Sound Opinions

4.3 (2K)
MUSIC
UPDATED WEEKLY

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.

1D AGO · BONUS

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 countless artists— including one of Jim’s favorites, The Troggs. Taylor died on March 23, 2026, at the age of 86. Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9T Become a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvc Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnG Make a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lU Send us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

7 min
6D AGO

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 delve into the unexpected staying power of songs like "Add It Up" and "Blister In The Sun" and Brown shares new insights into the album from his recent interviews with the band members. Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9T Become a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvc Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnG Make a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lU Send us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops Featured Songs: Blister In The Sun, "Violent Femmes," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983 The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967 Please Do Not Go, "Violent Femmes," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983 Confession, "Violent Femmes," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983 Kiss Off, "Violent Femmes," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983 Add It Up, "Violent Femmes," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983 Gone Daddy Gone, "Violent Femmes," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983 Good Feeling, "Violent Femmes," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983 American Music, "Violent Femmes," Why Do Birds Sing, Reprise, 1991 Willie Nelson, "On The Road Again (Live)," Honeysuckle Rose, Columbia, 1980 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

50 min
MAY 13 · BONUS

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 like stumbling onto a secret signal. Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9T Become a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvc Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnG Make a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lU Send us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

7 min
MAY 8

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 their debuts were no fluke. The hosts will also hear picks from the production staff. Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9T Become a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvc Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnG Make a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lU Send us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops Featured Songs: Horsegirl, "Switch Over," Phonetics On and On, Matador, 2025 The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967 Black Sabbath, "Paranoid," Paranoid, Vertigo, 1970 Public Enemy, "Bring the Noise," It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, Def Jam, 1988 Led Zeppelin, "Moby Dick," Led Zeppelin II, Atlantic, 1969 Pixies, "Debaser," Doolittle, 4AD, 1989 black midi, "Slow," Cavalcade, Rough Trade, 2021 Kanye West, "Touch the Sky (feat. Lupe Fiasco)," Late Registration, Roc-A-Fella, 2005 Fiona Apple, "Fast As You Can," When the Pawn..., Epic and Clean Slate, 1999 SZA, "Good Days," SOS, TDA and RCA, 2022 Erykah Badu, "Cleva (feat. Roy Ayers)," Mama's Gun, Motown, 2000 D'Angelo, "Chicken Grease," Voodoo, Virgin, 2000 Phoebe Bridgers, "Savior Complex," Punisher, Dead Oceans, 2020 Van Morrison, "Cyprus Avenue," Astral Weeks, Warner Bros., 1968 Violent Femmes, "Please Do Not Go," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

50 min
MAY 6 · BONUS

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. Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9T Become a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvc Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnG Make a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lU Send us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

8 min
MAY 1

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 more. Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9T Become a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvc Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnG Make a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lU Send us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops Featured Songs: Lou Reed, "Walk on the Wild Side," Transformer, RCA, 1972 The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967 The Velvet Underground and Nico, "Sunday Morning," The Velvet Underground & Nico, Verve, 1967 The Velvet Underground and Nico, "Heroin," The Velvet Underground & Nico, Verve, 1967 The Velvet Underground, "Pale Blue Eyes," The Velvet Underground, MGM, 1969 Lou Reed, "Coney Island Baby," Coney Island Baby, RCA, 1975 The Velvet Underground, "Some Kinda Love," The Velvet Underground, MGM, 1969 Lou Reed, "How Do You Think It Feels," Berlin, RCA, 1973 Lou Reed, "Perfect Day," Transformer, RCA, 1972 The Velvet Underground, "Sweet Jane," Loaded, Cotillion, 1970 The Velvet Underground and Nico, "I'll Be Your Mirror," The Velvet Underground & Nico, Verve, 1967 The Velvet Underground, "Candy Says," The Velvet Underground, MGM, 1969 Pixies, "Here Comes Your Man," Doolittle, 4AD and Elektra, 1989 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

51 min
APR 29 · BONUS

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. Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9T Become a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvc Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnG Make a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lU Send us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

6 min
APR 24

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' To An Empty Chair," is one of the most acclaimed releases of 2026 so far. The hosts also review the new album from Chicago rockers, Friko. Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9T Become a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvc Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnG Make a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lU Send us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops Featured Songs: Ratboys, "Anywhere," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West, 2026 The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967 Friko, "Seven Degrees," Something Worth Waiting For, ATO, 2026 Friko, "Guess," Something Worth Waiting For, ATO, 2026 Friko, "Alice," Something Worth Waiting For, ATO, 2026 Friko, "Choo Choo," Something Worth Waiting For, ATO, 2026 Ratboys, "Folk Song For Jazz," AOID, Topshelf, 2015 Rat Boy, "My Name Is Rat Boy," Internationally Unknown, Parlophone, 2019 Ratboys, "Elvis Is In The Freezer," GN, Topshelf, 2017 Ratboys, "Just Want You To Know The Truth," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West, 2026 Ratboys, "Making Noises for the Ones You Love," The Window, Topshelf, 2023 Ratboys, "Burn It Down," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West, 2026 Ratboys, "At Peace In The Hundred Acre Wood," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West, 2026 Ratboys, "Light Night Mountains All That," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West, 2026 Lou Reed, "Vicious," Transformer, RCA, 1972 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

51 min

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TRAILER

Sound Opinions Trailer

Music: "Colossus" by Scanglobe from Nul Tiel Records Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9T Become a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvc Make a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lU Record a Voice Memo: https://bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Support The Show: https://www.patreon.com/soundopinions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

04/04/2021

•

2 min

Greg Kot

Host
Jim DeRogatis

Host
Will Hermes

Guest
Julia Steiner

Guest
billy woods

Guest

4.3

out of 5

1,970 Ratings

Where is the kneecap review?

May 10

frederick7

It was advertised on NPR but is not available here
The Nirvana talk needs to chill

05/12/2024

NickNightLive

Nirvana’s legacy is massive, we get it! Any opportunity these guys have, they’ll shoehorn something about Kurt/Nirvana into it. Steve Albini passes? Let’s not delve into some of his best produced albums, let’s talk about In Utero for 15 minutes and their interactions with Kurt at the time. The Melvins visit? Let’s not talk about their influence on several genres or the fact that they’re still finding ways to be one of the weirdest, coolest bands going, let’s talk about Kurt and Courtney. The hosts are great but they really let an alright band with an outsized legacy dictate some of these conversations.
Too short. Go deeper

Apr 13

Rivermantengo

Why do a podcast, a platform that allows long from discussions, when you only barley scratch the surface?
Updated review

Apr 4

Another Anonymous ID

Sorry guys but you are losing the plot. You chat about something for 5 minutes, interspersed with smokers cough laughing and the obligatory name dropping (Brian Eno - DING!), and then you play a small snippet of whatever you claimed was so great. But increasingly, the music isn’t great. And you miss dozens of regional bands, innovative players, and even classic sounds from all over the world. PLEASE, play more diverse music besides your favorite punk/grunge acts, and PLEASE lay off the cigarettes.

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.