Sound Opinions

By WBEZ Chicago

What's Sound Opinions about?

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 - the world's only rock and roll talk show.

4.5

1,683 ratings

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#763 Buried Treasures & Car...

07.10.2020

Sound Opinions episodes:

07.10.2020 #763 Buried Treasures & Caroline Rose 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 - the world's only rock and roll talk ...
07.03.2020 #762 Bill Withers' Live at Carnegie Hall & Opinions on Phoebe Bridgers 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 - the world's only rock and roll talk ...
06.26.2020 #761 Instant Commentaries & Opinions on Bob Dylan 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 - the world's only rock and roll talk ...
06.19.2020 #760 Best Albums of 2020...So Far 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 - the world's only rock and roll talk ...
06.12.2020 #759 Cover Songs, Opinions on Jehnny Beth & Remembering Jimmy Cobb 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 - the world's only rock and roll talk ...
06.05.2020 #758 Buried Treasures & Ask The Critics 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 - the world's only rock and roll talk ...
05.29.2020 #757 Concerts That Shaped Us & Opinions On They Call Me Disco 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 - the world's only rock and roll talk ...
05.22.2020 #756 History in Songs & Best Coast 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 - the world's only rock and roll talk ...
05.15.2020 #755 Virtual Vacations, Mudhoney in Seattle, & RIP Little Richard 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 - the world's only rock and roll talk ...
05.08.2020 #754 God Save the Queens: Women in Hip-Hop, Opinions on Jason Isbell & Chicano Batman, Hamilton Bohannon 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 - the world's only rock and roll talk ...
04.30.2020 #753: Review Roundup, Bill Withers & the Red Sox Organist Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot review the new records from Fiona Apple, The Weeknd and more. They’ll hear how the Boston Red Sox's organist is keeping busy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus, we bid farewell to Bill Withers.
04.24.2020 #752 Buried Treasures & Sudan Archives With nothing but time on our hands, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot are back with a new batch of Buried Treasures. They're always on the lookout for great new music beyond the FM dial and this week they share ...
04.17.2020 #751 Rocking the Closet: Sexuality in Music, Opinions on Dua Lipa, Waxahatchee & Melkbelly Back in the 1950s, artists like Little Richard and Liberace found unique ways to present their sexuality within the “acceptable” boundaries existing in society, and in many ways, pushed them. Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot have a discussion about ...
04.10.2020 #750 Raphael Saadiq, Remembering John Prine This week Sound Opinons welcomes prolific singer, songwriter, and producer Raphael Saadiq. Perhaps most widely known as a member of the 1990s R&B band Tony! Toni! Toné!, he's also released five critically acclaimed solo albums, all the while producing notable ...
04.03.2020 #749 Review Roundup & The Masked Marauders Spring is here, and it's time to get caught up with some of the new releases of the season. From comeback kids to buzzworthy new artists, Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot have you covered. Plus, we revisit the "best" supergroup ...
03.27.2020 #748 Social Distancing on the Desert Island, R.I.P. Singer and Songwriter Paul K. In light of the global pandemic, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot are encouraging listeners to practice social distancing. They'll be sharing a fresh batch of Desert Island Jukebox picks, music that seems particularly well suited to the moment we're ...
03.20.2020 #747 Joni Mitchell's Blue Almost 50 years ago, singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell released what became her signature album, Blue. The record is full of complex lyrics, gorgeous guitar and deeply personal themes. Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot do a classic album dissection of Blue, ...
03.13.2020 #746 OutKast's Stankonia & Caroline Polachek After their third album went double-platnium, Atlanta hip-hop duo OutKast let their creativity run wild on 2000's Stankonia. Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot do a classic album dissection of that landmark record. Plus, Caroline Polachek shares the song that ...
03.06.2020 #745 Songs About Animals, Opinions on Tame Impala & Grimes Outside of their natural habitats, you'll find animals all over music. From hound dogs to blackbirds, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot share some of their favorite songs about animals. They also review new records from Tame Impala and Grimes, ...
02.28.2020 #744 Songs About Time, Ask the Critics Pt. 2 Let's "Rock Around the Clock" like Bill Haley told us to! 2020 is another leap year, Daylight Savings is around the corner and this week, Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot explore their favorite Songs About Time. They also answer more ...
02.21.2020 #743 Buried Treasures & Briston Maroney It's time again for hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot to share their latest buried treasures: recently released, under-the-radar albums you need to hear! Plus, Jim takes a trip to the desert island jukebox to play a song he can't ...
02.14.2020 #742 Ask the Critics, Hologram Tours & Opinions on Wire This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot answer listener questions in a segment called Ask the Critics! They’ll give responses on subjects like musical taste, disagreements with each other and what it’s really like to be a professional critic. ...
02.07.2020 #741 King Crimson, R.I.P. Andy Gill of Gang of Four King Crimson is a legendary progressive rock band that has evolved through the decades in innovative, and sometimes surprising ways. This week, Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis explore the constant evolution of the classic band that refuses to rest on ...
01.31.2020 #740 Best Film Acting Performances By Musicians, Host of Slow Burn on the Muders of Tupac & Biggie Over the years, several notable musicians have tried their hand at acting in movies, whether it’s playing a character or playing themselves. While the results are mixed, there have been a handful of great, pitch perfect performances. With the Oscars ...
01.24.2020 #739 Mary Wilson of The Supremes, Opinions on Drive-By Truckers & Torres Motown Records helped create the soundtrack for a generation. And no group at that famous label was more iconic than The Supremes, both for their sound, and for their groundbreaking glamour. This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot talk ...
01.17.2020 #738 The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds, R.I.P. Neil Peart & Opinions on Beach Slang Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys elevated pop music to new artistic heights with the band's 1966 masterpiece Pet Sounds. With its ingenious orchestrations and earnest lyrics, the album remains an enormous influence to this day. Hosts Jim DeRogatis and ...
01.10.2020 #737 Buried Treasures & Folk Singer-Songwriter Joan Shelley A new year calls for new tunes. Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot are back with a new batch of Buried Treasures. They're always on the lookout for great new music beyond the FM dial and this week they share their ...
01.03.2020 #736 Songs About Pot, Rock Doctors & Angie McMahon As of January 1, 2020, Illinois joins several states in legalizing recreational marijuana. Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot acknowledge the numerous songs about weed and share some of their favorites. Plus, Jim and Greg are the rock doctors, finding ...
12.27.2019 #735 Albums of the Decade, Greg's Mixtape, Juice WRLD & Roy Loney This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot close out 2019 and the 2010s by sharing some of their best albums of the decade. Then, Greg will share his annual mixtape and the hosts will discuss musicians the world lost ...
12.20.2019 #734 Sound Opinions Holiday Spectacular 2019 with Andy Cirzan It's a holiday tradition on Sound Opinions to welcome weird wax aficionado Andy Cirzan to share his annual mix of tinsel-time tunes with us. He shares his bizarre holiday music finds and the stories behind them with hosts Jim DeRogatis ...
12.13.2019 #733 The Best Albums of 2019 As 2019 comes to a close, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot reflect on the best albums of the year. They also hear from Sound Opinions producers and listeners about their favorites.
12.06.2019 #732 William S. Burroughs and the Cult of Rock 'N' Roll, Opinions on Leonard Cohen & Sudan Archives Beat writer William S. Burroughs had a profound impact and interaction with rock and hip-hop music from the 1960s through his death in the late 1990s. Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot talk with author Casey Rae about his book on ...
11.29.2019 #731 Thanksgiving Leftovers & DJ Shadow on Sampling As we finish eating Thanksgiving leftovers, Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot clear out musical discussions still left over from earlier in the year. From chart-topping phenomenons to surprising archival finds, there was just too much music this year to cover ...
11.22.2019 #730 Songs That Make You Cry, Opinions on The Replacements & FKA twigs For one reason or another, everyone has got a handful of songs that make them cry. Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot share some of the songs that bring tears to their eyes. They also review something old and something ...
11.15.2019 #729 Buried Treasures & Bobby Rush As we all settle in for the season, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot figure Sound Opinions listeners are ready for a playlist refresh. This week, they dip into the wealth of great new music beyond the FM dial and ...
11.08.2019 #728 Songs About the Radio & Opinions on Michael Kiwanuka Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot both fondly remember discovering new bands on their FM dials; and though there are many ways find new music, there's still a bit of magic to hearing a new favorite over the airwaves. To ...
11.01.2019 #727 Janis Joplin, Opinions on Kanye West & Neil Young and Crazy Horse Janis Joplin was known for her iconic singing voice, gregarious image and refusal to conform. But behind her chill, blues mama persona was an intellectual, intentional artist. Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot discuss the life and career of Janis ...
10.25.2019 #726 Bands in Costume, Opinions on Battles & Farewell to Music Critic Nick Tosches Rock and roll has never been purely about the music. The image a band puts forward can be almost as important as their songs. Some bands take it an extra step and make theatrical costumes an integral part of their ...
10.18.2019 #725 The Rolling Stones' Exile on Main St. Though originally panned by many critics, the Rolling Stones' 1972 album Exile on Main St. is now considered a masterpiece. Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot serve up a classic album dissection for the deeply influential recording.
10.11.2019 #724 Songs We Love By Bands We Don't, Opinions on Nick Cave & Farewell to Ginger Baker & Kim Shattuck Have you ever listened to a song and loved it, only to find out it’s by an artist you can’t stand? Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot will explore the concept of great songs by horrible artists and share a ...
10.04.2019 #723 Family Bands & Opinions on Wilco The family that plays together, stays together, right? If you‘ve ever traveled in a van with your mother, father, sister or brother, you know it's not that easy. From Sister Sledge to The Cowsills, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot ...
09.27.2019 #722 Fugazi's Repeater, Opinions on Psychedelic Country Artist Sturgill Simpson Washington D.C. post-punk band Fugazi reshaped the definition of punk in America. Their 1990 debut album, Repeater, connected with a generation and eventually sold more than a million copies. Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot talk with founding member Ian ...
09.20.2019 #721 Opinions on Tool, Lana Del Rey & More, Farewell to Ric Ocasek & Daniel Johnston With an influx of new music, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot decide it's time for a review roundup. They share their opinions on records by Tool, Lana Del Rey, Common and more. They also pay tribute to the late ...
09.13.2019 #720 Buried Treasures & Peter Lewis of Moby Grape Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot are always on the lookout for buried treasures - newly released music that is flying underneath the critical and commercial radar. They're back this week with some exciting new songs. Jim and Greg also ...
09.06.2019 #719 James Alexander of the Bar-Kays & Favorite Bass Lines This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot are joined by legendary funk and R&B bassist James Alexander of the Bar-Kays. They discuss his early days as a pivotal part of the Stax Records house band in Memphis and the ...
08.30.2019 #718 Whitney & Songs About Quitting Work While critical and commercially successful “soft rock” music is rare in 2019, the Chicago band Whitney found a way to make it sound fresh and indie. This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot talk with the two main members ...
08.23.2019 #717 Best Music Cameos & Opinions on Raphael Saadiq Sometimes, all it takes for a song to go from good to great is the addition of a guest artist, whether it’s a rapper going in on the verse or a guitarist shredding a solo. This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis ...
08.16.2019 #716 The Mountain Goats, Opinions on Sleater-Kinney & The Regrettes Over the course of 17 albums, The Mountain Goats have gone from a super lo-fi solo project to a polished four piece combo. This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot are joined by the whole band for an exclusive ...
08.09.2019 #715 The Legend of Robert Johnson For decades, the myths surrounding Robert Johnson overshadowed his contributions as a singer, songwriter and guitarist. From the legend that he sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads to mystery surrounding his untimely death at age 27, the ...
08.02.2019 #714 Why the Ramones Matter, Tommy Ramone & Opinions on Chance the Rapper Back in the 1970s, punk was shorthand for a subculture that took pride in breaking the mainstream’s mold. And at the vanguard of punk rock was The Ramones. Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot explore the cultural contributions of the band, ...

Older episodes

Sound Opinions

What's Sound Opinions about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Sound Opinions episodes:

#763 Buried Treasures & Caroline Rose

#762 Bill Withers' Live at Carnegie Hall & Opinions on Phoebe Bridgers

#761 Instant Commentaries & Opinions on Bob Dylan

#760 Best Albums of 2020...So Far

#759 Cover Songs, Opinions on Jehnny Beth & Remembering Jimmy Cobb

#758 Buried Treasures & Ask The Critics

#757 Concerts That Shaped Us & Opinions On They Call Me Disco

#756 History in Songs & Best Coast

#755 Virtual Vacations, Mudhoney in Seattle, & RIP Little Richard

#754 God Save the Queens: Women in Hip-Hop, Opinions on Jason Isbell & Chicano Batman, Hamilton Bohannon

#753: Review Roundup, Bill Withers & the Red Sox Organist

#752 Buried Treasures & Sudan Archives

#751 Rocking the Closet: Sexuality in Music, Opinions on Dua Lipa, Waxahatchee & Melkbelly

#750 Raphael Saadiq, Remembering John Prine

#749 Review Roundup & The Masked Marauders

#748 Social Distancing on the Desert Island, R.I.P. Singer and Songwriter Paul K.

#747 Joni Mitchell's Blue

#746 OutKast's Stankonia & Caroline Polachek

#745 Songs About Animals, Opinions on Tame Impala & Grimes

#744 Songs About Time, Ask the Critics Pt. 2

#743 Buried Treasures & Briston Maroney

#742 Ask the Critics, Hologram Tours & Opinions on Wire

#741 King Crimson, R.I.P. Andy Gill of Gang of Four

#740 Best Film Acting Performances By Musicians, Host of Slow Burn on the Muders of Tupac & Biggie

#739 Mary Wilson of The Supremes, Opinions on Drive-By Truckers & Torres

#738 The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds, R.I.P. Neil Peart & Opinions on Beach Slang

#737 Buried Treasures & Folk Singer-Songwriter Joan Shelley

#736 Songs About Pot, Rock Doctors & Angie McMahon

#735 Albums of the Decade, Greg's Mixtape, Juice WRLD & Roy Loney

#734 Sound Opinions Holiday Spectacular 2019 with Andy Cirzan

#733 The Best Albums of 2019

#732 William S. Burroughs and the Cult of Rock 'N' Roll, Opinions on Leonard Cohen & Sudan Archives

#731 Thanksgiving Leftovers & DJ Shadow on Sampling

#730 Songs That Make You Cry, Opinions on The Replacements & FKA twigs

#729 Buried Treasures & Bobby Rush

#728 Songs About the Radio & Opinions on Michael Kiwanuka

#727 Janis Joplin, Opinions on Kanye West & Neil Young and Crazy Horse

#726 Bands in Costume, Opinions on Battles & Farewell to Music Critic Nick Tosches

#725 The Rolling Stones' Exile on Main St.

#724 Songs We Love By Bands We Don't, Opinions on Nick Cave & Farewell to Ginger Baker & Kim Shattuck

#723 Family Bands & Opinions on Wilco

#722 Fugazi's Repeater, Opinions on Psychedelic Country Artist Sturgill Simpson

#721 Opinions on Tool, Lana Del Rey & More, Farewell to Ric Ocasek & Daniel Johnston

#720 Buried Treasures & Peter Lewis of Moby Grape

#719 James Alexander of the Bar-Kays & Favorite Bass Lines

#718 Whitney & Songs About Quitting Work

#717 Best Music Cameos & Opinions on Raphael Saadiq

#716 The Mountain Goats, Opinions on Sleater-Kinney & The Regrettes

#715 The Legend of Robert Johnson

#714 Why the Ramones Matter, Tommy Ramone & Opinions on Chance the Rapper

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