🏆 The 2023 Don’t Sucky Awards – Songs That Don’t Suck Episode 50 🎙️
Celebrating a Year of Music That Truly Didn’t Suck
It started with one goal: find songs that didn’t suck. A year, 50 episodes, and 231 curated tracks later, Songs That Don’t Suck wraps its first season in true rockstar fashion—with the Don’t Sucky Awards. 🎤
Host Mark Bradbourne looks back at the highs, the stats, the gaffes (hello, Mr. Reans 😬), and the stories behind his favorite musical discoveries of 2023. This is more than a list—it’s a love letter to the art of music discovery.
📊 A Look Back at a Musical Year
- 🎧 44,000 minutes of music listened
- 🎸 2,500+ artists discovered
- 🌍 98 genres explored
- 🧠 Top Spotify listener category: Shapeshifter
- 💬 “My top songs this year? All podcast picks. That blew my mind.”
And perhaps most humbling: Songs That Don’t Suck landed in the Top 10 for 170 listeners on Spotify Wrapped.
🥁 The 2023 Don’t Sucky Award Winners 🎶
🎸 Best Rock
🏆 “Do Me a Favor” – The Bites
“Probably my top band discovery this year. Their debut is fantastic, and their live show? Killer.”
🍂 Best Folk
🏆 “Find Your People” – Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors
“Every lyric brings a friend to mind. That’s the power of great songwriting.”
🌀 Best Indie / Alternative
🏆 “Center” – The Last Dinner Party
“Unique, fearless, and just getting started. Watch this band in 2024.”
🤘 Best Metal / Hard Rock
🏆 “Deny the Sun” – Black Orchid Empire
“Progressive, powerful, and perfect vocals. This one floored me.”
🤠 Best Country / Americana
🏆 “Devils in Nola” – Drayton Farley
“Pure storytelling gold. Every line is a scene.”
🎧 Best Pop
🏆 “23” – Lawrence
“Gracie Lawrence’s voice is unmistakable. Catchiest track of the year.”
🦄 Best Musical Unicorn
🏆 “Nine Beat” – Half Moon Run
“Musicianship masterclass. An odd-time signature that feels effortless.”
🎙️ Behind the Scenes: Mark Reflects
- Butchered Names: From The Mr. Reans to The Waaaans, pronunciation blunders became part of the charm.
- Best Artist Interactions:
- Shad: A heartfelt conversation about mood and meaning
- Fox Royale & The Bites: Real-life meetups and genuine support
- The Lags & The Wans: Direct messages, laughter, and mutual love
- Shoutouts to Supporters:
- 🎉 Deb (Facebook), Clayton (texts), Luigi (Twitter/X)
- 🧡 Podcast fam: Zach Bowders, Rock and Roll Autopsy, My Weekly Mixtape, Rock Talk Studio
🎧 Your Soundtrack to the Year
📝 Every single featured song from 2023—that’s 231 songs, 13 hours, 44 minutes—is now available in one master playlist.
💬
“Music brings back moments—even if it wasn’t there at the time. That’s the power of a great song.”
— Mark Bradourne, Episode 50
🔊 Listen + Share
🎧 Full episode available on all platforms
🔗 Share it with friends, musicians, and your coolest coworkers
🌐 SongsThatDontSuck.net for all links, playlists, and updates
🚀 What’s Next?
Mark returns January 2024 for Season 2. More discoveries, more artist shoutouts, and—yes—more songs that don’t suck. 😎
Follow on social:
📱 | Instagram | TikTok | BlueSky
🎙️ Stay tuned. Stay curious. Stay musical.
🎉 Thanks for an unforgettable Season 1. See you in 2024.
