Episode Recaps

In Episode 41 of Songs That Don’t Suck, Mark Bradbourne dives into classical commissions, shares a synth-laced Leslie Gore cover by Deep Sea Diver, and highlights new music from Sufjan Stevens, Last Dinosaurs, Deadbeat Cousins, and The Paper Kites.

Episode 40 hits hard with a live Peter Gabriel review, a toy piano throwback from Guster, and four new tracks spanning psychedelic rock to philosophical art-pop. Mark explores the sonic, the existential, and everything in between.

In Episode 39 of Songs That Don’t Suck, Mark rants about lip-sync fakery in modern music, pays tribute to Milli Vanilli, and celebrates real-deal performers like Taylor Swift and Lawrence. Plus, a toy-instrument-powered Doobie Brothers cover and four fresh tracks you don’t want to miss.

In Episode 38 of Songs That Don’t Suck, Mark explores how streaming and social behavior changed music discovery forever, unpacks a wild Frank Zappa cover of “Stairway to Heaven,” shares a surprising Cake concert review, and drops five new songs that push genre boundaries—from Grace Potter to Too Many Temples.

In Episode 37 of Songs That Don’t Suck, Mark dives into the post-COVID concert industry, rising ticket prices, venue greed, and five killer new tracks—including three standout Aussie bands and a new release from Jimmy Buffett’s final album.

In Episode 35 of Songs That Don’t Suck, host Mark Bradbourne dives into TikTok’s disruptive role in the music industry, serves up a gritty metal cover of Johnny Cash, and shares five genre-spanning tracks from Turnpike Troubadours, Royal Tusk, Cam Cole, The Paper Kites, and The Last Dinner Party.

In Episode 34 of Songs That Don’t Suck, host Mark Bradbourne recaps his fanboy-fueled experience seeing The Bites live, shares a Lemmy-led metal Beatles cover, and serves up five fresh tracks from Guns N’ Roses, The Grogans, Hawxx, Des Rocs, and (yep) The Bites. Pure rock joy, no filler.

In Episode 33 of Songs That Don’t Suck, Mark heads to a Cleveland apartment-turned-venue to catch Fox Royale live, breaks down a listener-submitted cover of “Tom’s Diner,” and delivers five new tracks from Royal Blood, Electric Enemy, Twin Temple, Nothing But Thieves, and The Sherlocks—plus some musical ranting, raving, and rock revelation.

In Episode 32 of Songs That Don’t Suck, host Mark Bradbourne celebrates Iron Maiden’s Nico McBrain’s recovery, spotlights The Wild Feathers’ unplugged re-release, and breaks down five new tracks from Brenn!, Wilco, The Pale White, Momrock, and The Rolling People—plus a smooth-as-silk Madonna cover by The Dip.