It’s been [redacted] years since our last mailbag episode, and Rob is finally back to answer all your burning questions about the ’90s, 2000s, and more. He’s joined by Bandsplain’s Yasi Salek to discuss everything from Jason Mraz to Weird Al to chain restaurants. Tune in to hear their responses to your queries (as well as Yasi’s plea for a Fuel episode).

(00:00) Intro with Yasi Salek
(07:57) Opening the mailbag: What is a “goth”?
(17:25) Which songs explain the 2020s so far?
(28:36) Which episode would you do over?
(35:26) Thoughts on Weird Al and regrettable hot takes
(57:48) Favorite eras of music and ’90s artists Rob’s grown to love
(01:11:08) Questions about chain restaurants, surprises from the podcast, and living in Ohio
(01:30:48) Final question: Are you scared of Swifties?

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Host: Rob Harvilla
Guest: Yasi Salek
Producers: Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, Justin Sayles, and Olivia Crerie

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Twee aesthetics, songs about fleeting youth (sung by people who are objectively young), and lots and lots of blogs—that’s right, we’re talking about indie rock in the aughts. Today, Rob recounts how Swedish trio Peter Bjorn and John came from humble beginnings before their single “Young Folks” whistled its way to many best-of lists and became one of the era’s defining indie anthems. Later, he’s joined by ‘Such Great Heights’ author Chris DeVille to discuss the legacy of Peter Bjorn and John’s album ‘Writer’s Block’ and how it signals a shift in the commercialization of indie rock.

(00:00) Intro: Is the Beach Fossils Bass Toss indie rock’s peak?
(26:43) This week’s song: “Young Folks” by Peter Bjorn and John
(31:50) The band’s early days in Sweden
(36:43) ‘Falling Out’ and PB&J’s songs of fading youth
(45:31) Indie twee and Rob’s whistling perils
(52:38) “Young Folks” and highlights from ‘Writer’s Block’
(01:02:55) Interview with Chris DeVille
(01:27:55) Outro

Host: Rob Harvilla
Producers: Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, Justin Sayles, and Olivia Crerie
Guest: Chris DeVille

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Although this podcast has continuously shown that we cheer for the underdog, every now and then we must tip our cap to the suits and head honchos. When Evanescence’s record label insisted that Amy Lee sing alongside a rapper on their song, “Bring Me To Life,” their seemingly cringey idea only accentuated Lee’s angsty vocals and became a multigenerational anthem. Later, Rob is joined by Brittany Spanos to discuss what it meant to have such a feminine singer enter the male dominated emo rock scene.

Host: Rob Harvilla

Producers: Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, Justin Sayles, and Olivia Crerie

Guest: Brittany Spanos

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This week’s episode is all about comfort. It’s about being remembered and what better person to commemorate that feeling with than the person whose music doesn’t seem to age- Sade. Sade came out with “By Your Side” after disappearing with no explanation for 8 years because she felt that was best for her. That quiet confidence lends itself to making some of the, in Rob’s words, horniest music imaginable, and the world is better for it. Finally, he is joined by Danyel Smith who explains how Sade laid the groundwork for artists like Rihanna to be the ultimate cool girl and how younger generations are still discovering Sade.

(00:00) Intro: Let’s remember some guys

(28:19) This week’s song: “By Your Side” by Sade

(31:46) Pride, “Smooth Operator,” and ‘Diamond Life’

(42:50) The legacy of Quiet Storm

(49:25) Sade’s public silences and ever-growing myth

(58:01) “By Your Side” and Sade’s comforting presence

(01:07:19) Interview with Danyel Smith

(01:42:50) Outro

Host: Rob Harvilla

Producers: Olivia Crerie, Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, and Justin Sayles

Guest: Danyel Smith

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Today, Rob explains how even after five successful studio albums, Spoon still felt vengeful enough to write the most triumphant song about being the underdog. He reflects on how Spoon's major label dropped the Austin rockers and became the opposite of a muse for the band, shaping their swaggery image. Finally, he is joined by music critic Ryan Dombal who greatly appreciates the snobbery of Spoon and the rockstar frontman energy of Britt Daniels.

(00:00) Intro: The three phases of major-label rock stardom

(21:23) This week’s song: “The Underdog” by Spoon

(25:39) Britt Daniel’s origins and ‘Telefono’

(34:56) How Spoon got dropped from Elektra Records

(40:48) Spoon’s evolution as the 21st century's most consistent band

(56:44) “The Underdog,” the ultimate mouth-horn song

(01:02:28) Interview with Ryan Dombal

(01:33:02) Outro

Host: Rob Harvilla

Producers: Olivia Crerie, Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, and Justin Sayles

Guest: Ryan Dombal

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We should have known that, despite the irony, the kid from New Jersey who defended the purchasing of serial killer comics would grow up to become the defender of the broken, beaten, and damned. Today, Rob recollects the discovery of his emo phase with the enduring anthem “Welcome to the Black Parade,” by My Chemical Romance. He recounts the rise of the young band in a post-9/11 New Jersey and the pinnacle of their success with the grandiose showmanship of the 'Black Parade' album. At the end, he is joined by former My Chemical Romance producer and mentor Geoff Rickly, lead singer of the band Thursday, who knew early on that the band would be a global phenomenon.

Host: Rob Harvilla

Producers: Olivia Crerie, Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, and Justin Sayles

Guest: Geoff Rickly

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We’re going back to our roots this week—back to our Toyota Corollas and Chrysler LeBarons or whatever other shitty cars we drove back in the ’90s—to blast some Bush. Rob ponders whether frontman Gavin Rossdale is a good lyricist and extends some empathy in the age of Nirvana, when no alt-rock band could compare, especially those singing about their “willies.” Finally, Rob is joined by national treasure and Rob’s daughter Yasi Salek, who comes to defend the lyricism of cheekbone himbo Gavin Rossdale.

Host: Rob Harvilla

Producers: Julianna Ress, Olivia Crerie, Chris Sutton, and Justin Sayles

Additional Video Editing: Kevin Pooler

Guest: Yasi Salek

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This episode is for the ladies up in here tonight! Before her hips became internationally renowned, Shakira was making Spanish rock music from the age of 14. Today, Rob looks back at her crossover album 'Laundry Service,' which was released as other Latin American artists were also starting to make music in English. Later, he is joined by music journalist Suzy Exposito, who talks about why Shakira deserves to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, her initial disappointment when Shakira dyed her hair blonde and started singing in English, and what it was like getting to interview her.

Host: Rob Harvilla

Producers: Julianna Ress, Olivia Crerie, Chris Sutton, and Justin Sayles

Additional Video Editing: Kevin Pooler

Guest: Suzy Exposito

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Imagine, you’re on the road with an indie sleaze band making sock puppets sing obscenities when Sesame Street gives you a call. Leslie Feist’s career can most similarly be compared to the life of Benjamin Button with her most successful and youthful song, “1234,” coming later in her colorful and previously raucous music career. Rob breaks down Feist’s magical ability to bring new perspectives to covers and sing emotion into numbers before he is joined by Canadian filmmaker Chandler Levack. They discuss the role Feist’s music played in soundtracking Chandler’s college years and how this affected her most recent film, Mile End Kicks, which follows a young music journalist becoming increasingly more involved in the music scene she’s documenting.

Listen to the songs from the episode: '00s #44 Feist "1234"

Host: Rob Harvilla

Producers: Olivia Crerie, Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, and Justin Sayles

Additional Video Editing: Kevin Pooler

Guest: Chandler Levack

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This episode is for all of the people who don’t know the difference between a meteor, meteoroid, and meteorite. Rob finally opens up about his hipster phase of life that nearly got him killed (his words, not ours). He recounts all of the “freak folk” music he discovered in the Bay Area, all of which led him to the harp virtuoso and wordsmith Joanna Newsom. He tries his best not to describe her unique singing voice while dissecting her ability to bend words and seamlessly expand her listener’s vocabulary. Finally, he is joined by music journalist and ex-h*pst*r Garrett Kamps, who recounts what it was like watching one of Joanna Newsom’s first shows and contemplates why fans may have felt protective over her.

Host: Rob Harvilla

Producers: Olivia Crerie, Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, and Justin Sayles

Additional Video Editing: Kevin Pooler

Guest: Garrett Kamps

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