60 Songs That Explain the '90s

Wesley Morris joins the show to decipher how to process Michael Jackson's career draped in success and controversy. They discuss the height of Jackson’s powers in the '80s, a tumultuous era in the '90s, and the societal impact of his music. The podcast covers controversies surrounding his legacy, unity experienced during his memorial service, his reputation as a revenge artist and thief, and the enduring popularity of his music. They also analyze the melodic aspects of 'In the Closet'.

The podcast explores the movie 'High Fidelity' and its relatability, focusing on power-pop songs by Matthew Sweet, the Knack, and Material Issue. The hosts discuss the emotional impact of 'Iris' by the Goo Goo Dolls and share personal experiences of creating mixtapes for crushes. They also delve into the concept of dad rock, compare soundtracks of 'City of Angels' and 'The Crow: City of Angels,' and express their love for 90s music.

Rob reflects on childhood songs, discusses a letter from Frank Sinatra to George Michael. They explore George Michael's impact on MTV, his song 'Freedom', his turning point and solo success, and his evolution as a musician

Cher, influential figure in the world of autotune, discusses her impact and the significance of her song 'Believe'. Rob recalls meeting Cher through 'Beavis and Butt-Head'. DJ Louie XIV joins to talk about the impact of 'Believe'.

Guest Elamin Abdelmahmoud discusses Lenny Kravitz's recent comments on the disconnect between black radio/publications and his music. They explore Kravitz's early life, his album 'Mama Said', the song 'Believe', and iconic hits like 'Fly Away' and 'American Woman'.

Leslie Gray Streeter, journalist and host of ‘Fine Beats and Cheeses’, joins the host to discuss how '90s music criticism discredited the music of 4 Non Blondes. They delve into topics such as '90s songs, memorable holiday seasons, Linda Perry's journey of self-discovery and finding her voice, and the nostalgic elements of music from the '90s.

Guest Yasi Salek joins the host to discuss the band Sublime and their song 'Santeria'. They explore the impact of Sublime as fellow west coasters and delve into the controversy surrounding Sublime's song 'Date Rape'.

Chris Ryan joins Rob and Yasi on a live draft of songs from the book '60 Songs That Explain the 90s.' They discuss mispronunciations, their favorite rock songs, the iconic music video for November Rain, personal party culture stories, the perception of pop songs, opinions on music today, AI-generated singing, and future podcast plans.

Puff Daddy's assistant, Sowmya Krishnamurthy, shares her experience working with Puff Daddy and reflects on his transition from producer to artist. They discuss Puff Daddy's song "I'll Be Missing You" dedicated to Notorious B.I.G, the emotional impact of tragedy, and the cultural significance of the song's looped melody.

A confession of beating someone up at a Portishead concert, exploring trip-hop with focus on 'Glory Box' and Massive Attack, the emotional impact of warm vocals, the elements of Portishead's 'Midnight in a Perfect World', the connection between '90s songs and Cyberpunk 2077, Bristol's musical culture, the emergence of UK trip-hop, and creating uniqueness in '90s music.