

Sound Opinions
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 10, 2025 • 51min
RIP Jimmy Cliff and Steve Cropper
In a touching tribute, reggae legend Jimmy Cliff and soul guitarist Steve Cropper share insights from their iconic careers. Cliff reflects on his early break with producer Leslie Kong and the evolution of reggae music. He talks about the camaraderie among reggae icons and the cultural impact of The Harder They Come. Cropper emphasizes the importance of groove in his music and recounts co-writing classics like 'Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay.' Both legends explore their influences and lasting legacies in this heartfelt conversation.

Dec 5, 2025 • 51min
The Best Albums of 2025
Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot share their favorite albums of 2025. They’ll also hear selections from their 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:Wednesday, "Elderberry Wine," Bleeds, Dead Oceans, 2025The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967The Hives, "They Can't Hear the Music," The Hives Forever Forever the Hives, PIAS, 2025Billy Woods, "BLK XMAS (feat. Bruiser Wolf & Sadhugold)," Golliwog, Backwoodz Studioz, 2025Sabrina Carpenter, "Nobody's Son," Man's Best Friend, Island, 2025Gwenifer Raymond, "Jack Parsons Blues," Last Night I Heard The Dog Star Bark, We Are Busy Bodies, 2025Lambrini Girls, "Love," Who Let the Dogs Out, City Slang, 2025Trupa Trupa, "Backwards Water," Mourners, Glitterbeat, 2025Viagra Boys, "Man Made of Meat," Viagr Aboys, Shrimptech Enterprises, 2025Aesop Rock, "Full House Pinball," I Heard It's A Mess There Too, Rhymesayers, 2025Maruja, "Look Down On Us," Pain to Power, Music For Nations, 2025Poor Creature, "All Smiles Tonight," All Smiles Tonight, River Lea, 2025Rosalía, "Berghain," Lux, Columbia, 2025Wet Leg, "mangetout," Moisturizer, Domino, 2025FKA twigs, "Perfect Stranger," Eusexua, Atlantic, 2025Sprints , "Coming Alive," All That Is Over, City Slang, 2025Horsegirl, "I Can't Stand to See You," Phonetics On and On, Matador, 2025Lenny Dee, "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!," Happy Holi-Dee, Decca, 1961See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dec 3, 2025 • 1h 3min
John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats on This Year: 365 Songs Annotated: A Book of Days
John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats discusses his new book, "This Year: 365 Songs Annotated: A Book of Days" and his new album "Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan" with Sound Opinions producer Andrew Gill. Become 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/soundopsJoin our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9TSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 28, 2025 • 51min
Yes's "Going For the One" & Opinions on Tortoise
This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot dissect Yes' 1977 masterpiece album Going For the One. They talk about the progressive rock band's history, the rich music and they interview lead singer Jon Anderson about the making of the record. Jim and Greg also review the latest from Tortoise.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:Yes, "Awaken," Going for the One, Atlantic, 1977Yes, "Going For the One," Going for the One, Atlantic, 1977The Beatles, "A Day In the Life," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967Yes, "Close To The Edge," Close To The Edge, Atlantic, 1972Yes, "Time and a Word," Time and a Word, Atlantic, 1970Yes, "I've Seen All Good People A. Your Move, B. All Good People," The Yes Album, Atlantic, 1971Yes, "Roundabout," Fragile, Atlantic, 1971Yes, "The Ancient," Tales from Topographic Oceans, Atlantic, 1973Yes, "Turn of the Century," Going for the One, Atlantic, 1977Yes, "Parallels," Going for the One, Atlantic, 1977Yes, "Wonderous Stories," Going for the One, Atlantic, 1977Tortoise, "Vexations," Touch, International Anthem, 2025Tortoise, "Night Gang," Touch, International Anthem, 2025Tortoise, "Promenade à deux," Touch, International Anthem, 2025Wednesday, "Elderberry Wine," Bleeds, Merge, 2025See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 26, 2025 • 5min
Jim Goes Full Greg Kot with This Pick
In this bonus episode of Sound Opinions, Jim shares a Kot-esque pick from a band named after someone very dear to him.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.

Nov 21, 2025 • 47min
Songs About Giving Thanks
Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot revisit a Sound Opinions classic— Songs About Giving Thanks. The hosts will share some of their favorite songs in celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday, and they'll hear selections 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:Natalie Merchant, "Kind and Generous," Ophelia, Elektra, 1998The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967Big Star, "Thank You Friends," Third, PVC, 1977Sister Sledge, "We Are Family," We Are Family, Atlantic, 1979Earth, Wind & Fire, "Gratitude," Gratitude, Columbia, 1975Tyler, The Creator, "GONE, GONE / THANK YOU," IGOR, Columbia, 2019Bonnie Raitt, "Thank You," Bonnie Raitt, Warner Bros., 1971Lucinda Williams, "Stowaway in Your Heart," Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone, Highway 20, 2014Led Zeppelin, "Thank You," Led Zeppelin II, Atlantic, 1969Fall Out Boy, "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs," Infinity On High, Island, 2007Chance The Rapper, "Blessing (feat. Jamila Woods)," Coloring Book, Self-Released, 2016 Andrew Gold, "Thank You For Being A Friend," All This and Heaven Too, Asylum, 1978The Kinks, "Days," Days (Single), Pye 7N 17573, 1968Dido, "Thank You," No Angel, Cheeky, 1999Descendants, "Thank You," Everything Sucks, Epitaph, 1996Third Eye Blind, "Thanks a Lot," Third Eye Blind, Elektra, 1997Alanis Morissette, "Thank U," Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, Maverick, Reprise, 1998The Flaming Lips, "Do You Realize??," Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Warner, 2002The Intruders, "Be Thankful For What You Got," Energy of Love, TSOP, Philadelphia International, 1974Yes, "Going for the One," Going for the One, Atlantic, 1977See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 19, 2025 • 9min
Long May He Run
In this bonus DIJ, Greg pays tribute to a legendary artist who recently celebrated his 80th birthday, as well as the 50th anniversary of one of his classic albums.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.

Nov 14, 2025 • 51min
Fleetwood Mac's Rumours
Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot talk with journalist and author Alan Light about his book “Don’t Stop: Why We (Still) Love Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours.” They discuss the music, history and why younger generations are still listening to this record almost 50 years after its release.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:Fleetwood Mac, "I Don't Want to Know," Rumours, Warner Bros., 1977The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967Fleetwood Mac, "Don't Stop," Rumours, Warner Bros., 1977Fleetwood Mac, "Second Hand News," Rumours, Warner Bros., 1977Fleetwood Mac, "Silver Springs (Live)," The Dance, Reprise, 1997Fleetwood Mac, "You Make Loving Fun," Rumours, Warner Bros., 1977Fleetwood Mac, "Gold Dust Woman," Rumours, Warner Bros., 1977Fleetwood Mac, "Go Your Own Way," Rumours, Warner Bros., 1977Buckingham Nicks, "Frozen Love," Buckingham Nicks, Polydor, 1973Fleetwood Mac, "Tusk," Tusk, Warner Bros., 1979Fleetwood Mac, "The Chain," Rumours, Warner Bros., 1977Fleetwood Mac, "Dreams," Rumours, Warner Bros., 1977Fleetwood Mac, "Never Going Back," Rumours, Warner Bros., 1977Fleetwood Mac, "Songbird," Rumours, Warner Bros., 1977Fleetwood Mac, "Landslide (Live)," The Dance, Reprise, 1997Alanis Morissette, "Thank U," Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, Maverick, 1998See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 12, 2025 • 7min
An Anthem for Chicago's Fight
In this bonus DIJ, Jim picks a song from the ’80s that’s as relevant now as it was then.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.

Nov 10, 2025 • 2min
An Important Message From Jim and Greg
If you love this show and you're able to pitch in, now is the time to pledge your support.Become a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvcMake a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lUSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.


