60 Songs That Explain the '90s

What do ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,’ The Smiths, and Rob’s lack of basketball skill have to do with the Irish rock band the Cranberries and their 1994 hit “Zombie”? Press play to find out as Rob deep dives on the song and the impact of lead singer Dolores O'Riordan. Host: Rob Harvilla Guest: Shadrach Kabango Producer: Justin Sayles Associate Producer: Jonathan Kermah Learn more about your ad choice...

Rob celebrates the song “Firestarter” while looking back at the electronic band the Prodigy. While contextualizing the band, he also discusses the backlash surrounding their song “Smack My Bitch Up.” Host: Rob Harvilla Guest: Jeremy D Larson Producer: Justin Sayles Associate Producer: Jonathan Kermah Audio Intern: Kai Grady Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rob looks back at the house-influenced 1997 pop hit that is “Together Again.” Along the way, he highlights the sensational career of pop icon Janet Jackson, and some of her best laughs on songs. Host: Rob Harvilla Guest: DJ Louie XIV Producer: Justin Sayles Associate Producer: Jonathan Kermah Audio Intern: Kai Grady Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Listen as Rob delves into his most vivid memories of late-night video game binges with his band. Somewhere along the way, we’ll look back at Sunny Day Real Estate’s “In Circles” to fulfill our duties for The Ringer’s Emo Week. Host: Rob Harvilla Guest: Ian Cohen Producer: Justin Sayles Associate Producer: Jonathan Kermah Audio Intern: Kai Grady Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoice...

Rob dives into the Beastie Boys' evolution from frat boy rap group to enlightened men while he looks back at the anthem that is “Sabotage.” Host: Rob Harvilla Guest: Jane Coaston Producers: Justin Sayles and Devon Renaldo Associate Producer: Jonathan Kermah Additional Production: Kai Grady Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rob reminisces about the first time he heard “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails, the state of industrial rock during that time, and his deep love for Trent Reznor. Host: Rob Harvilla Guests: William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes from .clipping Producers: Justin Sayles and Devon Renaldo Associate Producer: Jonathan Kermah Additional Production: Kai Grady Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices...

Rob explores the making of Mary J. Blige and Method Man’s “I’ll Be There For You / You’re All I Need,” the pain in Mary’s music and real life, and much more when looking back at “Real Love.” Host: Rob Harvilla Guest: Leslie Streeter Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles Audio Intern: Kai Grady Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rob looks back at The Verve’s “Bitter Sweet Symphony” and the band's legal battles over royalties owed to The Rolling Stones. Host: Rob Harvilla Guest: Niko Stratis Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rob looks back at the Los Angeles based band Hole, the pain within the lyrics of “Doll Parts,” and Courtney Love coping with the death of Kurt Cobain. This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk show available exclusively on Spotify. Find the full song on Spotify or wherever you get your music. Host: Rob Harvilla Guest: Yasi Salek Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles Learn mor...

Rob brings the pod to Queensbridge this week as he looks back at the ‘Infamous’ rap duo that is Mobb Deep and their legendary song “Shook Ones, Part II.” This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk show available exclusively on Spotify. Find the full song on Spotify or wherever you get your music. Host: Rob Harvilla Guest: Paul Thompson Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles Lea...

Rob looks back at the comedic punk rock classic that is “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)” along with much more from the Offspring’s catalog. This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk show available exclusively on Spotify. Find the full song on Spotify or wherever you get your music. .Host: Rob Harvilla Guest: Zack Mykula Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles Learn more about you...

Rob brings his own bass to the party as he looks back at Jane’s Addiction’s “Been Caught Stealing,” along with some of his favorite basslines in rock music. Host: Rob Harvilla Guest: Karina Longworth Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rob looks back at the heartbreak anthem that is “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” while also looking back at the phases of Bonnie Raitt’s lengthy career, as well as some of the biggest heartbreaks of his own past. This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk show available exclusively on Spotify. Find the full song on Spotify or wherever you get your music. Host: Rob Harvilla Guest: Emma Car...

Rob looks back at Tag Team’s no. 2 charting single “Whoomp! (There It Is)” along with the controversy surrounding the song and 95 South’s release of “Whoot, There It Is.” This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk show available exclusively on Spotify. Find the full song on Spotify or wherever you get your music. Host: Rob Harvilla Guest: Rodney Carmichael Producers: Jonathan Kermah...

'60 Songs' returns for another batch of songs by covering the Big Bang of late '90s teen pop, Britney Spears's " ... Baby One More Time." Rob breaks down Britney's early career, how the media handled the young star, the song's perfect chorus, and much more. This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk show available exclusively on Spotify. Find the full song on Spotify or wherever you ...

Rob closes out the first set songs with a heartfelt appraisal of Layne Staley via an exploration of the Seattle band’s tribute to vocalist Andrew Wood. This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk show available exclusively on Spotify. Find the full song on Spotify or wherever you get your music. Host: Rob Harvilla Guest: Chuck Klosterman Producer: Justin Sayles  Associate Producer: De...

Rob explores the joy, terror, and fulfillment of fatherhood through one of classic rock’s dynamic frontmen, Tom Petty. Rob runs down Petty’s career, including his MTV music video impact, the ‘Wildflowers’ standout “It’s Good to Be King,” and how Petty prepared him for the most transformative experience of his life. Plus, a big announcement about the future of the show. This episode was originally ...

Rob Harvilla explores the legacy of Tupac Shakur, one of the most important figures hip-hop ever birthed and a person whose life was defined by contradictions. He breaks down Tupac’s rise in music and Hollywood and his latter-day stint at Death Row Records, including the mega-hit “California Love.” This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk show available exclusively on Spotify. Find...

Rob explores the history of Los Angeles rock band Rage Against the Machine and their debut single, “Killing in the Name.” By calling out police brutality and political corruption, the furious four-piece became one of the most rebellious bands of the 1990s and brought socialist and revolutionary ideas to the mainstream. This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk show available exclusi...

Rob explores the memory of a lost love in Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-Factor.” Tracking her rise to fame first as a member of the Fugees then as a solo star, he dissects how she spoke her truth and in doing so became one of the greatest singers and rappers ever. This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk show available exclusively on Spotify. Find the full song on Spotify or wherever you get y...

Rob explores what happens when you make music your everything. Through the lens of Counting Crows lead singer Adam Duritz, Rob breaks down the band’s ballad “A Long December” before The Ringer’s Bill Simmons joins to contemplate Adam’s struggle to prioritize happiness. This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk show available exclusively on Spotify. Find the full song on Spotify or w...

Rob explores the radical and blunt nature of Fiona Apple. Nearly 25 years after “Criminal” made a jaded 18-year-old into an alt-rock superstar, Harvilla looks at the songstress’s outspoken antics, her views on exploitation, that infamous Spin article, and more.  This episode contains content about sexual assault and eating disorders. This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk show av...

Rob explores the spiritual and sexy Carlos Santana. Assisted by Matchbox 20 vocalist Rob Thomas, Santana created what may have been the song of the decade, “Smooth.” Rob looks into the guitarist’s passion for collaboration and how record mogul Clive Davis took the ’70s rock legend and turned him into a 1990s Billboard chart-topping force. This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk sh...

Rob explores the Fierce Five, a.k.a. the Spice Girls, who became the biggest-selling girl group in the world following the success of their smash hit “Wannabe.” Rob tracks their rise to international stardom, a failed film, and the attempt to spread “Girl Power” across the globe. This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk show available exclusively on Spotify. Find the full song on S...

Rob explores the spiritual genius of the late rapper DMX. He observes X’s power of prayer, recounts the rapper’s destructive childhood, and tells the tale of how the breakout hit “Ruff Ryder’s Anthem” came to be. This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk show available exclusively on Spotify. Find the full song on Spotify or wherever you get your music. Host: Rob Harvilla Guest: She...