Rob explores Cake’s hit single “The Distance” by discussing the Sacramento band’s quirky sensibilities, the role of sarcasm in their lyricism, and their eccentric production choices.
This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk show available exclusively on Spotify. Find the full song on Spotify or wherever you get your music.
Host: Rob Harvilla
Guest: Sadie Dupuis
Producers: Isaac Lee and Justin Sayles
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Cake—“The Distance”

The 1990s were a turning point in music: with the increasingly connected world enabling an unprecedented coalescence of various styles and genres, the decade featured the rapid evolution of sonic artistry — and subsequently shaped the soundscape of eras that followed. Listen along as The Ringer’s preeminent music critic Rob Harvilla curates and explores 60 iconic songs from the ‘90s that define the decade.

Music

It’s last call for '90s songs and Rob’s memories as the show draws to a close. So there couldn’t be a more fitting moment for Semisonic’s “Closing Time” to be chosen as the episode’s focus. Listen as Rob grapples with his feelings of discomfort with the word goodbye, and stay for a final sendoff to the greatest '60 Songs' guest of all time, Yasi Salek.
Host: Rob Harvilla
Guest: Yasi Salek
Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles
Additional Production Support: Chloe Clark
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“Closing Time”—Semisonic

In the penultimate episode of 60 Songs, Rob takes it way back. Listen as he recalls the first song he remembers consciously hearing as a baby before diving into the world of Garth Brooks and 90’s country music. Later, Tyler Parker joins the show to discuss what Garth Brooks means to Oklahoma and much more.
Host: Rob Harvilla
Guest: Tyler Parker
Producer: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles
Additional Production Support: Chloe Clark
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“Friends in Low Places”—Garth Brooks

Rob ranks the books he was forced to read in high school before turning his focus on the greatness of Tracy Chapman’s “Give Me One Reason” from her 1995 album ‘New Beginning.’ Later, Rob is joined by fellow Ohio native and author Hanif Abdurraqib to discuss why Ohio breeds such great writers such as Tracy Chapman. The guys also get into Chapman’s appearance at the Grammy’s and much more.
Host: Rob Harvilla
Guest: Hanif Abdurraqib
Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles
Additional Production Support: Chloe Clark
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“Give Me One Reason”—Tracy Chapman

Hello friends, and thank you for stopping by for a very special episode of 60 Songs. With just three songs remaining, it felt like a great week to have some of Rob’s favorite guests as well as producers stop by and yell at him over songs that he missed. Enjoy!
Host: Rob Harvilla 
Guests: Andrew Savage, Yasi Salek, Elamin Adelmahmoud, Alex Steed, Leslie Gray Streeter, Isaac Lee, Jonathan Kermah, and Justin Sayles
Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles
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The Songs We Didn’t Do (Everyone Yells At Rob)

Rob looks at JAY-Z’s career backwards this week before reaching the rap legend’s 90’s pop crossover hit, “Hard Knock Life.” Along the way, Rob highlights the masterclass that is Funkmaster Flex premiering Kanye West and JAY-Z’a “Otis” on Hot 97 and much more. Later, the Ringer’s Wosny Lambre joins the show to discuss what JAY-Z’s rise to power in New York in the 90s, the importance of Hot 97 to New York rap, and JAY-Z the hyper-capitalist.
Host: Rob Harvilla
Guest: Wosny Lambre
Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles
Additional Production Support: Chloe Clark
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Cake—“The Distance”

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