I really loved this. There was a variety and the music and the way Rob managed to connect everything to a personal experience was great.

I was unfamiliar with Rob Harvilla and his podcast prior to reading 60 Songs That Explain the '90s. Written in a casual style, it is the author's personal reflection on the songs and music that defined the decade.

Having grown up during the '90s, I was very familiar with the songs that the author discussed. Music tastes vary and my ideas of what songs explain the '90s are different compared to Harvilla. Reading the book, however, provided an interesting opportunity to travel back in time with the author. It allowed me to reflect on how music shaped both me and my generation.

Kind thanks to NetGalley and Twelve Books for an advanced reading copy of 60 Songs That Explain the '90s.

Entertaining read, and reads a lot like the podcast (though with paragraphs standing in for full episodes, so naturally abbreviated), so if you like the latter you’ll enjoy the book. Harvilla’s personality and pop culture sensibilities shine through in typical Ringer-esque fashion. In terms of tracking actual momentousness or impact of the songs (or justifying those selected versus those not), very little to none is provided. The subjectivity is fine though, and even poked fun of at times by Harvilla, as this is just a fun read and not even an attempt at serious cataloguing of 90’s music. If you’re looking for the latter, you’ll likely have to write it yourself.

I spent an embarrassing amount of time watching MTV as a teen, so this was a cozy nostalgic trip down memory lane. There were a few bands I hadn't heard of mentioned, but for the most part, this was an interesting look back at a decade of music that went through so many changes it could have filled several volumes. There was a lot of behind the scenes information that I hadn't known about feuds, personality clashes etc. Reading this book sparked a lot of conversations about music between me and friends, which was really great. I also thought it was great that the author put in his own memories and experiences.

I ended up listening to the audiobook of this title through the local library. I quite enjoyed the book overall. There were stories that I did not know prior to listen in the book. I had listened to a few of the podcast episodes I ahead of time, so some of the information was repeat, but I did enjoy the shorter versions of the stories and was happy to listen again. The author has a very entertaining writing style that kept me engaged. I am a music nerd, the stories and the humor were a good use of my time. I will recommend to others that like this kind of thing. Now I’m off to check out other episodes of the podcast, so I can continue reminiscing about music of the 90s.

If you like the podcast you’ll probably like this book. I had never heard about the podcast before starting this book & I probably won’t check it out. It felt very stream of consciousness, info dump to me & I just wasn’t feeling it.

The '90s was a defining decade for music, and Rob Harvilla's "60 Songs That Explain the '90s" captures the essence of that era with wit and insight. As a music critic for The Ringer, Harvilla dives into the stories behind the songs that shaped a generation, blending analysis with entertaining anecdotes that resonate with anyone who's ever belted out these tunes. His humorous approach not only reflects on the cultural impact of these hits but also on the personal connections we all share with music. It's a nostalgic journey that not only educates but also entertains, reminding us why these songs have become timeless classics.

60 Songs That Explain the 90's by Rob Harvilla is a fantastic read for anyone who loves 90s music. Harvilla's selection of songs captures the essence of the decade, and his insights make for an enjoyable trip down memory lane. As someone proud to see my daughters share my passion for 90s tunes, I appreciate Harvilla's exploration of the era's cultural significance. Kudos to him for a great read!

I guess I thought this was different. I thought it would be more about the songs as they related to pop culture rather than some dude just rambling.

For me the 90s were pivotal years of curiosity and personal growth. I was 4 when the 90s started.

I will say, I loved this book, and I think it’s because it is a more conversational tone, and less analytical and scientific. So those that don’t like Podcasts, likely won’t like this.

There were songs on the list that were unapologetically 90s, and it made me so happy to hear other’s take on such strongly loved songs.

The playlists at the beginning of each chapter does help you jog your memory, and prepares you for the love/hate relationship of pop culture vs. Underground artists.

Even though I was a literal infant/toddler in the late 90’s, there’s absolutely nothing I love and relate to more than 90’s music.

Growing up, I just always felt more connected to 90s music more than today’s music, and the hours upon hours of listening to these artists mentioned in this book really formulated my teenage years. This book just felt like a trip down memory lane and felt incredibly nostalgic, and I really genuinely enjoyed it. I loved how the author would include his own personal memories while hearing these songs for the first time, as well as giving fun little facts about each one. Overall, this was definitely a really enjoyable experience, and let’s just say my 90’s playlist has never sounded better.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I had reasonably high hopes for this book - as an elder millennial, this music is totally the music of my youth. Reality, though, did not even come close to meeting my expectations. The book was actually painful to get through. I felt like I was listening to someone jacked up on Surge telling me all of thoughts on music in one night. I couldn't follow the writing and I couldn't, for the life of me, find the point that the author was trying to make. Lots of good songs - but this isn't a playlist, so good song selection alone doesn't win the day.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own

Definitely a walk down memory lane. The 90s were such a fun time in the music world for sure. And yes, I added the playlist to my Spotify

Great book that tells you the author's prospective on songs that explain the 90's. It gives you some insight on the artists also.

A very interesting nonfiction novel. I really enjoyed it and it brought back some really fun memories from my teen years.

I liked this book it was very 90’s that’s why i picked it up and that why i loved it . Great pallet cleanser between other genres loved it 5 stars

Very detailed and descriptive book about 90s music. Chock full of references and humour. A must read for a 90s music enthusiast.

I really feel torn on my thoughts with this book. I oscillate between joy of how Rob can go back to how he felt as a teen at the exact moment he experienced this music, how it made me smile hearing places that I too, grew up with in Ohio being mentioned, and also cringing with how it often feels like the local record store patrons telling everyone what's what about music.
I went into this book blind, having never listened to the podcast before. Im not sure if it plays out better verbally as it feels so stream of consciousness in the way its told. This is what didn't work for me. I think I expected a more journalistic approach, with a title of songs that "explain" the 90s. There wasn't any explanation of anything, as to why certain artists or songs maybe stood out against the backdrop of what was happening at the time. Instead it was just a long opinion piece of what Rob enjoyed. Which is very sweet and entertaining, just not what I expected going into the book. Fun trip down memory lane though

I fully expected to love this since I love music and the 90s was my decade in college and young adulthood. Instead I found this impossible to get through and I decided to move on to other books about 15% of the way in. I do not usually rate books that I do not finish because I think someone's opinion of a book can change as you go along. I am making an exception in this case because I did scan further into the book and did not see anything to change my stance.

Part of my issue here may be the songs that were chosen. I am a very eclectic music consumer but most of the songs are not even close to what I would choose to define the 90s. The other issue I have is in the organization. There is a "theme" (I use that word loosely) and then a stream of consciousness following said theme. This honestly make work as a podcast - escpecially if he played the songs. But as a book it was annoying and for me, frankly, boring.

Thanks to Netgalley and the published for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was just really put off by the style of the writing in the intro and skimmed a bit more of it and I think this book isn't for me. Love me some 90od 90s nostalgia but the way this is written with the constant asides and notes and extra lists and and stuff is just very off-putting for me personally. Maybe it comes across better as a podcast.