60 Songs That Explain the '90s

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1. At The Drive-In — “One Armed Scissor”

   21 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 38 min

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   For a brief moment in 2000, At the Drive-In were the best live band in the world—then they broke up. This week, Rob tracks how the El Paso post-hardcore outfit burned so bright so quickly with their complex, politically-charged tunes that made for some of the wildest shows in rock. The band then suddenly flamed out after it became clear that their intensity wasn’t sustainable when they struggled to contain an unruly, “sheep”-like crowd at Big Day Out. Later, Rob is joined by journalist Suzy Exposito to discuss the herculean task of covering “One-Armed Scissor” and the politics of the pit. Lees meer

   Host: Rob Harvilla

   Guest: Suzy Exposito

   Producers: Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, Justin Sayles, and Olivia Crerie

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   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/60songsthatexplainthe90s

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   (00:00) Intro: “Ice cream-eating motherf–kers,” Big Day Out 2001, and how to wrangle a mosh pit

   (31:09) This week’s song: “One-Armed Scissor” by At the Drive-In

   (32:17) ATDI’s formation amid tragedy

   (38:11) The band’s ferocious, dense lyricism

   (57:45) “One-Armed Scissor,” as performed on various late-night shows

   (66:42) Interview with Suzy Exposito

   (94:58) Outro

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2. Bon Iver — “Skinny Love”

   14 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 37 min

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   Pack up your winter gear—we’re headed to the Wisconsin woods. This week, Rob retreats into Justin Vernon’s cabin to remember the buzzy indie album ‘For Emma, Forever Ago,’ which launched the career of the eventual Grammy-winning band Bon Iver. He looks back on how critics and audiences were enamored with the narrative that Vernon wrote the album while heartbroken and alone in the woods, and the way his voice conveyed those feelings. Later, Rob’s joined by The New York Times’ Jon Caramanica to discuss if “Skinny Love” possibly led to “stomp-clap” music and what collaborators like Kanye West and Taylor Swift heard in Bon Iver. Lees meer

   (00:00) Intro: Neko Case’s voice as a force of nature

   (30:19) This week’s song: “Skinny Love” by Bon Iver

   (32:36) Justin Vernon’s (many) early bands

   (48:29) Bon Iver’s abstract lyrics

   (55:05) “Skinny Love” and the narrative of ‘For Emma, Forever Ago’

   (01:04:57) Interview with Jon Caramanica

   (01:33:25) Outro

   Host: Rob Harvilla

   Guest: Jon Caramanica

   Producers: Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, Justin Sayles, and Olivia Crerie

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3. Black Eyed Peas — “I Gotta Feeling”

   7 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 36 min

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   Are bad lyrics good lyrics? That’s the question Rob posits as he tackles the Black Eyed Peas, who may have mastered the art of good-bad songwriting. He looks back on how the Peas jumped from hip-hop to pop after they added Fergie to their crew, until they ultimately hit dance music in 2009—but they maintained their goofy sensibility the whole way. Later, Rob’s joined by columnist Leslie Gray Streeter to discuss the merits of “My Humps” and why “I Gotta Feeling” has come to represent the Obamacore era. Lees meer

   (00:00) Intro: Lyrics so bad that ... maybe they're good?

   (21:12) This week’s song: “I Gotta Feeling” by Black Eyed Peas

   (24:57) BEP’s early hip-hop days

   (39:05) Shifting to pop and recruiting Fergie

   (51:54) The wonderfully dumb ‘The E.N.D.’ and “I Gotta Feeling”

   (01:00:24) Interview with Leslie Gray Streeter

   (01:32:58) Outro

   Host: Rob Harvilla

   Guest: Leslie Gray Streeter

   Producers: Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, Justin Sayles, and Olivia Crerie

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4. Lee Ann Womack — “I Hope You Dance”

   30 september 2026 · 1 uur 36 min

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   She sings both kinds of music—country and Western—and you better be grateful for it. Lee Ann Womack followed in the footsteps of icons like Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and Tammy Wynette, but she took even greater inspiration from male country stars like George Jones. After making a name for herself with her captivating tunes, Womack reckoned with love and faith on the beautiful—and melancholy?—"I Hope You Dance," which became a crossover hit and Womack's signature song. Rob is joined by music journalist Marissa R. Moss, who discusses what Womack faced as a woman in country music during the late '90s and 2000s and the selflessness it takes to write a love song to someone who is leaving your life. Lees meer

   (00:00) Intro: The Blues Brothers go to Bob's Country Bunker

   (24:19) Remembering Dolly Parton

   (38:11) This week's song: "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack

   (41:02) Womack's early tracks and the state of country in the late '90s

   (57:28) Is "I Hope You Dance" a sad or happy song?

   (01:05:27) Interview with Marissa R. Moss

   (01:33:12) Outro

   Host: Rob Harvilla

   Guest: Marissa R. Moss

   Producers: Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, Justin Sayles, and Olivia Crerie

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5. An Overdue 60 Songs Mailbag

   23 september 2026 · 1 uur 37 min

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   It’s been [redacted] years since our last mailbag episode, and Rob is finally back to answer all your burning questions about the ’90s, 2000s, and more. He’s joined by Bandsplain’s Yasi Salek to discuss everything from Jason Mraz to Weird Al to chain restaurants. Tune in to hear their responses to your queries (as well as Yasi’s plea for a Fuel episode). Lees meer

   (00:00) Intro with Yasi Salek(07:57) Opening the mailbag: What is a “goth”?(17:25) Which songs explain the 2020s so far?(28:36) Which episode would you do over?(35:26) Thoughts on Weird Al and regrettable hot takes(57:48) Favorite eras of music and ’90s artists Rob’s grown to love(01:11:08) Questions about chain restaurants, surprises from the podcast, and living in Ohio(01:30:48) Final question: Are you scared of Swifties?

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   Host: Rob HarvillaGuest: Yasi SalekProducers: Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, Justin Sayles, and Olivia Crerie
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6. Peter Bjorn and John — "Young Folks"

   16 september 2026 · 1 uur 31 min

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   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 beginnings before their single “Young Folks” whistled its way to many best-of lists and became one of the era’s defining indie anthems. Later, he’s joined by ‘Such Great Heights’ author Chris DeVille to discuss the legacy of Peter Bjorn and John’s album ‘Writer’s Block’ and how it signals a shift in the commercialization of indie rock. Lees meer

   (00:00) Intro: Is the Beach Fossils Bass Toss indie rock’s peak?(26:43) This week’s song: “Young Folks” by Peter Bjorn and John(31:50) The band’s early days in Sweden(36:43) ‘Falling Out’ and PB&J’s songs of fading youth(45:31) Indie twee and Rob’s whistling perils(52:38) “Young Folks” and highlights from ‘Writer’s Block’(01:02:55) Interview with Chris DeVille(01:27:55) Outro

   Host: Rob HarvillaProducers: Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, Justin Sayles, and Olivia CrerieGuest: Chris DeVille

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7. Evanescence — “Bring Me To Life”

   9 september 2026 · 1 uur 27 min

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   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 To Life,” their seemingly cringey idea only accentuated Lee’s angsty vocals and became a multigenerational anthem. Later, Rob is joined by Brittany Spanos to discuss what it meant to have such a feminine singer enter the male dominated emo rock scene. Lees meer

   Host: Rob Harvilla

   Producers: Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, Justin Sayles, and Olivia Crerie

   Guest: Brittany Spanos

   Power up your play with Nintendo Switch 2.

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8. Sade — “By Your Side”

   2 september 2026 · 1 uur 46 min

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   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 explanation for 8 years because she felt that was best for her. That quiet confidence lends itself to making some of the, in Rob’s words, horniest music imaginable, and the world is better for it. Finally, he is joined by Danyel Smith who explains how Sade laid the groundwork for artists like Rihanna to be the ultimate cool girl and how younger generations are still discovering Sade. Lees meer

   (00:00) Intro: Let’s remember some guys

   (28:19) This week’s song: “By Your Side” by Sade

   (31:46) Pride, “Smooth Operator,” and ‘Diamond Life’

   (42:50) The legacy of Quiet Storm

   (49:25) Sade’s public silences and ever-growing myth

   (58:01) “By Your Side” and Sade’s comforting presence

   (01:07:19) Interview with Danyel Smith

   (01:42:50) Outro

   Host: Rob Harvilla

   Producers: Olivia Crerie, Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, and Justin Sayles

   Guest: Danyel Smith
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9. Spoon — “The Underdog”

   26 augustus 2026 · 1 uur 36 min

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   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 of a muse for the band, shaping their swaggery image. Finally, he is joined by music critic Ryan Dombal who greatly appreciates the snobbery of Spoon and the rockstar frontman energy of Britt Daniels. Lees meer

   (00:00) Intro: The three phases of major-label rock stardom

   (21:23) This week’s song: “The Underdog” by Spoon

   (25:39) Britt Daniel’s origins and ‘Telefono’

   (34:56) How Spoon got dropped from Elektra Records

   (40:48) Spoon’s evolution as the 21st century's most consistent band

   (56:44) “The Underdog,” the ultimate mouth-horn song

   (01:02:28) Interview with Ryan Dombal

   (01:33:02) Outro

   Host: Rob Harvilla

   Producers: Olivia Crerie, Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, and Justin Sayles

   Guest: Ryan Dombal

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10. My Chemical Romance—“Welcome to the Black Parade”

    19 augustus 2026 · 1 uur 37 min

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    We should have known that, despite the irony, the kid from New Jersey who defended the purchasing of serial killer comics would grow up to become the defender of the broken, beaten, and damned. Today, Rob recollects the discovery of his emo phase with the enduring anthem “Welcome to the Black Parade,” by My Chemical Romance. He recounts the rise of the young band in a post-9/11 New Jersey and the pinnacle of their success with the grandiose showmanship of the 'Black Parade' album. At the end, he is joined by former My Chemical Romance producer and mentor Geoff Rickly, lead singer of the band Thursday, who knew early on that the band would be a global phenomenon. Lees meer

    Host: Rob Harvilla

    Producers: Olivia Crerie, Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, and Justin Sayles

    Guest: Geoff Rickly

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/60songsthatexplainthe90s/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@60songsthatexplainthe90s?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
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