🎙 Songs That Don’t Suck – Episode 32: Rock Resurgence, Stroke Survival & a Genre-Jumping Soundtrack to Summer
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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.
Welcome to Episode 32 of Songs That Don’t Suck—the podcast where we don’t do filler, we don’t fake it, and we definitely don’t recommend songs that suck 🎧.
This week, host Mark Bradbourne opens the show with love for a rock legend who’s still kicking (and drumming), a PSA to indie artists about bios that don’t suck, and a few tour updates that’ll either fill you with joy or remind you to cherish your musical heroes while they’re still here.
Let’s get into it 👇
🥁 Iron Maiden’s Nico McBrain: From Stroke to Stage
Back in January, Iron Maiden’s legendary drummer Nicko McBrain suffered a stroke—something fans didn’t know at the time. When early tour performances seemed off, the internet (as it does) jumped to judgment.
But now? Nico’s back in full form.
“The internet is never not judgmental… but Nicko is a machine. A legend. And he’s crushing it again.”
Here’s to recovery, resilience, and rocking at 71 🖤
🎸 The Wild Feathers Revisit Their Roots—Unplugged
To mark the 10-year anniversary of their debut album, Nashville rockers The Wild Feathers have re-recorded it—this time, stripped down and unplugged, exclusively available on Bandcamp.
Mark first stumbled onto them back in 2015 in Milwaukee, and they’ve been on his radar ever since.
“Live albums are the best way to meet a band—and this unplugged version? Chef’s kiss.”
🧓 Sir Paul, Still Rocking at 81
Rumor has it that Paul McCartney might be gearing up for an international tour. And Mark’s here for it.
“I saw Ringo in college, but I’ve never seen Paul—and based on recent videos, he can still bring it.”
🎟 If Sir Paul hits the States, it’s go time.
🎧 Brain-Bending Cover: The Dip – Beautiful Stranger (Madonna)
You might remember Madonna’s “Beautiful Stranger” from Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. Now, Seattle-based soul revivalists The Dip have given it a warm, R&B-laced rework.
Think The Temptations meets Alabama Shakes with a splash of Shaky Graves. It’s smooth, unexpected, and totally vibey.
“This one surprised me—in the best way.”
🎶 Add to your chillout playlist. Trust us.
🎶 This Week’s New Music: A Rock-Forward Lineup That Slaps
Mark listened to hundreds of songs this week and narrowed it down to five that cleared the bar—and then some.
1. 🪕 Brenn! – “Valparaiso”
📍 Genre: Folky Indie Pop
🌞 Vibe: Summer drives, Vance Joy energy
At just 18, Brenn! delivers an acoustic-driven track with a breezy hook and serious earworm potential. It’s vibey, it’s heartfelt, and it’s made for warm weather.
But Mark has a PSA for new artists:
“If you’re releasing music, write a proper bio. Please. I’m begging.”
(Seriously though.)
2. 🎸 Wilco – “Evicted”
📍 Genre: Alt-Country
🎧 Vibe: Classic Wilco meets… Prince?
Mark admits he never fully “got” Wilco—until he stumbled on a live cut of The Art of Almost. Now? He’s paying attention. “Evicted” is the first single off their upcoming album, and it’s classic Wilco: melodic, mellow, and subtly powerful.
“Tell me I’m wrong, but the rhythm in that verse sounds a LOT like Raspberry Beret.”
🔁 You won’t un-hear it.
3. 🎵 The Pale White – “Validate Me”
📍 Genre: Alt Rock / UK Indie
🎸 Vibe: Big riffs, slight meander, satisfying payoff
Newcastle trio The Pale White serve up a crunchy guitar track that brings early-2000s alt energy with a modern gloss. The bridge does meander a bit, but it lands strong.
“If this gets tightened live, it’s gonna blow the roof off.”
4. 🤘 Momrock – “Close Your Eyes”
📍 Genre: Indie Rock
🏟 Vibe: Festival-ready bounce
This Boston-based band has a name that suggests dad jokes—but their sound is no joke. “Close Your Eyes” has a killer pre-chorus that launches into a stadium-worthy hook.
“No frills. No tricks. Just great rock.”
Also: props for actually having a working website.👏
5. 🎤 The Rolling People – “Disguise”
📍 Genre: Modern Rock
🎸 Vibe: Youthful polish with vintage depth
At just 18, this UK band already sounds like they’ve been writing anthems for a decade. The songwriting is tight, the production’s on point, and the potential is massive.
“If rock’s gonna rise again, we need more of this. Period.”
📢 Quick Hits & Shoutouts
- ✅ Housekeeping Note: Podcast stats are on the rise 📈—thank you for listening, sharing, and spreading the word!
🧠 Final Thoughts
This week had everything: soul covers, indie comebacks, crunchy rock, and even a soapbox rant about artist bios. But most of all? It had songs that don’t suck.
“Music discovery is the heart of this pod—and the reason we keep digging through garbage to find the gold.”
🎧 Until next week…
Keep searching for—and listening to—songs that don’t suck.
