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Artwork for 60 Songs That Explain the '90s

60 Songs That Explain the '90s

The Ringer
Hip Hop
Nickelback
Gorillaz
How To Save a Life
Country Music
Rock Music
Feel Good, Inc.
Queens Of the Stone Age
The Fray
Pop Music
Britpop
Jay-Z
System Of a Down
Grunge Music
Kyuss
Grey's Anatomy
Live Like You Were Dying
Mr. Brightside
Iris
2000s Rock Music

First came '60 Songs That Explain the '90s.' (We did that.) Then came '60 Songs That Explain the '90s: The 2000s.' (We're doing that now—and yes, that's the actual name.) But whether you want to jump back to the Clinton years or join us as we reboot our old iPods, you can find all of the collected works of Rob Harvilla below. Come back each Wednesday for a new episode.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes175Founded4 years ago
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Artwork for 60 Songs That Explain the '90s

Latest Episodes

We’re going back to our roots this week—back to our Toyota Corollas and Chrysler LeBarons or whatever other shitty cars we drove back in the ’90s—to blast some Bush. Rob ponders whether frontman Gavin Rossdale is a good lyricist and extends some empa... more

This episode is for the ladies up in here tonight! Before her hips became internationally renowned, Shakira was making Spanish rock music from the age of 14. Today, Rob looks back at her crossover album 'Laundry Service,' which was released as other ... more

Imagine, you’re on the road with an indie sleaze band making sock puppets sing obscenities when Sesame Street gives you a call. Leslie Feist’s career can most similarly be compared to the life of Benjamin Button with her most successful and youthful ... more

This episode is for all of the people who don’t know the difference between a meteor, meteoroid, and meteorite. Rob finally opens up about his hipster phase of life that nearly got him killed (his words, not ours). He recounts all of the “freak folk”... more

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Recent Guests

Suzy Exposito
Critic and columnist; assistant editor for the Delos Vertical at the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
Episode: Shakira — “Hips Don’t Lie”
Garrett Kamps
semi-lapsed veteran music journalist; former SF Weekly music editor; co-founder of Third Bridge Creative; CEO of Small Bow Media Network
Small Bow Media Network
Episode: Joanna Newsom — “Emily”
Cole Cuchna
Host of the Dissect podcast, guest on this episode
Dissect
Episode: Radiohead — “All I Need”
Bartees Strange
Critically acclaimed singer and songwriter
Bartees Strange (artist)”
Episode: TV On The Radio — “Wolf Like Me”
Open Mike Eagle
Rapper and podcaster, friend of the program
Episode: Madvillain — “All Caps”
Chuck Klosterman
Author and writer, guest discussing football culture and music journalism
Author, Football (book)
Episode: The White Stripes — “Seven Nation Army”
Leslie Gray Streeter
Baltimore Banner columnist, memoirist, novelist, podcaster
Baltimore Banner
Episode: Kelis — “Milkshake”
Rob Mahoney
Senior staff writer for The Ringer and podcast personality
The Ringer
Episode: Paramore — “Misery Business”
Jill Hopkins
Journalist and podcast host, Civic Events producer at Metro Chicago and G-Man Tavern
Metro Chicago; G-Man Tavern
Episode: The Darkness — “I Believe in a Thing Called Love”

Host

Rob Harvilla
Host with long-form music criticism, storytelling, and cultural context; known for connecting songs to broader cultural moments.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 8.7k ratings
  • Haha I love it but it also drives me crazy going through 15-30 minutes of obscure musical tangents before getting to the title song! :D still will give it 4/5.

    Podcast Addict
    4
    bjt282
    20 days ago
  • Break

    Hopefully they use the break to address the sound issues. I’m getting close to breaking up with the pod otherwise which is a shame cause I was a huge fan forever but it’s so bad.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    mdv808
    United Statesa month ago
  • Great podcast

    So nice to have the 90s explained

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tab-o
    United Statesa month ago
  • Poetry

    This guy links things together perfectly

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bobbyboyislit23
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Used to love

    This used to be so good. And does this latest season explain anything to anyone other than Rob? This was my ‘90s and ‘00s too! Maybe make a podcast of indie ‘00s music for those “Aficionados”, and a more mainstream ‘00s podcast for the rest of us. It doesn’t have to be super complicated or surreal to explain the time.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Crawldad22
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some reviews call out sound quality and long-form format as potential barriers.
Listeners highlight the strong guest insights and cultural context.
Fans praise the host's essay-like writing and deep knowledge of music history.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Spotify
#26
United States/Music
Apple Podcasts
#31
United States/Music
Spotify
#40
United Kingdom/Music
Apple Podcasts
#16
Canada/Music
Apple Podcasts
#124
United Kingdom/Music
Spotify
#23
Australia/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Bush — “Glycerine”
Q: Is Gavin Rossdale a good lyricist? Yes or no?
The guest and host discuss that while the lyrics may be interpreted as free-associative, there is appreciation for their emotional resonance and the way they fit the music, with nuance about perceived depth versus narrative clarity.
Shakira — “Hips Don’t Lie”
Q: How did the industry and fans react to Shakira's English-language shift with Laundry Service?
There was some disappointment among longtime fans over the blonde makeover and English-language pivot, but many recognized it as a strategic move that broadened her global reach while preserving her distinctive, edgier rock sensibilities.
Shakira — “Hips Don’t Lie”
Q: What makes Hips Don't Lie stand out in the context of Shakira's crossover into English-language pop?
The track is notable for its seamless blending of Spanish and English lyrical cues, Wyclef's presence, and a vocal mix that keeps Shakira front and center, helping translate her distinct edge into a broader pop audience without diluting her identity.
Joanna Newsom — “Emily”
Q: Was the East record a reaction to the reception of Milk-Eyed Mender, or simply a continuation of her artistic vision?
It was a natural evolution, a confident expansion into orchestration and length, driven by her own creative drive rather than reaction to criticism.
Joanna Newsom — “Emily”
Q: When you first encountered Joanna Newsom, what about her made such a lasting impact on audiences?
Her harp playing, the acapella beginnings, and her unusually literate and expansive lyricism created a rare, almost cinematic presence that could silence a crowd and pull them into a shared moment of listening.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About 60 Songs That Explain the '90s

What is 60 Songs That Explain the '90s about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful music podcast that blends deep-dive song analyses with personal nostalgia and cultural critique. Across recent episodes, the host pairs detailed, song-by-song explorations with broad context—covering genre shifts, media narratives, and scene dynamics from the 1990s through the 2000s. Guests range from seasoned music journalists to cultural critics, offering scholarly context, insider perspectives, and anecdotes that illuminate how tracks became touchstones in pop culture. A standout trait is the host's ability to weave memory, criticism, and industry stories into long, richly written conversations, creating a distinctive voice in music journalism that appeals to listeners who crave history, storytelling, and thoughtful analysis... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with 60 Songs That Explain the '90s:

1. Bandsplain
2. The Big Picture
3. The Watch
4. The Rewatchables
5. The Prestige TV Podcast

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60 Songs That Explain the '90s launched 4 years ago and published 175 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on 60 Songs That Explain the '90s?

Recent guests on 60 Songs That Explain the '90s include:

1. Suzy Exposito
2. Garrett Kamps
3. Cole Cuchna
4. Bartees Strange
5. Open Mike Eagle
6. Chuck Klosterman
7. Leslie Gray Streeter
8. Rob Mahoney

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