Season 4 Reset: Beating the Best-Of Lists & Finding New Music That Doesn’t Suck
What’s up friend!? Welcome back to Songs That Don’t Suck—and welcome to Season 4.
Before we dive headfirst into this week’s new music, Mark hits the reset button: where this whole thing started, why it still matters, and how this podcast continues to be your weekly defense against algorithmic boredom and corporate playlist sludge.
🎙️ Allow Myself to Reintroduce Myself
Mark is a freshly minted 50-year-old Gen Xer, lifelong music fanatic, and recovering “listened-to-the-same-records-for-20-years” offender. After spending 25 years recording and performing in bands, he realized something in 2022:
New music wasn’t bad.
He just wasn’t looking for it anymore.
So began the quest—forcing discovery through playlists, curators, and brand-new releases, all in search of songs that don’t suck. This podcast (and you, dear listener) became the accountability system.
And yes, there’s a home base for all of it: songsthatdontsuck.net—your one-stop shop for episode links, Spotify playlists, and ways to interact with Mark and fellow music nerds.
🏆 Songs That Don’t Suck vs. “The Experts”
Before unveiling Season 4’s first batch of tracks, Mark did what any self-respecting music obsessive would do:
compared notes with the media gatekeepers.
NPR
Surprisingly solid. NPR avoided the usual pop-industrial complex and landed some overlap:
- The Beths
- Wednesday
- Big Thief
- HAIM
- Turnstile
Full credit where it’s due: Ankles by Lucy Dacus was a true crossover.
Rolling Stone
Ah yes, the click-baiting rage machine. Artist overlap, zero song overlap, and more than a few eyebrow-raising picks. Moving on.
Pitchfork
Credible-ish. Artist crossover included:
- Ethel Cain
- Turnstile
- Big Thief
Rough Trade
Staff picks only, no charts, no data—and yet… suspiciously similar names popping up again.
🎯 The takeaway?
You heard artists like Wednesday and The Beths here 12–18 months before they became consensus picks. That’s a win.
Songs That Don’t Suck remains the undisputed champion of finding hidden gems in an ocean of shit.
🔥 Season 4, Episode 151: The New Music
1️⃣ “The Fool” – Dicey Hollow
A debut single from a supergroup featuring members of Alberta Cross, The Voidz, and Cannon Division.
- Slinky, laid-back groove
- Subtle but smart drum work that elevates the chorus
- Layered guitars, stacked vocals, and a killer bridge
- A fake-out ending that refuses to quit
A confident, patient track that rewards repeat listens.
2️⃣ “No Way to Live” – Cian Ducrot
An upbeat Celtic folk-rock kick in the pants—in the best way possible.
- Warm, expressive vocal delivery
- Strong pre-chorus → simple, effective chorus
- Fiddle work that screams Irish roots
Fans of Tom Landa and the Paperboys will feel right at home.
3️⃣ “Body Down” – Stanley Simmons
No, it’s not a new solo singer songwriter troubadour but it is a harmony-rich, 70s-inspired folk/rock debut from the sons of Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of KISS.
Think:
- Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- Fleetwood Mac
- Eagles energy
- Modern execution
If you loved the vibe of Daisy Jones & The Six, this will hit hard.
4️⃣ “Everything Burns” – Tom Morello & Beartooth
Not exactly underground—but absolutely undeniable.
- Big, aggressive, high-energy chaos
- Spoken-word/rap-adjacent verses that actually work
- Tom Morello doing guitar god things
Pulled from the Final Fantasy XIV Online soundtrack relaunch, this one feels tailor-made for 2026’s collective anxiety.
5️⃣ “Right Where I Belong” – The Format
After an 18-year hiatus, The Format is back—and this track proves it’s not just nostalgia.
- Delicate, intimate vocals
- Tasteful harmonies
- Folk-leaning, singer-songwriter feel
- No production bloat, just a damn good song
A perfect counterpoint to last season’s “Shot in the Dark.”
🎶 Final Thoughts
And that, my friend, is how Season 4 begins.
Same mission.
Same brutal honesty.
Same refusal to let the algorithm win.
As always—go out and support these artists. Stream them. Buy their music. Tell your friends. And come back next week for more Songs That Don’t Suck. 🎸🔥
