MTV Was Our Algorithm: Singer-Songwriter Gems & a Farewell to Music Television

What’s up, friend? Mark here—welcome back to Songs That Don’t Suck, where I filter through the noise so you don’t have to. But before we drop into this week’s fresh cuts, let’s rewind the tape.

📼 MTV: The Original Social Media Feed

Forget lip-syncing influencers and Spotify AI dumps. For Gen X, the first algorithm wasn’t digital—it was visual. It was called MTV.

Think about it:

• VJs were our influencers (shoutout Martha Quinn and Downtown Julie Brown)
• Music videos were our content feed—raw, rebellious, and oh-so-stylized
• And the comment section? That was the homeroom hallway, the carpool chat, the party recap

From Live Aid to Lollapalooza, from Kurt Cobain to the Choose or Lose campaign, MTV didn’t just teach us what to listen to—it taught us what mattered.

So what’s on MTV now?
🕛 28 episodes of Ridiculousness before breakfast
🧠 The Big Bang Theory, twice daily
🎥 Bring It On on repeat like it’s the lost gospel

In 72 hours of programming, we get 1 hour of music videos. RIP to the network that raised a generation of music lovers—from September 10, 1981 to February 2010, when “Music Television” was quietly dropped from the logo.

🎵 This Week’s Playlist: Songwriters Who Still Give Us Feels

Alright, enough nostalgia. Let’s get into the music that’s making today feel alive.

1️⃣ Waiting for the Dust to Settle – David Ramirez

📻 A dreamy swirl of synths and singer-songwriter storytelling. Think John Mayer’s SOB ROCK era—particularly Last Train Home. That finale? A stunning counterpoint of gang vocals vs. solo phrasing. 🎶

2️⃣ I Don’t Mind (f I’m With You) – Brian Fallon

🥁 Gentle acoustic intro… then WHAM—massive, echoing drums take over. It’s a slow build that absolutely delivers. A masterclass in dynamic layering and emotional payoffs.

3️⃣ Pilgrim – Jesse Welles

🎸 Led Zeppelin energy meets indie mystique. Those guitar runs? Zeppy. The strings? Kashmir-esque. Add raspy vocals and hand percussion and you’ve got a textured, cinematic vibe.

4️⃣ One Step at a Time – Attention Bird Utopia (ft. Harrison Whitford & Eli Hirsch)

🦅 A rockier, rootsier ride with Traveling Wilburys harmonies and a dash of Eagles—but more Midwest in flavor. A collaborative gem rich with folk-rock spirit.

5️⃣ We The People (F** the Man)* – Langhorne Slim

✊ A no-nonsense protest anthem that punches with clarity. Modern folk that channels 60s protest songs, minus the euphemisms. It belongs in your revolution playlist.

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Until next time, support real artists and keep listening to songs that don’t suck. 🖤