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60 Songs That Explain the '90s
60 Songs That Explain the '90s | Rob Harvilla
10 posts | 8 read | 23 to read
A companion to the #1 music podcast on Spotify, this book takes readers 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.
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Hooked_on_books
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Mehso-so

I thought I would just love this, being in my teens and early twenties during that decade. But instead it was just ok. I think there just wasn‘t enough for me about each song so the impact was diluted. It was fun to remember some stuff from the way back machine, though!

Soubhiville That‘s too bad. I would have expected it to be majorly nostalgic. At least there are other books along the same line that did better. 9h
40 likes1 comment
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BookishTrish
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Mehso-so

Loved 90s music and still do. (Hi Evan!) This fond look back was a bit too scattered to be a full pick.

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triplem80
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Pickpick

So, I have to thank @JenReadsAlot for bringing this one to my attention! I had listened to the podcast for awhile, but didn't realize there was an accompanying book/audiobook -- and I'm so glad I finally had the chance to listen.

My tween/teen years were in the '90s, so these songs definitely hit home for me (although, surprisingly, there were some I wasn't familiar with AT ALL). Still, it was a fun trip down memory lane.

20 likes7 comments
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monalyisha
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#BlameItOnLitsy

Ironically,* I found out* about this podcast on Litsy, and now I‘m 100% ignoring my audiobook for it. 😆 That‘s not supposed to be the point of this app! But it‘s so delightfully nostalgic & addictive.

*Also ironically, the first two episodes I listened to focused on Alanis Morissette and The Gin Blossoms, responsible for “Ironic” and “Found Out About You” (respectively).

Link to podcast in the comments!

ravenlee Gin Blossoms 💕😍 still one of my favorite bands ever. 2mo
TheKidUpstairs Welp, I know what I'll be listening to for the next while! 2mo
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ImperfectCJ I like this podcast, too! My spouse and I listen on the way driving our kid to/from college. The Greenday episode was great for punk history, and I really enjoyed the Mazzy Star one (which was mostly about Low). The Cake one was quite impactful, and we listened to the Pearl Jam episode this past weekend. It keeps my Spotify playlists interesting. :-) 2mo
batsy Oh no, I didn't know about this podcast and now I think I'm about to lose hours of my life as well 😁 2mo
monalyisha @TheKidUpstairs @batsy Sorry/not sorry! 😅😆 2mo
monalyisha @ImperfectCJ I keep thinking about whether I should skip around to songs &/or artists I‘m most excited to hear about or just keep going linearly. If I listen in order, it will feel like such a deserved treat when I get to anticipated episodes, which is kind of nice. Delayed gratification. 😉 Not that the listening experience, in general, isn‘t gratifying! 2mo
ImperfectCJ @monalyisha I'm a total skipper. No regrets! 2mo
61 likes8 comments
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Librarybelle
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Pickpick

If you‘re stuck musically in the ‘90s like I am, this is a must read. Harvilla explores more than 60 songs that impacted the ‘90s in some way. Covering a variety of genres, Harvilla cages his choices with personal anecdotes or factual tidbits about the artist. It‘s a fun trip down memory lane and makes me want to listen to his podcast! Many thanks to @Megabooks for posting about this! #52BookClub24 #NonFictionRecommendedByAFriend

Kimberlone The podcast is so good! 3mo
BarbaraBB Great! I bought this too! 3mo
Megabooks So glad you enjoyed it!!! 3mo
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Hooked_on_books That looks fun! 3mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3mo
Librarybelle That is good to know, @Kimberlone ! 3mo
Librarybelle @BarbaraBB @Megabooks @Hooked_on_books So much fun to read and reminisce! 3mo
monalyisha Thanks for this review! I wasn‘t aware of the book OR the podcast, and I started the latter today with the earliest episode I could find (about Alanis Morissette‘s “You Oughta Know”). It‘s perfect. 2mo
Librarybelle @monalyisha 😁 Awesome! 2mo
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Librarybelle
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Finally getting back to the tagged book - a copy finally came in again for me through the library! Highly recommended for ‘90s music enthusiasts!

I‘m attempting my #hyggehour an hour earlier than 8pm…it‘s a bit easier on my evening routine to unwind a bit earlier. Hope that‘s okay! I‘ve got my weighted blanket and #Zeke resting against me. A candle is burning in the background, and cell phone on silent. #CatsofLitsy

TheBookHippie 🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍 3mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awww Zeke 🐾🫶🏻 3mo
Librarybelle @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️❤️❤️ 3mo
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AllDebooks Beautiful Zeke x We're all for flexibility. It's all about time for you to relax in whatever way works best for you x 3mo
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 3mo
ElizaMarie Awe Zeke looks very interested in your book 💕 3mo
CatLass007 Who needs a weighted blanket when you‘re owned by cats? My kitties love to pin me down.😽 2mo
Librarybelle @CatLass007 So true! Cats act like a comfy warmer 😊 2mo
Librarybelle @ElizaMarie Zeke definitely likes to see what I‘m reading! 2mo
74 likes1 stack add9 comments
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kissmehardy
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Pickpick

Funny and engrossing, even when I didn't recognize a specific song! Harvilla has a distinct voice and a real passion for music, and I loved his leaps from song to song and topic to topic. #nonfiction

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JenReadsAlot
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Pickpick

Oh my how I enjoyed listening to this! My years of high school and college! Thanks @Megabooks for putting this on my radar!

Itchyfeetreader This sounds like something I would live on audio book 5mo
JenReadsAlot @Itchyfeetreader I kept wishing they would play some of the songs! Lol 5mo
RamsFan1963 @JenReadsAlot Yes some soundbites of the discussed songs would have been appreciated 5mo
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triplem80 If you haven't listened to the podcast, you should check it out. Not only do they include snippets of the song, but they play the whole song at the end of each episode! 5mo
JenReadsAlot @triplem80 oh I didn't know that thanks! 5mo
Megabooks So glad you enjoyed this, too!! 😁🎶 5mo
36 likes1 stack add6 comments
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RamsFan1963
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Pickpick

133/150 I did not grow up in the 90s, I turned 30 in 1993, but all the music discussed here resonates with me. As the cover says, the book covers more than 60 songs, everything from grunge to rap, heavy metal to R&B, and back again. I don't agree with all the author assessments, I like U2, but he brings a very knowledgeable opinion to the discussion. One note, if you choose the audiobook, the author sounds, to me, like ⬇️⬇️⬇️

RamsFan1963 a 70s late night radio DJ who just smoked a joint before coming on air. His delivery is extremely laid back and it took me awhile to get used to it. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5mo
RamsFan1963 57th book finished for #RushathonExtended @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES @Andrew65 9th book finished for #Adventathon 2nd book finished for #DashingDecember 5mo
JenReadsAlot I'm listening to this now! 5mo
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RamsFan1963 @JenReadsAlot What do you think of the author's narration? 5mo
ImperfectCJ I listen to this podcast...I had no idea it was a book! 5mo
JenReadsAlot Well I didn't think much about it but now I hear your description! Lol 5mo
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 5mo
AllDebooks Your description of the narrator! 🤣 5mo
63 likes3 stack adds8 comments
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Megabooks
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Pickpick

Oh wow! As someone who was in high school and college in the 90s, this was fantastic! Based on the same named podcast, Harvilla shares his thoughts plus bts info on songs as diverse as Achy-Breaky Heart, Tha Crossroads and Creep, and surprisingly this alt rock fan and music journalist treats them all with tender nostalgia not ragging on any. His transitions between very different songs are seamless. Theres a great Spotify playlist, too. 😁🎶

Librarybelle OMG…I need to read this! Stacking! 5mo
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Mollyanna I‘m slowly working my way through the podcast. It‘s fun and nostalgic! 5mo
Kimberlone The podcast is great! 5mo
Meshell1313 Stacked! I love anything about the 90‘s! 5mo
JenReadsAlot Oh I need to check this out! 5mo
sarahbarnes This sounds like a very fun walk down memory lane. 5mo
BarbaraBB This sounds so good. I immediately bought a copy for my brother in law who‘s just the right age! Thanks for the recommendation! 5mo
92 likes16 stack adds10 comments