🎙️ The Lost Art of Listening: Alone with the Music

🌌 The Sacred Silence After Side B

Before we dive into the fresh bangers of the week, Mark gets nostalgic—and a little philosophical—about a forgotten ritual: being alone with music.

Remember laying on shag carpet with oversized, spiral-chorded headphones? That moment after side B ended and the room filled with silence—not because a playlist ran dry, but because the album ended. That silence wasn’t empty—it was sacred. It was space to feel, reflect, or simply be.

For Gen X and earlier, this wasn’t just a vibe—it was emotional training. We sat with albums, not shuffled tracks. We weren’t bombarded with notifications, and there was no algorithm dragging us into infinite scroll. Music was the moment, not background noise.

Mark shared how this practice became a form of mindfulness—long before mindfulness became a buzzword. After losing his aunt this week, music again became the sanctuary where emotion and memory meet.

Challenge of the Week:
👉 Turn off crossfade. Pick a full album. Lay on the floor. Listen from start to finish—no distractions. Embrace the stillness. Let music wreck you a little. Then write to Mark about how it felt.

🎧 New Songs That Definitely Don’t Suck

1. “Chain” – Roxferry

Crunchy, cutting, and reminiscent of grunge-era grooves. Roxferry plays with time signatures in a way that feels like a clever twist on 4/4—maybe a dash of 5/4? Either way, it’s technical and tasty. 🎸

2. “Sign of Life” – RAGEFLOWER

Hard-hitting indie rock meets melancholic beauty. There’s a 90s echo here (think Veruca Salt or Fiona Apple) but wrapped in fresh, modern production. Ethereal background vocals elevate this to another level.

3. “Champagne Problems” – Fangclub

Starts soft, then slaps with a massive 5/4 groove. The production is pure ear candy—contrast, clarity, and a chorus that fills the room. This is headphones-required listening.

4. “Every Town” – The Paper Kites

Melancholy magic from a band that lives in emotional nuance. Mark saw them live recently and was deeply moved—even if he wasn’t in the right headspace to review. Now, with this second single off their upcoming album, he’s ready to feel all the feels.

5. “My Only Angel” – Aerosmith & Yungblud

Steven Tyler + Joe Perry + Yungblud = 🔥
Mark usually avoids chart-toppers, but this track is too good to ignore. It’s raw rock energy and a compelling bridge between generations. Could this hint at a new Aerosmith era? A farewell tour, maybe? Stay tuned.

🛒 Merch, Music & More

Want more than just great tunes?
Head over to songsthatdontsuck.net where you can:

• Subscribe to the newsletter for exclusive access to the Live Music Archive
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And hey—don’t forget to like, rate, and review the podcast. Tell your friends. Support the artists. And maybe, just maybe… find time for silence. 🎶🖤

Stay tuned, stay weird, and as always:
Go out and support these artists.