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Every episode
60 Songs That Explain the '90s
30 episodes
Bush — “Glycerine”
May 20, 2026 · 1 hr 31 min
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 empathy in the age of Nirvana, when no alt-rock band could compare, especially those singing about their “willies.” Finally, Rob is joined by national treasure and Rob’s daughter Yasi Salek, who comes to defend the lyricism of cheekbone himbo Gavin Rossd…
Shakira — “Hips Don’t Lie”
May 13, 2026 · 1 hr 25 min
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 Latin American artists were also starting to make music in English. Later, he is joined by music journalist Suzy Exposito, who talks about why Shakira deserves to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, her initial disappointment when Shakira dyed her…
Feist — “1234”
May 6, 2026 · 1 hr 26 min
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 song, “1234,” coming later in her colorful and previously raucous music career. Rob breaks down Feist’s magical ability to bring new perspectives to covers and sing emotion into numbers before he is joined by Canadian filmmaker Chandler Levack. They…
Joanna Newsom — “Emily”
Apr 29, 2026 · 1 hr 13 min
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” music he discovered in the Bay Area, all of which led him to the harp virtuoso and wordsmith Joanna Newsom. He tries his best not to describe her unique singing voice while dissecting her ability to bend words and seamlessly expand her listener’s vo…
Wolf Parade — “I’ll Believe in Anything”
Apr 22, 2026 · 1 hr 32 min
Will you come to my cottage this summer and blast Canadian rock music? Rob is asking … for a friend! This week, we analyze the dramatic comeback of the Wolf Parade song “I’ll Believe in Anything” after its use in the hit gay hockey show ‘Heated Rivalry.’ He explains how his focus on the ferocity of Wolf Parade’s music distracted him from the meaning of the lyrics and how they surprised him years later during the song's resurgence. Later, he is joined by Canadian Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about…
Radiohead — “All I Need”
Apr 15, 2026 · 1 hr 44 min
Keep those negative thoughts to yourself! They are a parasite to those around you, and who knows that better than Thom Yorke? This week, Rob proves that Radiohead has the ability to sully the minds of even the most innocent by discussing “All I Need,” from their 2007 album, 'In Rainbows.' He breaks down the initial reaction to the pay-what-you-can release of 'In Rainbows’ and discusses why the album resonates with a new generation of Radiohead fans. Finally, he is joined by 'In Rainbows' expert…
TV On The Radio — “Wolf Like Me”
Apr 8, 2026 · 1 hr 23 min
This week, Rob takes a trip down memory lane, a.k.a. 2000s Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Now that we are in the dark ages of social media and virality, there is a set-in-stone Mount Rushmore of late-night TV band performances, including the high-energy TV On The Radio debut of “Wolf Like Me.” Rob discusses how TV On The Radio was affected by post-9/11 New York, giving us the iconic opening album line, “I was a lover before this war.” Later, he is joined by musician and top-10 TV On The Radio fan Barte…
Madvillain — “All Caps”
Apr 1, 2026 · 1 hr 35 min
This week, Rob makes a solid argument that the coolest thing a person can do is watch cartoons and play pretend. He breaks down the many personas of Daniel Dumile, starting with Zev Love X and ending with his villain persona Madvillain. He argues that his best work was done with fellow children’s show lover Madlib before he is joined by rapper and podcaster Open Mike Eagle to talk about getting to collaborate with your favorite rapper and the appeal of concealing one’s identity as an artist. Hos…
The White Stripes — “Seven Nation Army”
Mar 25, 2026 · 1 hr 49 min
You’ve heard the song a million times, and you can sing along with the crowd when it comes on. But come trivia, would you be able to name the artist and song title? Today, Rob is going to drill every jock jam into your head, leading up to the iconic opening eight bars of “Seven Nation Army” by the White Stripes. He breaks down the unusual nature of Meg and Jack White’s relationship and the perfect minimalism of Meg White’s drum style paired with Jack White’s unpredictable maximalist guitar. He t…
Kelis — “Milkshake”
Mar 18, 2026 · 1 hr 25 min
Today, Rob talks about the song that left him speechless upon his first listen—“Milkshake”. He retraces his steps back to the beginning of Kelis’s career when she was screaming at a Glastonbury crowd. He analyzes the trend of not being able to place Black women into neat and separate genres, as rock, rap, punk, pop, and R&B start to blur lines. He is blissfully confused, and that is okay. Later, he is joined by music critic Leslie Gray Streeter to discuss the art of balancing humor and anger in…
Paramore — “Misery Business”
Mar 11, 2026 · 1 hr 35 min
Imagine the angstiest, cringiest art you made as a teenager. Now imagine the entire world singing to it in their cars and at karaoke forever. Today, Rob is breaking down the emotionally turbulent emo-bop factory machine that is Paramore. He applauds the incredible and messy lyrics of ‘Riot!,’ which differentiate the album from those of similar bands of the time. Later, he talks to The Ringer’s Rob Mahoney, Paramore’s OG fan, to discuss the exponential improvement between ‘All We Know Is Falling’…
The Darkness — “I Believe in a Thing Called Love”
Mar 4, 2026 · 1 hr 44 min
There is a select handful of people who were never meant to step foot into an office due to their proclivity to screw around. Just like we sent Rob packing to Ohio to bother no one but himself, Lowestoft, England shipped us The Darkness. During the post-grunge era when rock was murkily defined, we were gifted front man and lead singer Justin Hawkins on a silver platter (his manager’s shoulders) to give us crude operatic hair metal ballads. This week, Rob discusses, “I Believe in a Thing Called L…
D’Angelo—“Untitled (How Does It Feel)”
Feb 25, 2026 · 1 hr 55 min
Today, Rob breaks down one of the many impossible expectations we have for our musical stars—the memorial performance. After years of staying out of the public eye, D’Angelo paid tribute to the artist he grew up imitating, Prince, not because he was expected to but because he had something to share. The bulk of D’Angelo’s career was spent defying our expectations, from taking his time between each of his three studio albums to refusing to become a one-dimensional sex symbol after the release of…
Bruce Springsteen — “The Rising”
Feb 18, 2026 · 1 hr 34 min
In the uncertain moments following 9/11, we were searching for comfort and someone to help us make sense of it all. Today, Rob discusses the one musician who was capable of stepping up and capturing the emotions the American people were feeling: Bruce Springsteen. Rob recaps the political statements Springsteen had been making in the decades before, which prepared him for the creation of “The Rising.” Finally, he is joined by music critic and Springsteen expert Steven Hyden to discuss where the…
Britney Spears – “Toxic”
Feb 11, 2026 · 1 hr 37 min
Before he vows to leave her alone, Rob breaks down the cataclysmic career of a pop star who did it for the love of the game and the disgust of the fame. Britney Spears had the power to shift culture with a single VMAs performance, yet her music reflected a desperation to control her own personal life. Despite the public’s continuous mistreatment of Britney, she selflessly gifted us one of the most iconic bangers of our time: “Toxic.” Afterwards, Rob speaks with music journalist Jeff Weiss to tal…
“Buy U a Drank”— T-Pain
Feb 4, 2026 · 1 hr 43 min
At long last, Rob has returned to your speakers and screens, triumphant in the face of his haters. In this way, he is no different than the subject of today’s episode: T-Pain. Even though he wrote, produced, and performed some of the greatest hits of the 2000s, T-Pain’s use of auto-tune overshadowed his talent. However, after his 2014 Tiny Desk Concert, it is safe to say we all owe T-Pain an apology (and a drank). Finally, Rob talks to The Ringer’s Tyler Parker, who speaks to the shock of hearin…
“Hallelujah” — Jeff Buckley
Dec 3, 2025 · 1 hr 43 min
Today, Rob returns with a gift in time for the holidays, breaking down what many would call the voice of an angel. He takes us back to the ’90s, when one of the most covered songs on the planet was merely a forgotten, horny track from Leonard Cohen’s catalog. While many artists cover songs in an attempt to replicate the original (or just sing it more loudly), Rob explains how Jeff Buckley covered the song and made it new. Later, Rob is joined by documentary filmmaker Amy J. Berg to discuss her n…
“A-Punk” — Vampire Weekend
Aug 20, 2025 · 1 hr 36 min
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"Grindin’"— The Clipse
Aug 13, 2025 · 1 hr 24 min
This week, Rob explores the biblical complexities of brotherhood throughout popular song, and uses those musical examples to highlight this eternal dichotomy: Some days when you aren’t Abel, there is always Cain. This sentiment rings glaringly true as he dissects the career of Virginia brothers The Clipse and their massive 2002 hit ‘Grindin’’, arguably the Neptunes finest production moment. Later, Rob is joined by Ringer alum Shea Serrano to explain why Malice and Pusha T’s elegant street poetry…
“Heavy Metal Drummer”—Wilco
Aug 6, 2025 · 1 hr 32 min
In this week’s episode, Rob uses the blueprint he learned from all of his favorite rock band movies, like 'Dig!' and 'The Great Muppet Caper,' to better understand the self-proclaimed misunderstood band Wilco. He takes us through Jeff Tweedy’s journey, starting with Wilco’s predecessor Uncle Tupelo, which diverged from the marketable grunge movement of its time to make forthright folk music. Unsurprisingly, Tweedy continued not to write music for the masses and the labels, inadvertently making h…
"The House That Built Me"— Miranda Lambert
Jul 30, 2025 · 1 hr 41 min
This week, Rob shines a light on the many ways singer-songwriters have utilized the concept of the word ‘home’ to convey where the heart and the human spirit truly reside. These musings serve as a springboard for a thorough analysis of country superstar Miranda Lambert’s hit song from 2010 ‘The House That Built Me’, and the defiantly authentic discography that preceded it. He’s then joined by friend and culture writer Elamin Abdelmahmoud from CBC’s ‘The Commotion’ podcast to expound further on L…
“Live Like You Were Dying”— Tim McGraw
Jul 23, 2025 · 33 min
This week, Rob puts his pretensions about country music aside with a closer look at Tim McGraw’s simple but moving song, “Live Like You Were Dying,” that encourages even the most sarcastic of 20-something-year-olds to romanticize their life. He talks about his late father-in-law who shared the same zest for life as the song’s narrator, and he encourages all his listeners to go sky diving, rocky mountain climbing, and to share a song they love with someone they love. Host: Rob Harvilla Producers:…
“Ms. Jackson”— Outkast
Jul 16, 2025 · 1 hr 41 min
Why would the best ever want to stop being the best? Rob tries to figure this out in this week's episode covering Outkast. He proves that Big Boi and André 3000 will always be better together by comparing the tag team effort in their hit song, “Ms. Jackson,” and their split album ‘Speakerboxxx/The Love Below’. Later, he is joined by ‘Last Song Standing’ hosts, Cole Cuchna and Charles Holmes, to discuss how Outkast has aged for newer rap listeners and to share their favorite Outkast album in thei…
“Can’t Stop”—The Red Hot Chili Peppers
Jul 9, 2025 · 1 hr 32 min
Rob initiates this week’s show by waxing poetic on the mortality of his musical idols and the treasure trove of emotional tribute songs that proliferated after the tragic passing of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. His insightful homage leads perfectly into a loving soliloquy on the chaotic beauty of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' catalog, particularly their gigantic hit from 2002, “Can’t Stop.” Rob is then joined by both members of English pop duo the Ting Tings, who not only share his infatuation wit…
“Since U Been Gone”— Kelly Clarkson
Jun 25, 2025 · 1 hr 37 min
Rob contemplates the art of making an ironic cover song sincere as he enters the dark realm of the 2000s hit TV show, ‘American Idol’. He follows the inevitable success of Season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson, who proves with her impossible-to-sing hit song, “Since U Been Gone,” that she is more than just a pop princess. Later, he is joined by ‘Breakaway’ tour-goer and Clarkson connoisseur Jodi Walker to discuss Clarkson's vocal capabilities and what her discography did for 2000s TV culture. Host: Rob…
“How to Save a Life”—The Fray
Jun 18, 2025 · 1 hr 26 min
This week, Rob examines the hallowed art of employing songs within the soundtrack of a crucial TV scene to emotionally manipulate the viewing audience. Along the way, he evokes classic moments from ‘General Hospital’ , 'ER', and ‘Scrubs’ before ultimately expounding on the highly effective use of the Fray’s “How to Save a Life” in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ to tug on the proverbial heart strings. He’s then joined by The Ringer’s own Yasi Salek to shine a light on how the Fray’s hit song shaped her experie…
“Ether”—Nas
Jun 12, 2025 · 1 hr 37 min
This week, we’re breaking down the Nas vs. Jay-Z feud, and Rob has to argue, which makes him deeply uncomfortable. After he breaks down the basic contents of a diss track, he is joined by The Ringer’s Joel Anderson to discuss the history of rap beef and his thoughts on Nas’s career after 'Illmatic.' Host: Rob Harvilla Guest: Joel Anderson Producers: Bobby Wagner, Jonathan Kermah, and Justin Sayles Additional Production Support: Olivia Crerie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices…
“No One Knows”—Queens of the Stone Age
May 28, 2025 · 1 hr 36 min
It’s Queens of the Stone Age Day here at 60 Songs! Listen as Rob finds a way to juxtapose heavy metal and stand-up comedy like only he can on his journey to celebrate the song “No One Knows.” Later, Rob is joined by The Ringer’s head of content and host of The Big Picture, Sean Fennessey, to further discuss the greatness of Queens of the Stone Age. Host: Rob Harvilla Guest: Sean Fennessey Producers: Bobby Wagner, Jonathan Kermah, and Justin Sayles Additional Production Support: Olivia Crerie Lea…
“Jenny From the Block”—Jennifer Lopez
May 21, 2025 · 1 hr 34 min
Rob peruses the limelight love story of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck while celebrating J.Lo’s 2002 smash hit, “Jenny From the Block.” Later, he is joined by writer Julianne Escobedo Shepherd to discuss the music and the drama that came with J.Lo in the 2000s. Host: Rob HarvillaGuest: Julianne Escobedo ShepherdProducers: Bobby Wagner, Jonathan Kermah, and Justin SaylesAdditional Production Support: Olivia Crerie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
“Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue”—Toby Keith
May 14, 2025 · 1 hr 44 min
Rob homes in on the specific and strange political moment in which Toby Keith made "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue." Then, he’s joined by New Yorker music writer Kelefa Sanneh to discuss the song’s themes, cultural reception, and musical merit and the state of how we talk about Keith’s career. Host: Rob Harvilla Guest: Kelefa Sanneh Producers: Bobby Wagner, Jonathan Kermah, and Justin Sayles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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