60 Songs That Explain the '90s

By: Rob Harvilla

Narrated by: Rob Harvilla

A companion to the #1 music podcast on Spotify, this book takes listeners through the greatest hits that define a weirdly undefinable decade.

The 1990s were a chaotic and gritty and utterly magical time for music, a confounding barrage of genres and lifestyles and superstars, from grunge to hip-hop, from sumptuous R&B to rambunctious ska-punk, from Axl to Kurt to Missy to Santana to Tupac to Britney. In 60 SONGS THAT EXPLAIN THE '90s, Ringer music critic Rob Harvilla reimagines all the earwormy, iconic hits Gen Xers pine for with vivid historical storytelling, sharp critical analysis, rampant loopiness, and wryly personal ruminations on the most bizarre, joyous, and inescapable songs from a decade we both regret entirely and miss desperately.

©2023 Rob Harvilla (P)2023 Twelve

Critic reviews

“Somehow, Rob Harvilla brings new light to the songs and artists that we grew up with and thought we already fully understood. Turns out, there’s so much more depth, nuance, tragedy, and humor to be discovered. This book made me tear up about party anthems, marvel at discarded one-hit wonders, and laugh out loud at deadly-serious ballads. This is more than a tribute to the music that scored our childhoods; it’s an exploration of how the songs somehow mean even more to us now. (Also: Rob’s mom is right about U2).”—Elie Honig, CNN Senior Legal Analyst and bestselling author

"60 SONGS THAT EXPLAIN THE '90s is an increasingly rare thing: A book about pop music that's legitimately funny. Whether or not these songs actually 'explain' the 1990s is irrelevant, because they inadvertently explain something far more interesting—they explain how songs feel to a person who can't think about life in any other way, and who ultimately understands who they are now through the prism of who they used to be and what they used to like."—Chuck Klosterman, New York Times bestselling author of The Nineties

"Rob Harvilla is my kind of writer: Smart, funny, infectiously joyous, and full of heart. Let me emphasize the 'writer' part—if you only know Rob from his delightful podcast, you are about to learn that his mix of critical analysis, cultural journalism and self-effacing Midwestern dad humor is just as entertaining on the page as it is on 60 SONGS THAT EXPLAIN THE '90s. This book is like that friend from high school that you don't see much anymore, but when you do hang out it instantly feels like old times."—Steven Hyden, author of Twilight Of The Gods

Great Podcast and Book

Love the podcast, and the book was also so good. I do miss hearing the song clips, but it doesn’t hurt the experience, and my they played along in my head anyway. I wish the podcast wasn’t ending. Perhaps we’ll get a sequel to the book someday.

True nostalgia at its finest

As a fan of the podcast, I absolutely loved this book that took me right back to high school car rides and college parties. Rob Harvilla can gracefully weave in so many songs and artists with such ease. It was so good that I was actually sad when it ended, kind of like the end of the 90s. Thank you for taking me down memory lane.

Only wish it was longer

Excellent companion to Rob’s podcast. Great stories and music history from the 90’s. Highly recommend

A Love Letter to 90’s Music

Even if you’ve never listened to the podcast, this book is an incredible listen. Rob has such a way with words, you are transported into his world easily, finding his depth of emotion, like putting on a favourite band shirt, and grooving out. Thank you for taking me back to that time, in both remembrance, and with new perspectives.

Rad listen for all us 90s kids

This dude takes us back to a time when music was everything and rock gods still ruled the earth. Great writing, stories and takes. Dig how Rob weaves in and out of the tunes, albums and artists like it’s all one connected energy force taking control over each of us little pukes as we try to figure out how to do this life thing. Crazy the amount of absolute amazing music from this decade and its influence on me as a person. I’ll be on a 90 playlist for a few.

So good. Just so good

Rob - if you’re reading this, please write another book. And narrate it. Write about anything you’re passionate about. Don’t care if I no literally nothing about it - I will read it. This was that good

Only note……don’t remind listeners that you could hear it for free on a podcast

But still on point, to the point, and doused with all the bravado you would use to impress the cute clerk at Sam Goodies

Interesting but too personal

Was hoping for more musical history and insight. And while it’s certainly there, it’s accompanied by too many personal anecdotes.

Rob is a tremendous storyteller

Cannot imagine getting anything but the audiobook. Perfectly read and a worthy retelling of my adolescence.

Sheer Entertainment

Even if you care not for the 90s or it’s music, Rob Harvilla entertains with his colorful analogies, gleeful tangents, and earnest admiration of the music he has been dedicated in covering here, and in podcast form. Truly a delightful listen with laugh out loud moments and exciting song discoveries.