Hosted by Jim DeRogatis, Greg Kot
Sound Opinions is where people who love music can come together. Make discoveries, debate, learn about pop culture, engage, have fun and find new ways to further enrich your lives through music.
Whether you're an expert, or just a casual fan, Sound Opinions is your source for smart and engaging music criticism and conversation. Each week on the show, nationally respected rock critics Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis interview artists, talk about pop culture and music industry news, review new record releases and give trends a historical context. And, because on Sound Opinions,“everyone's a critic,” listeners are invited to join in the debate.
Every week, Sound Opinions fires up smart and spirited discussions about a wide range of popular music, from cutting-edge underground rock and hip-hop, to classic rock, R&B, electronica, worldbeat, or just about any other genre you can name.
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A Song for Pirate RadioThis 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 like stumbling onto a secret signal.Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9TBecome a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvcSign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnGMake a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lUSend us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundopsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Breaking the Sophomore SlumpThis week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot share some of their favorite artists who beat the dreaded sophomore, delivering follow-ups that proved their debuts were no fluke. The hosts will also hear picks from the production staff.Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9TBecome a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvcSign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnGMake a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lUSend us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops Featured Songs:Horsegirl, "Switch Over," Phonetics On and On, Matador, 2025The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967Black Sabbath, "Paranoid," Paranoid, Vertigo, 1970Public Enemy, "Bring the Noise," It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, Def Jam, 1988Led Zeppelin, "Moby Dick," Led Zeppelin II, Atlantic, 1969Pixies, "Debaser," Doolittle, 4AD, 1989black midi, "Slow," Cavalcade, Rough Trade, 2021Kanye West, "Touch the Sky (feat. Lupe Fiasco)," Late Registration, Roc-A-Fella, 2005Fiona Apple, "Fast As You Can," When the Pawn..., Epic and Clean Slate, 1999SZA, "Good Days," SOS, TDA and RCA, 2022Erykah Badu, "Cleva (feat. Roy Ayers)," Mama's Gun, Motown, 2000D'Angelo, "Chicken Grease," Voodoo, Virgin, 2000Phoebe Bridgers, "Savior Complex," Punisher, Dead Oceans, 2020Van Morrison, "Cyprus Avenue," Astral Weeks, Warner Bros., 1968Violent Femmes, "Please Do Not Go," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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The Least Bad Version of (Maybe) a Horrible SongIn this bonus episode, Jim digs up a song that owes more to AM radio nostalgia than to being, well…good.Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9TBecome a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvcSign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnGMake a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lUSend us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundopsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Lou ReedThis 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 more.Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9TBecome a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvcSign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnGMake a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lUSend us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops Featured Songs:Lou Reed, "Walk on the Wild Side," Transformer, RCA, 1972The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967The Velvet Underground and Nico, "Sunday Morning," The Velvet Underground & Nico, Verve, 1967The Velvet Underground and Nico, "Heroin," The Velvet Underground & Nico, Verve, 1967The Velvet Underground, "Pale Blue Eyes," The Velvet Underground, MGM, 1969Lou Reed, "Coney Island Baby," Coney Island Baby, RCA, 1975The Velvet Underground, "Some Kinda Love," The Velvet Underground, MGM, 1969Lou Reed, "How Do You Think It Feels," Berlin, RCA, 1973Lou Reed, "Perfect Day," Transformer, RCA, 1972The Velvet Underground, "Sweet Jane," Loaded, Cotillion, 1970The Velvet Underground and Nico, "I'll Be Your Mirror," The Velvet Underground & Nico, Verve, 1967The Velvet Underground, "Candy Says," The Velvet Underground, MGM, 1969Pixies, "Here Comes Your Man," Doolittle, 4AD and Elektra, 1989See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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No One Understood—Except One Radio DJIn this bonus episode, Greg shares a song that was championed early on by English radio DJ John Peel.Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9TBecome a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvcSign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnGMake a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lUSend us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundopsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.