Sound Opinions

Latest Episodes:

Reviews of Lucy Dacus, Saba & No I.D., Mekons, etc. Plus RIP Clem Burke & Dave Allen Apr 18, 2025

Show notes

As spring is springing, the volume of new albums coming out is hard to keep up with. This week hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot dig out from “music mountain” by reviewing new albums from Lucy Dacus, Saba and No ID, Mekons and Perfume Genius. They also pay tribute to Clem Burke of Blondie and Dave Allen of Gang of Four.

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Featured Songs:

Lucy Dacus, "Ankles," Forever is a Feeling, Geffen, 2025

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

Blondie, "Heart Of Glass," Parallel Lines, Chrysalis, 1979

Blondie, "Atomic," Eat to the Beat, Chrysalis, 1980

Blondie, "Call Me," American Gigolo, Chrysalis, 1980

Gang of Four, "Ether," Entertainment!, EMI, 1979

Gang of Four, "Damaged Goods," Entertainment!, EMI, 1979

Lucy Dacus, "For Keeps," Forever is a Feeling, Geffen, 2025

Lucy Dacus, "Most Wanted Man," Forever is a Feeling, Geffen, 2025

Lucy Dacus, "Lost Time," Forever is a Feeling, Geffen, 2025

Saba and No I.D., "head.rap (ft. Madison McFerrin, Ogi & Jordan Ward)," From the Private Collection of Saba and No I.D., From the Private Collection of Saba and No I.D., 2025

Saba and No I.D., "Every Painting Has a Price (feat. Eryn Allen Kane & BJ Chicago Kid)," From the Private Collection of Saba and No I.D., From the Private Collection of Saba and No I.D., 2025

Saba and No I.D., "Breakdown," From the Private Collection of Saba and No I.D., From the Private Collection of Saba and No I.D., 2025

Saba and No I.D., "How to Impress God," From the Private Collection of Saba and No I.D., From the Private Collection of Saba and No I.D., 2025

Perfume Genius, "Clean Heart," Glory, Matador, 2025

Perfume Genius, "No Front Teeth (feat. Aldous Harding)," Glory, Matador, 2025

Perfume Genius, "Left For Tomorrow," Glory, Matador, 2025

Perfume Genius, "Full On," Glory, Matador, 2025

Mekons, "Mudcrawlers," Horror, Fire, 2025

Mekons, "You're Not Singing Anymore," Horror, Fire, 2025

Mekons, "Private Defense Contractor," Horror, Fire, 2025

Mekons, "The Western Design," Horror, Fire, 2025

Mekons, "War Economy," Horror, Fire, 2025

Mekons, "Sad and Sad and Sad," Horror, Fire, 2025

Rosanne Cash, "Seven Year Ache," Seven Year Ache, Columbia, 1981

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A Song that Stalked Jim Through the Algorithm Apr 16, 2025

Show notes

In this bonus episode, Jim attempts to redeem a song from German singer Nina Hagen's 1982 album NunSexMonkRock, which Rolling Stone famously dubbed the "most unlistenable" album ever made.

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25th Anniversary of Common's Like Water for Chocolate Apr 11, 2025

Show notes

This year marks the 25th anniversary of socially conscious rapper Common's pivotal album Like Water for Chocolate. Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot revisit their classic album dissection of Like Water for Chocolate including an interview with Common from the year 2000.

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Featured Songs:

Common, "Time Travelin' (A Tribute to Fela)," Like Water for Chocolate, MCA, 2000

Common, "Take it EZ," Can I Borrow a Dollar?, Relativity, 1992

Common, "I Used to Love H.E.R.," Resurrection, Relativity, 1994

Common, "Brown Sugar," Brown Sugar, EMI, 1995

Common, "Funky for You," Like Water for Chocolate, MCA, 2000

Common, "A Song for Assata," Like Water for Chocolate, MCA, 2000

Common, "Payback is a Grandmother," Like Water for Chocolate, MCA, 2000

Common, "The Light," Like Water for Chocolate, MCA, 2000

Common, "The 6th Sense," Like Water for Chocolate, MCA, 2000

Common, "Thelonius," Like Water for Chocolate, MCA, 2000

Common, "Geto Heaven Remix T.S.O.I," Like Water for Chocolate (Alternate Edition), MCA, 2001

Common, "A Film Called (Pimp)," Like Water for Chocolate, MCA, 2000

Kendrick Lamar, "Institutionalized," To Pimp a Butterfly, Interscope, 2015

New York Dolls, "Looking For a Kiss," New York Dolls, Mercury, 1973

Delivery, "The New Alphabet," Force Majeure, Heavenly, 2025

Delivery, "Deadlines," Force Majeure, Heavenly, 2025

Lucy Dacus, "Ankles," Forever is a Feeling, Geffen, 2025

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More Mike Campbell! Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

Jim and Greg continue their conversation with Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. They talk about performing in the Super Bowl Half Time show, working with Don Henley and Stevie Nicks and the future of the Heartbreakers.

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Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Apr 04, 2025

Show notes

This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot interview guitarist and songwriter Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. They talk about his new autobiography, working with Bob Dylan and his continued love for music.

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Featured Songs:

Tom Petty, "Runnin' Down a Dream," Full Moon Fever, MCA, 1989

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

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Breakdown," Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Shelter, 1976

Johnny Cash, "Folsom Prison Blues," Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar!, Sun, 1957

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, "Born In Chicago," The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Elektra, 1965

Mudcrutch, "Scare Easy," Mudcrutch, Reprise, 2008

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Refugee," Damn the Torpedoes, Backstreet, 1979

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Here Comes My Girl," Damn the Torpedoes, Backstreet, 1979

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Don't Do Me Like That," Damn the Torpedoes, Backstreet, 1979

Tom Petty, "Free Fallin'," Full Moon Fever, MCA, 1989

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Even the Losers," Damn the Torpedoes, Backstreet, 1979

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "A Woman In Love (It's Not Me)," Hard Promises, Backstreet, 1981

The Beatles, "Taxman," Revolver, Parlophone, 1966

Tom Petty, "I Won't Back Down," Full Moon Fever, MCA, 1989

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "American Girl," Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Shelter, 1976

Common, "The Light," Like Water for Chocolate, MCA, 2000

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A Key Band of the '80s Indie Rock Scene Apr 02, 2025

Show notes

In this bonus episode, Greg shares a track by one of the great, underrated bands on the Simple Machines record label. Don't miss out on this forgotten classic!

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Women in Ska & Opinions on Throwing Muses Mar 28, 2025

Show notes

Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot talk with author Heather Augustyn about her book "Rude Girls: Women in Two Tone Ska and One Step Beyond." The hosts also review the new album by Throwing Muses.

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Featured Songs:

The Bodysnatchers, "Ruder Than You," Ruder Than You (Single), 2 Tone, 1980

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

Throwing Muses, "Summer of Love," Moonlight Concessions, Fire, 2025

Throwing Muses, "South Coast," Moonlight Concessions, Fire, 2025

Throwing Muses, "Theremini," Moonlight Concessions, Fire, 2025

Throwing Muses, "Sally's Beauty," Moonlight Concessions, Fire, 2025

Rhoda with the Special A.K.A., "The Boiler," The Boiler (Single), 2 Tone, 1981

The Selecter, "On My Radio," On My Radio (Single), 2 Tone, 1979

The Bodysnatchers, "Easy Life," Easy Life (Single), 2 Tone, 1980

The Fun Boy Three with Bananarama, "It Ain't What You Do It's the Way That You Do It," Fun Boy Three, Chrysalis, 1982

The Fun Boy Three, "Our Lips Are Sealed," Waiting, Chrysalis, 1983

The Deltones, "Oddball Boy," Nana Choc Choc In Paris, Unicorn, 1989

The Lemons, "English Summer," English Summer (Single), Race, 1981

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "I Won't Back Down," Full Moon Fever, MCA, 1989

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RIP Brian James of the Damned Mar 26, 2025

Show notes

In this bonus episode, Jim pays tribute to Brian James, English punk rock guitarist and founding member of the Damned. James died on March 6th, 2025 at the age of 70.

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Music & Nostalgia Plus Opinions on Bartees Strange & Sasami Mar 21, 2025

Show notes

Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot speak with author David Rowell about his new book, The Endless Refrain: Memory, Nostalgia, and the Threat to New Music. The hosts also review the new albums by Bartees Strange and Sasami.

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Featured Songs:

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

Bartees Strange, "Sober," Horror, 4AD, 2025

Bartees Strange, "Wants Needs," Horror, 4AD, 2025

Bartees Strange, "Baltimore," Horror, 4AD, 2025

Bartees Strange, "17," Horror, 4AD, 2025

Bartees Strange, "Doomsday Buttercup," Horror, 4AD, 2025

Sasami, "Slugger," Blood On the Silver Screen, Domino, 2025