Sound Opinions
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Sound Opinions
Take two nationally respected rock critics, the latest music news, personal commentary, and exclusive interviews and performances, add a huge pile of records old and new, and the result is Sound Opinions, where people who love music can come together.
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1378 episodi
RIP The Lyres' Jeff Conolly
In this bonus episode, Greg pays tribute to Jeff “Monoman” Conolly, the garage-rock pioneer and leader of Lyres, who died July 31, 2026, at the age of...
Buddy Guy's 90th Birthday Celebration
To celebrate Buddy Guy's recent 90th birthday, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot re-air their 2007 with the blues legend. They'll also give an update o...
Another History Lesson from Professor DeRogatis
In this bonus episode, Jim shares a song that ties back to his childhood fascination with the Alamo.
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Heartland Rock with Erin Osmon, RIP Glen Hansard
This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot talk with author Erin Osmon about her new book on "heartland rock." She argues that artists like John Mell...
From Demo to Classic
In this bonus episode, Greg tells the story of a classic song that took the perfect voice to become a hit.
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Summer Review Roundup: Jack White, Olivia Rodrigo, Margo Price, Robyn Hitchcock & Swamp Dogg
This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot dig into a record review roundup full of summertime releases. The hosts discuss new albums from Olivia Rod...
RIP Glen Hansard
In 2008 Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová performed their soon-to-be Oscar winning song "Falling Slowly" on Sound Opinions. As an act of mourning Glen...
RIP Steve Almaas of Beat Rodeo
In this bonus episode, Jim pays tribute to country-rock hero Steve Almaas, whom he first encountered during his Hoboken, New Jersey days. Almaas, a me...
Chinese Hip Hop
This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot talk with author Yi-Ling Liu about Chinese hip hop and how the music breaks through the infamous "fire wal...
RIP James Blood Ulmer
In this bonus episode, Greg pays tribute to jazz guitar innovator and Ornette Coleman disciple James Blood Ulmer, who died on June 3, 2026, at the age...
The Feelies' "The Good Earth"
The Feelies were never a household name, but their jangly guitars and propulsive rhythms helped shape generations of indie rock. In the second install...
Lucy Dacus Goes Symphonic
Lucy Dacus joins co-senior producer Alex Claiborne to discuss her July 19 special performance with the Chicago Philharmonic at Millennium Park. They t...
The Feelies' "Crazy Rhythms"
The Feelies were never a household name, but their jangly guitars and propulsive rhythms helped shape generations of indie rock. In this first install...
Jim's Got the Hots
In this bonus episode, Jim pays tribute to one of his favorite drummers while shining a light on a lesser-known father-daughter musical duo.
Joi...
Drive-By Truckers' "Southern Rock Opera" 25th Anniversary
Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot revisit their classic album dissection of Drive-By Truckers’ “Southern Rock Opera” for its 25th anniversary. They tal...
A Listener's Chip Taylor Deep Cut
In this bonus episode, Jim follows up his Chip Taylor tribute by responding to a listener who pointed out one of the country legend's incredible colla...
Summertime Buried Treasures
Every few weeks, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot are bursting at the seams with new underground music to recommend—it's time for another round of Bur...
RIP Sonny Rollins
In this bonus DIJ, Greg pays tribute to jazz giant Sonny Rollins. Rollins died on May 25, 2026, at the age of 95.
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The "Best" Albums of 2026...So Far
2026 is almost halfway over, and there have already been so many incredible new releases. Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot share their personal best a...
A Chicago Blues Throwback
In this bonus episode, Jim spotlights a beloved blues and soul singer whose name has been in the Sound Opinions conversation since the show's earliest...
LGBTQ Music 1969-2000 with Barry Walters
Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot talk with music journalist and author Barry Walters about his new book Mighty Real: A History of LGBTQ Music 1969-200...
RIP Record Producer Jack Douglas
In this bonus episode, Greg pays tribute to American record producer Jack Douglas. Douglas earned the admiration of countless artists, perhaps none mo...
Sound Opinions LIVE (Courtney Barnett, Mudhoney and More) Plus Opinions on JPEGMAFIA
This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot are digging into the Sound Opinions archives to share some rare tracks recorded in live sessions for past...
A Cult Artist with Seductive Charm
In this bonus trip to the Desert Island Jukebox, Jim highlights a singer who spent years in the orbit of some of post-punk's most celebrated and notor...
Gary Stewart: The Five Essential Songs, Plus Opinions on Jill Scott, Mandy, Indiana and Aldous Harding
This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot are joined by returning guest and favorite music writer Jimmy McDonough. Jimmy recently released a biograp...
Disengaging With Milwaukee’s Psychedelic Underground
In this bonus Desert Island Jukebox episode, Greg shares a cult favorite from Milwaukee's psychedelic scene.
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Willie Nelson: The Five Essential Albums & Opinions on Kacey Musgraves
This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot dig into Willie Nelson’s vast catalog of 150+ albums. Along with author Geoffrey Himes, they highlight the...
RIP Chip Taylor
In this bonus Desert Island Jukebox, Jim pays tribute to legendary American songwriter Chip Taylor, whose pop and country songs were recorded by count...
The Violent Femmes' Debut Album
This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot are joined by author Nic Brown for a classic album dissection of the debut from The Violent Femmes. They d...
A Song for Pirate Radio
This week on the Desert Island Jukebox, Greg cues up a song inspired by outlaw airwaves. It’s a reminder of a time when discovering music still felt l...
Breaking the Sophomore Slump
This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot share some of their favorite artists who beat the dreaded sophomore, delivering follow-ups that proved the...
The Least Bad Version of (Maybe) a Horrible Song
In this bonus episode, Jim digs up a song that owes more to AM radio nostalgia than to being, well…good.
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Lou Reed
This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot talk with biographer Will Hermes about his book on Lou Reed, as well as Lou’s music, persona, legacy and m...
No One Understood—Except One Radio DJ
In this bonus episode, Greg shares a song that was championed early on by English radio DJ John Peel.
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Ratboys & Opinions on Friko
This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot are joined by Ratboys lead singer and songwriter Julia Steiner. The Chicago band's sixth album, "Singin' T...
A Song About Robert De Niro (Sort Of)
In this bonus episode, Jim cues up a Desert Island Jukebox pick—and explains why it’s deeper than it first sounds.
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Rapper Billy Woods, Opinions on Robyn & Courtney Barnett
The prolific and singular rapper Billy Woods has spent decades carving out his own lane in hip-hop. This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot chat w...
RIP James Gadson
In this bonus episode, Greg pays tribute to legendary drummer James Gadson who died on April 2, 2026 at age 86.
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A Journey Though Neil Young's Catalog
This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot will do an overview of Neil Young’s six decade-long career in just 12 songs.
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Three Voices, One Rockin’ Cover
In this bonus episode, Jim highlights a cover that outshines the original, thanks to three legendary blues singers.
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