🎸 Songs That Don’t Suck – Episode 51
New Year, New Music, Same Gen X Snark
Happy New Year, music nerds! 🎉 Episode 51 marks the official launch of Season 2 of Songs That Don’t Suck, and Mark’s back with a fresh release schedule, some tweaks to the show, and—of course—a handpicked batch of new songs that don’t suck.
So cue up your Songwhip, grab those good headphones, and get ready for a hybrid blend of new finds, vault gems, and some classic Mark-style dry humor.
🛠️ New Year, New Format: What’s Changed?
- Both podcast versions now drop on Mondays 🗓️
No more mid-week Cliff Notes delay. Everyone gets the goods on the same day. - Cliff Notes show notes now include Songwhip links 🎧
Whether you use Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, or Tidal, Songwhip’s got you covered. - Vault songs are officially in rotation 🪦
Expect deep cuts and forgotten gems from artists you might’ve missed—or forgotten entirely. - Now on YouTube 📺
The full archive is live (audio only), perfect for those who live in the land of Google Podcasts past.
🧾 How Mark’s Picks Stack Up with the “Experts”
When it comes to Best of 2023 lists, let’s just say Mark’s taste veers off the viral path. Here’s the breakdown:
🎧 Pitchfork: 1 match – “Chosen to Deserve” (Wednesday)
🆗 Bonus: Featured artists like Boy Genius, Kara Jackson, Big Thief also showed up.
📊 Billboard: 1 match – “In Your Love” (Tyler Childers)
🌟 5 overlapping artists total.
📰 Vulture: 3 matches – Wednesday, Boy Genius, MGMT
✅ Respectable.
🪨 Rolling Stone: 1 match – “Watching the Credits” (The Beths)
👀 Also featured The Last Dinner Party and Boy Genius.
Oh, and if you want a laugh, search “Variety Worst Songs of 2023”. It’s as tragic as it is hilarious.
🔮 Albums to Watch in 2024
Podcast alumni & others dropping new music soon:
- The Last Dinner Party
- MGMT
- Sheryl Crow (haters, keep it to yourselves)
- Shamboleks (🔙 featured in Episode 17)
- Amigo the Devil, Lenny Kravitz, Judas Priest, The K’s
- And maybe, just maybe… new Dream Theater with Mike Portnoy 🤘
🎧 Vault + Cover Song of the Week
“Band on the Run” – Owsley
You may hate Wings. Mark does.
But this version? Pure alt-pop magic.
- 🎸 Clean production
- ✨ ’90s alt vibes
- 🖤 A tribute from an underappreciated artist gone too soon
- 📍 Recommended follow-up: “Oh No, the Radio” – another Owsley gem
🎶 This Week’s Songs That Don’t Suck
1. “I Want You to Know” – EllisD
🧠 Talking Heads meets The Cure meets The Doors (yes, really)
- Psychedelic outro
- Rainstorm vibes
- Not the best of the week—but definitely the most interesting
2. “Feel” – Jack Shields
🎙️ Grungy, raw, and headphone gold
- Crackling amp sounds, infinite reverb, textured production
- Nerd alert: there’s a guitar cable pop buried in the mix
- 😍 For fans of: Nirvana, Silverchair, and analog vibes
3. “Belly Up” (Live Acoustic) – Return to Dust
🎤 Alice in Chains unplugged energy
- Killer vocal harmonies
- Acoustic live > studio version (fight Mark about it)
- 🔁 Worth checking both versions—trust us
4. “Every Trace of Us” – The Pineapple Thief
🎧 Prog-light with a pop soul
- Subtle and tight: no 8-minute solos here
- Reminiscent of King’s X meets Porcupine Tree
- Music nerds will appreciate the restraint
5. “Starman” – Pacific Avenue
🌠 Not a Bowie cover—but could be a nod
- Oasis-level Britpop energy
- Jellyfish-style songwriting chops
- 🎯 Great vocal harmony, great structure
🔗 Where to Listen + Share
🎧 All episodes now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple, and more
🔗 Songwhip links in the Cliff Notes version for easy adds
📲 Follow on Threads, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook
🎉 That’s a Wrap on Episode 51
Season 2 has officially landed. And with it, more real music—and less algorithm-approved fluff.
🎙️ Until next week, keep listening to songs that don’t suck.
