Songs That Don’t Suck – Episode 7 : Lo-Fi Rap, Gut-Punch Ballads & Punk Vibes
Welcome, friends, to Episode 7 of Songs That Don’t Suck — the Cliff Notes version. 🎧
I’m your host, Mark Bradbourne, aging Gen Xer and perpetual seeker of new music that actually hits.
🎯 Mission Recap: Why I Do This
Each week, I dive into 300–500 songs from Spotify’s new music playlists.
I listen. I weed out the garbage.
Then I bring you the tracks that don’t suck.
And hey, I’ve been hearing from you—you’re finding 2–3 songs per episode that you dig. That’s a huge win in my book. Let’s keep going.
🧠 Genres I Gravitate Toward
- ✅ Rock
- ✅ Alternative
- ✅ Country
- ✅ Metal
- 🧪 Sometimes: Rap, R&B, Chill-Hop
Not every track will be in your wheelhouse, but if you trust the process, I promise: you’ll find hidden gems.
🎧 This Week’s Picks: Only Four Tracks, But They Hit Hard
It was a lighter week overall—some mid songs, some meh weeks—but I’ve got four you’ll want to hear. Let’s go:
1. Logic ft. Norah Jones – “Paradise II”
🌀 Lo-fi meets chill-hop meets smooth-flow rap
🎤 Norah Jones’ dreamy vocals on the hook = chef’s kiss
🎛️ Logic’s flow is relaxed, rhythmic, in-the-pocket perfection
This isn’t my usual genre, but this track made me pause. It’s subtle. It’s textured. It’s… kinda beautiful? Plus, Norah Jones’ voice is like finding an old flannel in the closet—warm, familiar, comforting.
Logic might not make it into my everyday rotation, but this song? It absolutely earns a place on the “focus & feel” playlist.
🎉 500 Listens! 🎁 Let’s Celebrate with a Giveaway
We crossed a big milestone—500 listens!
THANK YOU for making this tiny but mighty music podcast grow 💚
2. Friday Pilots Club – “Life Support”
🩺 Alt-rock with a pulse—emotional but not overcooked
🎧 Feels like: Bastille x Imagine Dragons (but less formulaic)
This one hit me harder than expected—maybe it’s my mood, maybe it’s the state of the world, but this song carried some serious emotional weight. The production has polish without losing its edge.
3. White Reaper – “Bozo”
🔥 Fast. Loud. Fun.
🎸 Slight punk vibes (10 songs in 29 mins? Yeah, that’s punk math)
📀 Album = quick hit, but this track stands out
I’ve checked out White Reaper before, but nothing stuck—until “Bozo.” It’s chaotic in a good way, the kind of track you blast in your car with the windows down, hoping nobody’s judging your air-drumming.
If you miss the energy of rock without the overproduced gloss, this is your track.
4. Robyn Ottolini – “Five Years”
💔 Emotional gut-punch of the week
🕰️ Haunting ticking clock motif
🎤 A vocal delivery that aches
This song stopped me cold. It’s quiet, but devastating. Ottolini sings about time slipping away, unfulfilled dreams, and existential dread—and I felt it.
It’s the kind of song that reminds you of your own “what now?” moments. Beautiful and brutal.
📝 Final Notes
🎧 Only four songs this week, but each one offers a different flavor:
- Lo-fi rap? ✔️
- Emotional alt-pop? ✔️
- Shouty punk rock? ✔️
- Sad ballads to cry to in your car? ✔️
📣 Help others find the pod:
- Share it 🙌
- Rate & review it 💬
- Talk about it at brunch 🥂
And again—thank you for getting us to 500 listens. This podcast has no ads, no sponsors, and no ulterior motive beyond helping you discover great music. Let’s keep going.
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🎤 “Until next time… keep searching for and listening to songs that don’t suck.”
