. And Iām here for it.ā
š 4. Teenage Wrist ā āSunshineā
- š From: Los Angeles
- š§ Genre: Alternative rock with grunge undertones
- š¤ Fun fact: They’re a two-piece band with a huge sound
Mark hears a repeating guitar line that reminds him of the First Orderās alarm from Star Warsā¦ and he canāt un-hear it. Either way, itās gritty, catchy, and different from your typical alt-rock radio filler.
š¤ 5. The National (feat. Phoebe Bridgers) ā āYour Mind Is Not Your Friendā
- š Featured Track of the Week
- š§ Vibe: Introspective, dark, and emotionally stirring
- š¤ Guest star: Phoebe Bridgers (and it shows)
Mark confesses he never got The Nationalāuntil now. Whether itās Phoebeās presence or just the right moment, this track clicked. He compares the epiphany to his Wilco moment, which started with one song (The Art of Almost) and led to total fandom.
āMaybe this is my gateway drug into The National. Weāll see.ā
š§¼ Housekeeping + How to Get Involved
ā Donāt forget to like, follow, share, and reviewāyour support is what fuels this thing!
Until next weekā¦
Keep discovering. Keep listening. And keep finding songs that donāt suck. š¤š§
