🎨 Graffiti, Grit, and Genre Gems: Amsterdam Vibes & 5 Songs That Don’t Suck 🌍🎧
✈️ No Music in Amsterdam?! A Break That Broke the Mold
Mark opens the episode reflecting on a highly unusual experience: a week without music. During his vacation to Amsterdam, he left work and playlists behind, opting instead for movies and long walks.
❝ I didn’t plan to avoid music—it just happened. And it was kinda… liberating. ❞
Instead of records, Mark found resonance in street art, especially at the STRAAT Museum, where 20-30 foot graffiti pieces stirred thoughts on music as protest. He makes a compelling case that:
- 🎶 Protest music peaked in the ’60s/’70s (Vietnam, civil rights)
- 🎨 Today, street art is the new protest medium—bold, message-laden, and accessible
- 💬 As Banksy put it: “If graffiti changed anything, it would be illegal.”
🎥 Bonus Amsterdam Bits:
- Loved the STRAAT Museum 🎨
- Saw only a few street musicians 🎻
- Watched John Wick, Gladiator II, Deadpool & Wolverine on the flight over (aka the “death marathon”)
🎸 Rediscovering Protest Music via… Bob Dylan
After the street art epiphany, Mark watched I’m Not There, the Dylan biopic, on the flight home—and realized something big:
❝ I’ve never intentionally listened to Dylan. So, I dove in. And wow—The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan is a masterpiece. ❞
Now Dylan’s become a “retirement artist” for Mark—someone he’s getting into later in life. Who’s your retirement artist? Springsteen? ELO? Sly Stone?
🌟 Honorable Mention:
🎶 Caroline – Mumford & Sons
They’re back! Classic Mumford energy. If you missed the release, this is your heads-up.
🔥 5 Songs That Don’t Suck This Week
1. 🗽 Turn Off the Lights – The Backfires
NYC-based, UK-connected, and bursting with Britpop energy. Great pre-chorus structure, clever vocal pacing vs. half-tempo rhythm, and fantastic production.
🎧 For fans of: Arctic Monkeys, Wallows, Secondhand Sound
“Modern Britrock meets NYC charm. This one sticks.”
2. 🌀 All in My Head – Over Under
Salt Lake City band blending indie rock with world music and jazz fusion. Santana vibes, sneaky Radiohead influence, and a silky drum groove.
🎧 For fans of: Santana, Radiohead, Hiatus Kaiyote
“The guitar solo transported me to a high school drum solo I used to obsess over.”
3. 🇮🇪 Heavy – Florence Road (aka FloRo)
Irish indie-pop outfit with stunning vocal harmonies and a drummer who gets it. Feels like The Last Dinner Party—without the Renaissance costumes.
🎧 For fans of: The Last Dinner Party, MUNA, Wet Leg
“Drummers: this is how you add flavor without overplaying.”
4. 🔁 Over and Over – Wishy
Returning from Ep. 80! Programmed drums normally scare Mark off, but this track nails it. Groovy, melodic alt-pop with Incubus vibes and a yearning vocal tone.
🎧 For fans of: Incubus, Beach Bunny, Soccer Mommy
“Programmed drums that don’t suck? Say it ain’t so.”
5. 🇦🇺 We Don’t Talk – The Dregs
Australian folk duo flirting with yacht rock. Banjo and acoustic guitar dance around buttery basslines, while catchy choruses drive it home.
🎧 For fans of: Lord Huron, The Paper Kites, Christopher Cross
“Folk-pop with feel. And yes, the banjo floats.”
🧠 Final Thought: Protest Never Dies—It Evolves
Whether it’s Dylan’s words or a giant wall mural in Amsterdam, art will always be a tool for truth. This week’s ep proves that songs that don’t suck often come with messages that do matter.
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🎨 …and I quote…
❝ Street art is the protest music of this generation. And it’s screaming truth on 30-foot walls. ❞
— Mark Bradbourne 🎙️
