🎙️ Songs That Don’t Suck — Episode 65
Total eclipses, TikTok virality, existential bassists, and a playlist-worthy Bowie cover? You’re in the right place.
🌑 Eclipse Nerdiness, Vinyl Speakers, and Pink Floyd Perfection
“At 2:32 PM, I hit play on Dark Side of the Moon and watched the eclipse hit totality… and as the lyric ‘the sun is eclipsed by the moon’ came on, I got goosebumps.”
Mark got to experience a total solar eclipse without leaving his house in Northeast Ohio—and yes, he paired it perfectly with Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. Goosebumps? You bet.
Bonus nerd points for confusing neighbors and triggering TikTok virality. 🌘🎶
🎧 Four Songs That Definitely Don’t Suck
1. “Sink Your Teeth” – The Mysterines
🎤 Moody, melodic alt-rock with a standout vocal
- 🔁 Featured previously for Begin Again—they’re back and better
- Lead singer’s low vocal register and distinct vibrato make her unforgettable
- Electronic-sounding drums felt a bit synthetic—but still work for the vibe
- It’s sticky: Mark found himself humming it mid-yardwork
🎧 For fans of: Wolf Alice, PJ Harvey, The Kills
2. “I Just Don’t Know” – Duff McKagan (feat. Jerry Cantrell)
📖 Gravelly honesty from the Guns N’ Roses legend
- Duff’s voice carries a surprising resemblance to Axl Rose (at his best)
- Low-key autobiographical and emotionally resonant
- Features Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell for a grunge-meets-roots-rock feel
- Mark recommends Duff’s book It’s So Easy and Other Lies—a must-read for GNR fans
🎧 For fans of: Classic rock with reflective lyrics and subtle depth
3. “Moonage Daydream” – Dreamcar (Bowie Cover)
🧠 The most embarrassing moment of the week
“I’ve listened to Ziggy Stardust hundreds of times… and still didn’t recognize the damn cover.”
- Dreamcar = supergroup featuring members of No Doubt + AFI
- They stay very true to Bowie’s original—and crush it
- Mark owns his flub and still thinks it’s worth your time. We agree.
🎧 For fans of: David Bowie, glam rock, good covers that respect the original
4. “One Less Question” – Maddie Diaz & Lennon Stella
🌫️ Ethereal harmonies + poetic timing
- Unique vocal phrasing that sits just off the beat in a satisfying way
- Gorgeous interplay between two perfectly matched voices
- Mark compares it to the boygenius aesthetic (and he’s spot on)
- Understated, but deeply emotional track that grows with each listen
🎧 For fans of: Phoebe Bridgers, Maggie Rogers, boygenius
🧠 Music Talk: Do Local Scenes Still Matter?
Mark explores a convo with longtime listener Clayton about the death of local music scenes. The verdict?
🌐 Global access to music = homogenization.
We can all hear Manchester, Seoul, or Austin with a click, which is amazing—but those explosive regional pockets of innovation (Seattle grunge, Sunset Strip metal)? They’re becoming rarer.
“I love the access. But I miss the magic of a sound born from a place.”
🎧 Bonus Shoutout: Chuggy Radio Hour
Mark guested on the Chuggy Radio Hour (Spotify), talking about his musical background, 10 personally reflective tracks, and the birth of Songs That Don’t Suck.
🎙️ Host Clayson = good dude, good taste. Follow his show!
🖼️ …and I quote…
“Music connects to core memories—and now, every time I listen to Dark Side of the Moon, I’ll relive April 8th, 2024.”
—Mark Bradbourne, Ep. 65
🔊 Audiogram Embed
🎧 Listen to Episode 65 now:
▶️ Stream on Anchor
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all your favorite podcast platforms.
🎸 Keep up with everything at SongsThatDontSuck.net
💌 Send Mark your favorite underrated artists or just say hi via the contact form.
📱 Follow the show on TikTok, Instagram, and BlueSky. Seriously. He’s everywhere.
Until next week… keep searching for and listening to songs that don’t suck. 🎶
Need a visual audiogram or social media clip for this episode’s promo? I can create one on request!
