🎙️ Songs That Don’t Suck – Episode 49

🎬 Spinal Tap Returns, KISS Goes Digital, and Five Songs That Absolutely Don’t Suck

We’re one episode away from the Season One Finale and the 2023 Don’t Suckie Awards, but that doesn’t mean the fire’s fading. In fact, this week’s episode brings a mix of surprising comebacks, holographic controversies, and—of course—five killer songs that made the cut from hundreds.

Also: the return of Spinal Tap has Mark hyped, and the KISS avatar show? Not so much. 🫠

🥁 Things That Rock (and Some That Don’t)

🎸 Spinal Tap 2 Confirmed

OG cast back: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer
Guests: Elton John, Paul McCartney, Garth freaking Brooks
Directed by Rob Reiner. Not a cash grab. This one could be legendary.
Plot: a farewell tour with all the glorious disasters you’d expect

Mark’s take? This could be better than the original. 🤘

🪞 KISS Turns Into Avatars

KISS “final” show ends with… virtual KISS
Digital avatars to perform for eternity à la ABBA
Mark’s take? It’s the natural end for a band that’s relied on tracks for years
🎤 “Gene Simmons might just be the suspect in rock’s murder”

Oof. Tell us how you really feel, Mark.

🎸 Brain-Bending Cover of the Week:

“Whipping Post” – Zac Brown Band (Live)

A bold, blistering tribute to The Allman Brothers Band.

Faster tempo, tighter groove
Killer musicianship, especially from the drummer (remember: Allmans had two)
ZBB leans more jam band here than country

Mark’s words? “Musical cojones.” You’ll hear why.

🔥 New Songs That Don’t Suck – Week 49

1. “Go” – SuperLove

UK noise pop with punch.

Triggered drums and processed vocals shouldn’t work—but they do
Gritty guitar riff glues it all together
Self-produced and sonically confident

🎧 Think: if Muse and Royal Blood had a sugar-rush baby

2. “Heart on My Sleeve” – The K’s

Brit-rock that embraces its accent 🎤

Singer doesn’t hide the UK accent—Mark digs the authenticity
Word-packed verses with high-energy guitars
Think early Arctic Monkeys with a little more bite

For fans of guitar-first, pub-blaring anthems.

3. “Low Light” – Fuego

Bass players, rejoice!

Slippery, syncopated bass line drives the whole track
Minimal production lets the groove do the talking
Indie rock meets funk-lite, and it slaps

🧠 Mark suspects these are guitarists-turned-bassists—and that’s a compliment.

4. “The Way (Live)” – Manchester Orchestra

Live track > studio version. Here’s why:

Raw emotion, pitch shifts, vocal imperfections
REALNESS > PERFECTION
Proof that a good band should sound different live

🎤 “I don’t want perfect. I want passion.” – Mark, nailing it as always.

5. “It’s a Walk in Dear El Assad” – Shay Hazan

Jazz-fusion world music magic.

Moroccan guana + jazz + hip hop
Sparse, hypnotic horn lines
Groove-heavy, polyrhythmic, meditative

🌍 From Tel Aviv, Shay Hazan brings the kind of world music surprise this podcast lives for.

🏆 Reminder: Vote in the 2023 Don’t Suckie Awards

🏅 The best of the year. You help decide.
📆 Winners announced next week in Episode 50, the season finale!

🎶 Until next week—season finale time! Keep listening to songs that don’t suck.

Episode 49 Recap