Episode Recaps

In this episode of Songs That Don't Suck, host Mark Bradbourne dives into the power of soundtracks on our perception, vents about the greed of streaming platforms, and unveils five killer tracks—from Glass Beams’ psychedelic rhythms to Fish and a Birdcage’s enchanting rule-based catalog. Press play and get weird with it. 🎶

In this special interview episode of Songs That Don’t Suck, Mark Bradbourne sits down with every member of The Bites to talk rock & roll resurrection, third nipples, tour chaos, upcoming music, and why live shows still matter. Plus, new tracks from The Sprats, Himalayas, and Dylan Flynn & The Dead Poets bring serious heat to your playlist.

Episode 82 of Songs That Don’t Suck is a full-blown rock 'n' roll celebration. After a legendary night with Barnes Courtney and The Struts in Detroit, host Mark Bradbourne shares concert highlights, bumps into fellow podcasters, and brings you five new songs that prove rock (and artistry) are very much alive. Includes tracks from War Play, The Smashing Pumpkins, Gary Clark Jr., Nina Nesbitt, and The Heavy Heavy 🎸🔥.

In this packed episode of Songs That Don’t Suck, Mark Bradbourne gives updates on broken links, vinyl holy grails, a killer live show in Cleveland, and five new songs that absolutely don’t suck — including tracks from Winton Existing, Hotel Mira, Shade, Milly, and Carbon Leaf. Plus, a new site feature to explore 80+ episodes of music! 🚀🎶

In episode 80 of Songs That Don’t Suck, host Mark Bradbourne (with a u, not an o) ushers in a bold new era — now featuring 20–30 second music clips! Plus, after a 20-hour road trip and a podcast binge, he shares four fresh finds from Icarus Phoenix, Wishy, Jonah Kagan, and The Wild Feathers. Fair use be with us! 🎶🚗🔥

In this week’s Songs That Don’t Suck, Mark Bradbourne wades through a brutal week of musical mediocrity to spotlight three stellar tracks. Plus, he dives into the 2024 Luminate Mid-Year Music Report, explores the struggle of rock in the TikTok era, and reflects on the economics of recording. This episode is for the real music nerds 🎶📊.

This week's Songs That Don’t Suck dives deep into the wild world of Spotify playlists and five standout new tracks. Mark Bradbourne unpacks music discovery trends, AI playlist creation, and showcases music from Michael Marcagi, Sex Week, JohnnySwim, Webbed Wing, and Odie Leigh. Curate your vibe 🎶.

In this week’s episode of Songs That Don’t Suck, Mark Bradbourne unpacks the RIAA’s AI lawsuits, praises Spotify’s crackdown on fake streaming, and delivers six killer tracks—from psych-rock juggernauts to stomp-and-holler anthems. Plus: the podcast shoutout you didn’t know you needed.

In this community-powered episode of Songs That Don’t Suck, Mark Bradbourne highlights 5 must-hear tracks, gives a shoutout to local artists, and unpacks Queen’s massive $1.2B catalog sale. Plus: odd time signatures, fiddle-powered indie, and a reminder that every big act started small.