👔 Dad Rock, Divorce Core & Discoveries: A Father’s Day Special of Songs That Don’t Suck
What’s up, friends? This week’s Songs That Don’t Suck is serving up a heartfelt toast to father figures everywhere—biological, honorary, or just the dudes stepping up. But we’re not stopping there. Mark Bradbourne dives into what it means to be a “dad” in music culture and unpacks the hilarity (and surprising accuracy) of genres like Dad Rock, Yacht Rock, and the sleeper hit… Divorce Core 🥲.
🧔 The Great Dad Rock Debate: Who’s King?
A new survey from Merchoid.com asked 3,000 people which band best represents Dad Rock. And the results are… both hilarious and a little terrifying. Here’s the Top 10, counted down:
- Limp Bizkit
- Bon Jovi
- Coldplay
- Guns N’ Roses
- Linkin Park
- Nirvana
- Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Blink-182
- Van Halen
- Nickelback (with 26% of the vote 😬)
And yes—Ohio, Mark’s home base, crowned Nickelback too. Because of course they did.
“Even the dads who rip on Nickelback will roll down the windows and blast ‘How You Remind Me’ when it hits. That’s just science.” — Mark
Other highlights:
- 57% say today’s music is worse than the classics (we agree).
- 3% say modern music is better (they failed a drug test).
- 86% say granddad rock belongs to the ’60s, though 6% had the nerve to say grunge. 👊
🧽 Divorce Core & Yacht Rock: Yes, They’re Real
- Divorce Core: A genre coined by the podcast Beyond Yacht Rock featuring post-breakup dad jams full of hope and pathos. Think Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, Phil Collins.
- Yacht Rock: Smooth, soft, and oozing with West Coast vibes. It’s the soundtrack to your dad’s summer escape fantasies. Think:
- Steely Dan
- Hall & Oates
- Christopher Cross (“Sailing”)
- Toto (“Africa”)
Mark’s advice? Go listen to Beyond Yacht Rock’s Divorce Core episode and thank him later.
🎶 This Week’s Songs That Don’t Suck
🌹 1. Perfume – Pale Waves
🎤 Cranberries meets The Cure meets Paramore-lite
This single’s got dreamy indie textures, haunting vocals, and an ’80s alt-pop vibe. Heather Baron Gracie’s voice shines over crisp, emotive production. A tonal shift from their previous Unwanted album, but a good one.
🐟 2. Innocence of Youth – The Manatees
🥁 Bass-forward brilliance with rhythmic finesse
What really sells this one is the drummer’s restraint—syncopated beats, clean rhythm, and gorgeous production. Add in tight vocals and slick keys, and you’ve got a super listenable track from a band still flying under the radar.
🧠 3. Don’t – Honeyglaze
💡 Experimental, funky, and slightly bizarre—in the best way
Imagine: Spoken-word female vocals + a funky drumline + Primus-level dissonance = THIS. A refreshing break from formulaic indie, though it stands out from the band’s earlier catalog. Bold, weird, and addictive.
💋 4. Sexy to Someone – Clairo
🪩 Bossa nova groove meets indie dreamscape
This week’s surprise gem came courtesy of Mark’s buddy Clayton, who dove into the trenches of a new release playlist to help with prep. Despite hating whispery falsettos, he gave this one high marks—and he’s right. Smooth keys, airy vocals, and a chill vibe make this track an indie must.
🎙️ Guest Critic of the Week: Clayton
❝Bro, I’m three songs in and already mad. How do you do this every week?❞ — Clayton
❝So far, the Jeep commercial is firmly in the lead.❞
Welcome to Songs That Don’t Suck, my guy. This is what sifting through 700k new songs a week does to you.
🧠 Weekly Takeaway:
Whether you’re reminiscing about Zeppelin in the car with Dad, bobbing your head to a Manatees bassline, or deep diving into weird Divorce Core history—you’re here. And that means you’re not out of touch. Keep exploring. 🎵
🔊 …and I quote…
❝Dad rock isn’t just nostalgia—it’s the soundtrack of road trips, barbecues, and memories with the people who raised us.❞
— Mark Bradbourne, Songs That Don’t Suck
