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Artwork for 60 Songs That Explain the '90s

60 Songs That Explain the '90s

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

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes180Founded4 years ago
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Music

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Artwork for 60 Songs That Explain the '90s

Latest Episodes

Twee aesthetics, songs about fleeting youth (sung by people who are objectively young), and lots and lots of blogs—that’s right, we’re talking about indie rock in the aughts. Today, Rob recounts how Swedish trio Peter Bjorn and John came from humble ... more

Although this podcast has continuously shown that we cheer for the underdog, every now and then we must tip our cap to the suits and head honchos. When Evanescence’s record label insisted that Amy Lee sing alongside a rapper on their song, “Bring Me ... more

This week’s episode is all about comfort. It’s about being remembered and what better person to commemorate that feeling with than the person whose music doesn’t seem to age- Sade. Sade came out with “By Your Side” after disappearing with no explanat... more

Today, Rob explains how even after five successful studio albums, Spoon still felt vengeful enough to write the most triumphant song about being the underdog. He reflects on how Spoon's major label dropped the Austin rockers and became the opposite o... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Brittany Spanos
Writer and critic, Rolling Stone / Vogue / Cosmopolitan contributor
Rolling Stone (and other outlets)
Episode: Evanescence — “Bring Me To Life”
Danyel Smith
Writer, critic, podcaster, editor, author of Shine Bright
The Ringer; Shine Bright; Black Girl Songbook
Episode: Sade — “By Your Side”
Ryan Dombal
Writer and critic, co-founder of Hearing Things podcast and former Pitchfork editor
Hearing Things; former Pitchfork
Episode: Spoon — “The Underdog”
Geoff Rickly
Frontman for Thursday, producer and mentor to My Chemical Romance
Thursday
Episode: My Chemical Romance—“Welcome to the Black Parade”
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”
Chandler Levack
Toronto writer and filmmaker
Mile End Kicks (filmmaker)
Episode: Feist — “1234”
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”

Host

Rob Harvilla
Host of the show; lead interviewer guiding conversations about 90s/2000s music.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 8.8k ratings
  • Continues to surprise me (but shouldn’t??)

    Love this one. It’s kinda long, though, so I don’t listen as often as I should. But that creates a perfect little opportunity for me to queue up a ton of eps and listen in a binge. I’m always thrilled I did. Sometimes, I won’t listen to an ep because I hate the song it’s about, and then when I finally do, of course Rob does a perfect job of closing loops, bringing things around. For example, Iris, I’m looking at you, and if I’d realized so much of this episode was about Matthew Sweet and the Rep... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MsDiagnosed
    United States4 days ago
  • One of My Faves! Fix Volume??

    Hey Rob, I love the show, been listening for years, but the most recent episodes have been too quiet. I listen with headphones and have the volume cranked all the way up and have had to stop listening because I wasn’t in a perfectly quiet environment.

    I have not had the same issue in previous seasons.

    Can we get the volume fixed please?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    macbabe16
    United States12 days ago
  • Tangents

    Your enjoyment will live or die based on how you feel about the host’s long and winding tangents to open the episodes. Here I am listening to episode #80 and we’re a full 28 minutes in before he even mentions the song and artist that are the nominal subjects. Once it gets going it’s pretty solid but don’t feel bad about skipping through those brutal opening monologues.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Pops Callahan
    United Statesa month ago
  • Awful

    I’d give this zero stars if I could. This podcast is horribly researched and told from the perspective of someone who clearly does not enjoy music. I could barely get through 5 mins of the Chili Peppers episode before switching with hope to the Rage Against the Machine episod. There are no words for how bad this podcast is. Disappointing and shameful to see this sponsored by Spotify. If you enjoy music, do not listen to this.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    fujskwndndnxjj
    United Statesa month ago
  • Awesome

    A trip to listen to. If you grew up on 90s or 2000s music, find the episodes about your songs and let it rip. You won’t regret it

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    VanBeverages
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners call out sound quality or pacing but largely stay engaged for the long-form format.
Listeners praise deep research and storytelling, with many noting the host's insightful tangents and winding narrative.
Newcomers often enjoy the sense of music history and emotional resonance across episodes.
Fans appreciate the guest variety and cultural context brought to each episode.
Spotlighted guests and cross-era analysis are frequent selling points for sponsors and guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#12
United States/Music
Apple Podcasts
#22
United States/Music
Spotify
#17
United Kingdom/Music
Apple Podcasts
#12
Canada/Music
Apple Podcasts
#55
United Kingdom/Music
Spotify
#9
Australia/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Peter Bjorn and John — "Young Folks"
Q: What do you mean by indie rock's gentrification and its relationship to ads?
Chris DeVille explains that Writer's Block arrived at a moment when indie rock suddenly became commercially appealing, with whistling hooks and a 'cute' pop aesthetic turning into a tool for brands and mainstream media, which circulated the music far beyond traditional indie channels.
Spoon — “The Underdog”
Q: How do Spoon manage to stay reliably consistent without getting boring?
Ryan explains that Spoon's consistency stems from an eternal, timeless rock sound and a refusal to take wild left turns, which keeps their core identity intact while allowing for tasteful experimentation.
My Chemical Romance—“Welcome to the Black Parade”
Q: What was the rough trajectory from New Jersey beginnings to the scale of The Black Parade?
The guest and host discuss the early DIY environment in New Jersey, mentorship from Geoff Rickly, and the way ambition combined with hard work, touring, and evolving musical influences pushed the band from local scenes to a major-genre breakout with The Black Parade.
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.

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 deep-dive into 90s and 2000s indie and pop-rock through long-form, story-driven discussions led by a meticulous host. Episodes weave memoir, critical context, and behind-the-scenes industry angles around beloved songs and artists, often featuring guest experts who illuminate historical moments, studio processes, and the cultural currents that shaped a generation's sound. Noteworthy strengths include thorough research, a tuning fork for nostalgia, and a knack for connecting moments across decades into a cohesive narrative. Listeners who crave deep musical archaeology, candid memories, and well-structured discussions about how songs became cultural touchstones are likely to find this podcast endlessly engaging and rewarding to re... more

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Which podcasts are similar to 60 Songs That Explain the '90s?

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

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

How many episodes of 60 Songs That Explain the '90s are there?

60 Songs That Explain the '90s launched 4 years ago and published 180 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. Brittany Spanos
2. Danyel Smith
3. Ryan Dombal
4. Geoff Rickly
5. Suzy Exposito
6. Chandler Levack
7. Garrett Kamps
8. Cole Cuchna

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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