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Sound Opinions: Daily Summaries Delivered
by WBEZ Chicago
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.
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The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- Today5 min
RIP Steve Almaas of Beat Rodeo
In this bonus episode, Jim pays tribute to country-rock hero Steve Almaas, whom he first encountered during his Hoboken, New Jersey days. Almaas, a member of the Suicide Commandos and Beat Rodeo, died on June 5, 2026, at the age of 69.Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9TBecome a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvcSign up for our newsletter: https://www.patreon.com/collection/2136865Make 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.
- 5 days agoconversational49 min5-min read
Chinese Hip Hop
In this episode of Sound Opinions, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot interview author Yi Ling Liu about her book The Wall Dancers: Searching for Freedom and Connection on the Chinese Internet, exploring how Chinese hip-hop artists navigate state censorship, cultural identity, and global influence within the constraints of the Great Firewall. The conversation centers on music as both resistance and expression in an authoritarian context.
- 1 weeks agoconversational7 min4-min read
RIP James Blood Ulmer
On a bonus episode of Sound Opinions, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Cott pay tribute to pioneering jazz guitarist James Blood Ulmer, who recently passed away at 86. Greg reflects on Ulmer’s revolutionary approach to guitar playing, shaped by Ornette Coleman’s harmolodics and a fusion of blues, gospel, and no-wave aesthetics.
- 1 weeks agoconversational50 min5-min read
The Feelies' "The Good Earth"
On this episode of Sound Opinions, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot celebrate 50 years of The Feelies by dissecting their 1986 album The Good Earth, contrasting it with their 1980 debut Crazy Rhythms. They explore the band’s evolution, the album’s bucolic tone, and its deep influence on indie rock, featuring an in-depth interview with songwriters Bill Million and Glenn Mercer.
- 2 weeks agonarrative24 min5-min read
Lucy Dacus Goes Symphonic
This bonus episode of Sound Opinions features a deep, intimate conversation between senior producer Alex Claiborne and musician Lucy Dacus about her upcoming orchestral performance with the Chicago Philharmonic at Millennium Park. The show blends personal reflection, artistic evolution, and emotional vulnerability, spotlighting Dacus’s desire to break musical norms and reconnect with her roots.
- 2 weeks agoconversational50 min6-min read
The Feelies' "Crazy Rhythms"
On this episode of Sound Opinions, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Feelies by diving deep into their seminal 1980 debut album, Crazy Rhythms, unpacking its origins, sonic innovations, and lasting influence on indie rock. The conversation blends personal anecdotes, interviews with band members Bill Millian and Glenn Mercer, and live performance clips, all delivered with the hosts’ signature humor and reverence.
- 3 weeks agoconversational6 min4-min read
Jim's Got the Hots
On this bonus episode of Sound Opinions, co-hosts Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis dive into a lighthearted yet heartfelt discussion about desert island songs, focusing on Jim’s pick: 'I Got the Hots for Charlie Watts' by the Ex-Bats, a charming garage rock tribute to the late Rolling Stones drummer. The conversation blends music fandom, generational shifts in rock, and reverence for Charlie Watts’ elegance and musicianship.
- 3 weeks agoconversational50 min6-min read
Drive-By Truckers' "Southern Rock Opera" 25th Anniversary
On the 23rd anniversary of the Drive-By Truckers’ double album Southern Rock Opera, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot reflect on its enduring relevance with guest Patterson Hood, the band’s co-founder. What began as a DIY, ambitious rock opera grappling with Southern identity, myth, and legacy has become a searingly timely work, especially amid resurgent American political divisions.
About 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.
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Sound Opinions publishes 2x weekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
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Sound Opinions covers topics including History, Music, Technology, Arts, Culture, Society & Culture, Performing Arts. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
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