🎙️ Songs That Don’t Suck: Vinyl Declines, Sacred Concerts & Songs That Still Shine

Welcome back to another spiritually musical edition of Songs That Don’t Suck with your host, Mark Bradbourne. This week, the vibe is part concert diary, part industry observation, and part indie music discovery mission. Mark doesn’t just listen—he feels the music, and this week, the pews were literal.

🕍 The Ark in Ann Arbor: A Church for the Music-Loving Soul

Mark opens by recounting a recent trip to The Ark, a legendary folk venue in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He’s not a religious guy, but the moment he describes—watching Carbon Leaf live with his family in that intimate room—hits like a sacred ritual. It’s not about belief in God; it’s about belief in connection through music.

“I just kind of looked down the row at my family singing along and thought—this is what I want them to remember.”

Even the reluctant youngest family member walked away smiling… and with a free sticker. Win-win.

💿 The Vinyl Slowdown: A Bubble About to Burst?

Vinyl, once the champion of physical media’s comeback, is now slipping. Stats dropped:

• 📉 Down 30% in 2024 vs 2023
• 🏭 Fewer pressing plants + higher costs = market instability
• 😬 Price hikes + hype fatigue = consumer pullback

Mark isn’t panicking—he thinks we’re seeing a market leveling, not a collapse. But he also warns:

“If there’s one thing the music industry has done in the past, it’s fcked sht up.”

(We concur.)

🎶 Songs That Absolutely Don’t Suck This Week

Though it was a rough batch overall, Mark emerged from the trenches with three shining tracks you’ll definitely want to add to your playlist.

1. Andrew Bird & Madison Cunningham – “Don’t Let Me Down Again”

🎻 Folk-Pop | Fiddle Magic | Exquisite Harmonies
Andrew Bird (yes, the Squirrel Nut Zippers guy) and Grammy-winning Madison Cunningham bring a stripped-down, fiddle-laced Americana gem to life. Simple percussion, syncopated groove, and lush harmonies make this track an emotional win.

🎧 Mark says: “It’s tracks like this that make the podcast worth it.”

2. Cake – “Hold You Responsible” (feat. Noise For Now)

📣 Alt-Rock | Deadpan Vibes | Political Punch
New Cake. Yes, you read that right. Their first single since 2018, released as part of the Songs for Sex compilation benefiting reproductive rights orgs through Noise For Now.

All the Cake trademarks are here:

• 🎺 Quirky trumpet
• 🎸 Deadpan delivery
• 🙌 Group-shouted “Hey!”s

And it hits harder when tied to a real cause. Big ups to Cake and Noise For Now.

3. The Wombats – “Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come”

🎤 Indie Pop | Falsetto Heaven | Lyrically Witty
Mark brings back early podcast alums The Wombats (Ep. 2) with this catchy, falsetto-fueled number. It’s got Bee Gees energy in the vocals, modern indie punch, and a hook that lives rent-free in your head.

🎧 Top-tier chorus: “Sorry I’m late, didn’t wanna come… I don’t hate you, I just hate everyone.” 🙃

🗯️ Final Thoughts: Quality Over Quantity, Always

“Only three songs this week—but I’ll take quality over quantity any day.”

Mark signs off with the usual charm, spitting truth about Elon, inviting listener feedback, and asking you—kindly—to go support the artists. Buy merch. Stream smart. Share what doesn’t suck.

📸 …and I quote…

❝ I’m really thankful we all got to go to church together this weekend. ❞
— Mark Bradbourne, Songs That Don’t Suck 🕊️🎶