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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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- Today50 min
Sound Opinions LIVE (Courtney Barnett, Mudhoney and More) Plus Opinions on JPEGMAFIA
This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot are digging into the Sound Opinions archives to share some rare tracks recorded in live sessions for past episodes. They'll share songs by Sleater Kinney, Courtney Barnett, Drive-By Truckers and more. The hosts will also review the new album from JPEGMAFIA.Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9TBecome a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvcSign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/4frcVZoMake a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lUSend us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops Featured Songs:Courtney Barnett, "Scott Says (Live on Sound Opinions)," Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, Mom + Pop Music, 2015JPEGMAFIA, "babygirl," Experimental Rap, AWAL, 2026JPEGMAFIA, "The Ghost of Emmett Till," Experimental Rap, AWAL, 2026Mudhoney, "1995 (Live on Sound Opinions)," My Brother the Cow, Reprise, 1995Hüsker Dü, "Diane," Metal Circus, SST, 1983Zola Jesus, "Hunger (Live on Sound Opinions)," Taiga, Mute, 2014Sleater-Kinney, "Get Up (Live on Sound Opinions)," The Hot Rock, Kill Rock Stars, 1999Torres, "Ferris Wheel (Live on Sound Opinions)," Sprinter, Partisan, 2015Hüsker Dü, "Pink Turns to Blue," Zen Arcade, SST, 1984Drive-By Truckers, "What It Means (Live on Sound Opinions)," American Band, ATO, 2016Against Me!, "True Trans Soul Rebel (Live on Sound Opinions)," Transgender Dysphoria Blues, Total Treble, 2014Diana Ross, "I'm Coming Out," Diana, Motown, 1980See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
- 2 days agoconversational6 min4-min read
A Cult Artist with Seductive Charm
On a bonus episode of Sound Opinions, hosts Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis spotlight the criminally underrated Australian singer-songwriter Anita Lane, a magnetic yet under-the-radar force in the post-punk and art rock world who held her own among Nick Cave and Blixa Bargeld. Jim shares her wild origin story—walking into Mute Records demanding a record deal—and plays her darkly seductive track The Next Man That I See, a song that blends lust with menace.
- 1 weeks ago49 min
Gary Stewart: The Five Essential Songs, Plus Opinions on Jill Scott, Mandy, Indiana and Aldous Harding
This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot are joined by returning guest and favorite music writer Jimmy McDonough. Jimmy recently released a biography 40 years in the making, Gary Stewart: I Am From the Honky-Tonks, and joins the show to help Jim and Greg run down five essential tracks from the cult country artist. The hosts also review new albums from Jill Scott, Mandy, Indiana, and Aldous Harding.Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9TBecome a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvcSign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3RuYwkSMake a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lUSend us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops Featured Songs:Gary Stewart, "Honky Tonk Man," Honky Tonk Man (Single), RCA, 1981The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967Jill Scott, "Offadaback," To Whom This May Concern, Blues Babe, 2026Jill Scott, "Liftin' Me Up," To Whom This May Concern, Blues Babe, 2026Jill Scott, "Pay U on Tuesday," To Whom This May Concern, Blues Babe, 2026Mandy, Indiana, "Sevastopol," URGH, Sacred Bones, 2026Mandy, Indiana, "Magazine," URGH, Sacred Bones, 2026Mandy, Indiana, "I'll Ask Her," URGH, Sacred Bones, 2026Aldous Harding, "Venus in the Zinnia," Train On The Island, 4AD, 2026Aldous Harding, "Train on the Island," Train On The Island, 4AD, 2026Aldous Harding, "I Ate the Most," Train On The Island, 4AD, 2026Aldous Harding, "Coats," Train On The Island, 4AD, 2026Aldous Harding, "One Stop," Train On The Island, 4AD, 2026Gary Stewart, "Sweet Tater and Cisco," You're Not The Woman You Used To Be, MCA, 1975Gary Stewart, "Drinkin' Thing," Out of Hand, RCA, 1975Gary Stewart, "Flat Natural Born Good-Timin' Man," Steppin' Out, RCA, 1976Gary Stewart, "Pretend I Never Happened," Your Place or Mine, RCA, 1977Courtney Barnett, "Scotty Says (Live on Sound Opinions)," Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, Mom + Pop Music, 2015See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
- 1 weeks agoconversational6 min3-min read
Disengaging With Milwaukee’s Psychedelic Underground
On a bonus episode of Sound Opinions, host Greg Kot dives into his Desert Island Jukebox pick: the Milwaukee-based psychedelic band Plastic Land, praising their 1984 debut and their enduring, kaleidoscopic influence on the underground rock scene.
- 2 weeks agoconversational50 min5-min read
Willie Nelson: The Five Essential Albums & Opinions on Kacey Musgraves
On this episode of Sound Opinions, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot review Kacey Musgraves’ latest album Middle of Nowhere, then dive into a deep conversation with critic Geoffrey Himes about the five essential Willie Nelson albums that define his monumental career.
- 2 weeks agoconversational7 min3-min read
RIP Chip Taylor
On a bonus episode of Sound Opinions, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot pay tribute to Chip Taylor, the eccentric songwriter behind 'Wild Thing' and 'Angel of the Morning', who recently passed away at 86. The episode blends music history, humor, and admiration for a behind-the-scenes rock legend whose career spanned songwriting, gambling, and a late-life comeback.
- 3 weeks agoconversational50 min5-min read
The Violent Femmes' Debut Album
The debut self-titled album by the Violent Femmes, released in 1983, is revisited in a deep-dive conversation on Sound Opinions with author Nic Brown, who recently wrote a book on the record for the 33⅓ series. The discussion unpacks the album’s raw lyrical vulnerability, minimalist instrumentation, and enduring cultural resonance, revealing how three mismatched Milwaukee musicians created a timeless artifact of adolescent and universal angst.
- 3 weeks agoconversational7 min4-min read
A Song for Pirate Radio
On this bonus episode of Sound Opinions, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Cott spotlight the criminally underrated Chicago indie rock band Green, led by Jeff Lesher, drawing comparisons to Big Star and Cheap Trick while celebrating their eclectic, genre-defying sound and Midwest legacy. The episode doubles as both a musical deep dive and a tribute to independent radio’s rebellious spirit.
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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