Podcast
Sound Opinions
Hosted by Sound Opinions · EN
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.
50episodes
Episodes
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Willie Nelson: The Five Essential Albums & Opinions on Kacey Musgraves
3d ago00:50:29Tap to summarizeThis 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 “five essential” albums people should hear. They also review the latest album from Kacey Musgraves.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:Willie Nelson, "Stardust," Stardust, Columbia, 1978The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967Kacey Musgraves, "Dry Spell," Middle of Nowhere, Lost Highway, 2026Kacey Musgraves, "Middle of Nowhere," Middle of Nowhere, Lost Highway, 2026Kacey Musgraves, "Horses and Divorces (featuring Miranda Lambert)," Middle of Nowhere, Lost Highway, 2026Kacey Musgraves, "Uncertain, TX (featuring Willie Nelson)," Middle of Nowhere, Lost Highway, 2026Willie Nelson, "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," Red Headed Stranger, Columbia, 1975Willie Nelson, "Phases and Stages (Theme) / Washing the Dishes," Phases and Stages, Atlantic, 1974Willie Nelson, "Bloody Mary Morning," Phases and Stages, Atlantic, 1974Willie Nelson, "Help Me Make It Through the Night," Sings Kristofferson, Columbia, 1979Willie Nelson, "Georgia On My Mind," Stardust, Columbia, 1978Willie Nelson, "I Guess I've Come to Live Here in Your Eyes," Spirit, Island, 1996Willie Nelson, "On the Road Again (Live)," Live! At The US Festival (June 4, 1983), Shout! Factory, 1983Willie Nelson, "Last Man Standing," Last Man Standing, Legacy, 2018Willie Nelson, "Always on My Mind," Always on My Mind, Columbia, 1982Gary Stewart, "She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles)," Out of Hand, RCA Victor, 1975See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →RIP Chip Taylor
5d ago00:07:21Tap to summarizeIn 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/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.
Transcribe →The Violent Femmes' Debut Album
1w ago00:50:12Tap to summarizeThis 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/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:Blister In The Sun, "Violent Femmes," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967Please Do Not Go, "Violent Femmes," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983Confession, "Violent Femmes," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983Kiss Off, "Violent Femmes," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983Add It Up, "Violent Femmes," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983Gone Daddy Gone, "Violent Femmes," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983Good Feeling, "Violent Femmes," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983American Music, "Violent Femmes," Why Do Birds Sing, Reprise, 1991Willie Nelson, "On The Road Again (Live)," Honeysuckle Rose, Columbia, 1980See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →A Song for Pirate Radio
2w ago00:07:05Tap to summarizeThis 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.
Transcribe →Breaking the Sophomore Slump
2w ago00:49:44Tap to summarizeThis 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.
Transcribe →The Least Bad Version of (Maybe) a Horrible Song
3w ago00:07:38Tap to summarizeIn 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.
Transcribe →Lou Reed
3w ago00:50:39Tap to summarizeThis 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.
Transcribe →No One Understood—Except One Radio DJ
4w ago00:05:53Tap to summarizeIn 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.
Transcribe →Ratboys & Opinions on Friko
Apr 2400:50:39Tap to summarizeThis 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/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:Ratboys, "Anywhere," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West, 2026The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967Friko, "Seven Degrees," Something Worth Waiting For, ATO, 2026Friko, "Guess," Something Worth Waiting For, ATO, 2026Friko, "Alice," Something Worth Waiting For, ATO, 2026Friko, "Choo Choo," Something Worth Waiting For, ATO, 2026Ratboys, "Folk Song For Jazz," AOID, Topshelf, 2015Rat Boy, "My Name Is Rat Boy," Internationally Unknown, Parlophone, 2019Ratboys, "Elvis Is In The Freezer," GN, Topshelf, 2017Ratboys, "Just Want You To Know The Truth," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West, 2026Ratboys, "Making Noises for the Ones You Love," The Window, Topshelf, 2023Ratboys, "Burn It Down," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West, 2026Ratboys, "At Peace In The Hundred Acre Wood," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West, 2026Ratboys, "Light Night Mountains All That," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West, 2026Lou Reed, "Vicious," Transformer, RCA, 1972See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →A Song About Robert De Niro (Sort Of)
Apr 2200:06:45Tap to summarizeIn this bonus episode, Jim cues up a Desert Island Jukebox pick—and explains why it’s deeper than it first sounds.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.
Transcribe →