Sound Opinions

Latest Episodes:

Sound Opinions' Holiday Spectacular 2025 Dec 12, 2025

Show notes

This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot welcome Andy Cirzan, their favorite collector of rare holiday music, for their annual celebration of unexpected holiday deep cuts.

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RIP Jimmy Cliff and Steve Cropper Dec 10, 2025

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In this bonus episode, Greg is away on vacation, but Jim is here to pay tribute to two musical icons we’ll deeply miss after their passing in late 2025: reggae pioneer Jimmy Cliff and soul guitar legend Steve Cropper.

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The Best Albums of 2025 Dec 05, 2025

Show notes

Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot share their favorite albums of 2025. They’ll also hear selections from their production staff.

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Featured Songs:

Wednesday, "Elderberry Wine," Bleeds, Dead Oceans, 2025

The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967

The Hives, "They Can't Hear the Music," The Hives Forever Forever the Hives, PIAS, 2025

Billy Woods, "BLK XMAS (feat. Bruiser Wolf & Sadhugold)," Golliwog, Backwoodz Studioz, 2025

Sabrina Carpenter, "Nobody's Son," Man's Best Friend, Island, 2025

Gwenifer Raymond, "Jack Parsons Blues," Last Night I Heard The Dog Star Bark, We Are Busy Bodies, 2025

Lambrini Girls, "Love," Who Let the Dogs Out, City Slang, 2025

Trupa Trupa, "Backwards Water," Mourners, Glitterbeat, 2025

Viagra Boys, "Man Made of Meat," Viagr Aboys, Shrimptech Enterprises, 2025

Aesop Rock, "Full House Pinball," I Heard It's A Mess There Too, Rhymesayers, 2025

Maruja, "Look Down On Us," Pain to Power, Music For Nations, 2025

Poor Creature, "All Smiles Tonight," All Smiles Tonight, River Lea, 2025

Rosalía, "Berghain," Lux, Columbia, 2025

Wet Leg, "mangetout," Moisturizer, Domino, 2025

FKA twigs, "Perfect Stranger," Eusexua, Atlantic, 2025

Sprints , "Coming Alive," All That Is Over, City Slang, 2025

Horsegirl, "I Can't Stand to See You," Phonetics On and On, Matador, 2025

Lenny Dee, "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!," Happy Holi-Dee, Decca, 1961

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John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats on This Year: 365 Songs Annotated: A Book of Days Dec 03, 2025

Show notes

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.

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Yes's "Going For the One" & Opinions on Tortoise Nov 28, 2025

Show notes

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.

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Featured Songs:

Yes, "Awaken," Going for the One, Atlantic, 1977

Yes, "Going For the One," Going for the One, Atlantic, 1977

The Beatles, "A Day In the Life," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967

Yes, "Close To The Edge," Close To The Edge, Atlantic, 1972

Yes, "Time and a Word," Time and a Word, Atlantic, 1970

Yes, "I've Seen All Good People A. Your Move, B. All Good People," The Yes Album, Atlantic, 1971

Yes, "Roundabout," Fragile, Atlantic, 1971

Yes, "The Ancient," Tales from Topographic Oceans, Atlantic, 1973

Yes, "Turn of the Century," Going for the One, Atlantic, 1977

Yes, "Parallels," Going for the One, Atlantic, 1977

Yes, "Wonderous Stories," Going for the One, Atlantic, 1977

Tortoise, "Vexations," Touch, International Anthem, 2025

Tortoise, "Night Gang," Touch, International Anthem, 2025

Tortoise, "Promenade à deux," Touch, International Anthem, 2025

Wednesday, "Elderberry Wine," Bleeds, Merge, 2025

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Jim Goes Full Greg Kot with This Pick Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

In this bonus episode of Sound Opinions, Jim shares a Kot-esque pick from a band named after someone very dear to him.

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Songs About Giving Thanks Nov 21, 2025

Show notes

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.

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Featured Songs:

Natalie Merchant, "Kind and Generous," Ophelia, Elektra, 1998

The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967

Big Star, "Thank You Friends," Third, PVC, 1977

Sister Sledge, "We Are Family," We Are Family, Atlantic, 1979

Earth, Wind & Fire, "Gratitude," Gratitude, Columbia, 1975

Tyler, The Creator, "GONE, GONE / THANK YOU," IGOR, Columbia, 2019

Bonnie Raitt, "Thank You," Bonnie Raitt, Warner Bros., 1971

Lucinda Williams, "Stowaway in Your Heart," Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone, Highway 20, 2014

Led Zeppelin, "Thank You," Led Zeppelin II, Atlantic, 1969

Fall Out Boy, "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs," Infinity On High, Island, 2007

Chance 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, 1978

The Kinks, "Days," Days (Single), Pye 7N 17573, 1968

Dido, "Thank You," No Angel, Cheeky, 1999

Descendants, "Thank You," Everything Sucks, Epitaph, 1996

Third Eye Blind, "Thanks a Lot," Third Eye Blind, Elektra, 1997

Alanis Morissette, "Thank U," Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, Maverick, Reprise, 1998

The Flaming Lips, "Do You Realize??," Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Warner, 2002

The Intruders, "Be Thankful For What You Got," Energy of Love, TSOP, Philadelphia International, 1974

Yes, "Going for the One," Going for the One, Atlantic, 1977

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Long May He Run Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

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.

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Fleetwood Mac's Rumours Nov 14, 2025

Show notes

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.

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Featured Songs:

Fleetwood Mac, "I Don't Want to Know," Rumours, Warner Bros., 1977

The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967

Fleetwood Mac, "Don't Stop," Rumours, Warner Bros., 1977

Fleetwood Mac, "Second Hand News," Rumours, Warner Bros., 1977

Fleetwood Mac, "Silver Springs (Live)," The Dance, Reprise, 1997

Fleetwood Mac, "You Make Loving Fun," Rumours, Warner Bros., 1977

Fleetwood Mac, "Gold Dust Woman," Rumours, Warner Bros., 1977