Sound Opinions

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**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.

Latest Episodes:

No One Understood—Except One Radio DJ Apr 29, 2026

Show notes

In this bonus episode, Greg shares a song that was championed early on by English radio DJ John Peel.

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Ratboys & Opinions on Friko Apr 24, 2026

Show notes

This 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.

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Featured Songs:

Ratboys, "Anywhere," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West, 2026

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

Friko, "Seven Degrees," Something Worth Waiting For, ATO, 2026

Friko, "Guess," Something Worth Waiting For, ATO, 2026

Friko, "Alice," Something Worth Waiting For, ATO, 2026

Friko, "Choo Choo," Something Worth Waiting For, ATO, 2026

Ratboys, "Folk Song For Jazz," AOID, Topshelf, 2015

Rat Boy, "My Name Is Rat Boy," Internationally Unknown, Parlophone, 2019

Ratboys, "Elvis Is In The Freezer," GN, Topshelf, 2017

Ratboys, "Just Want You To Know The Truth," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West, 2026

Ratboys, "Making Noises for the Ones You Love," The Window, Topshelf, 2023

Ratboys, "Burn It Down," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West, 2026

Ratboys, "At Peace In The Hundred Acre Wood," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West, 2026

Ratboys, "Light Night Mountains All That," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West, 2026

Lou Reed, "Vicious," Transformer, RCA, 1972

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A Song About Robert De Niro (Sort Of) Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

In this bonus episode, Jim cues up a Desert Island Jukebox pick—and explains why it’s deeper than it first sounds.

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Rapper Billy Woods, Opinions on Robyn & Courtney Barnett Apr 17, 2026

Show notes

The prolific and singular rapper Billy Woods has spent decades carving out his own lane in hip-hop. This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot chat with Billy Woods about his career, discography, and the process driving his music. The hosts also review new albums from Robyn and Courtney Barnett.

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Featured Songs:

Billy Woods, "Misery (feat. Kenny Segal)," Golliwog, Backwoodz Studioz, 2025

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

Robyn, "Sexistential," Sexistential, Konichiwa and Young, 2026

Robyn, "Sucker For Love," Sexistential, Konichiwa and Young, 2026

Robyn, "Really Real," Sexistential, Konichiwa and Young, 2026

Robyn, "Blow My Mind," Sexistential, Konichiwa and Young, 2026

Courtney Barnett, "Mantis," Creature of Habit, Mom + Pop, 2026

Courtney Barnett, "Another Beautiful Day," Creature of Habit, Mom + Pop, 2026

Courtney Barnett, "Great Advice," Creature of Habit, Mom + Pop, 2026

Courtney Barnett, "One Thing At A Time," Creature of Habit, Mom + Pop, 2026

Armand Hammer & The Alchemist, "Glue Traps (Feat. Quelle Chris)," Mercy, Backwoodz Studioz, 2025

Billy Woods, "Corinthians Corinthians (feat. Despot & EL-P)," Golliwog, Backwoodz Studioz, 2025

Billy Woods, "The Things They Carried," Camouflage, Backwoodz Studioz, 2003

Billy Woods & Messiah Musik, "Pollo Rico," Church, Backwoodz Studioz, 2022

Billy Woods, "Make No Mistake (feat. Messiah Musik)," Golliwog, Backwoodz Studioz, 2025

Billy Woods & Messiah Musik, "Paraquat," Church, Backwoodz Studioz, 2022

Billy Woods, "No Hard Feelings," Aethiopes, Backwoodz Studioz, 2022

Billy Woods, "Asylum," Aethiopes, Backwoodz Studioz, 2022

Billy Woods & Kenny Segal, "Spongebob," Hiding Places, Backwoodz Studioz, 2020

Ratboys, "What's Right?," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West Records, 2026

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RIP James Gadson Apr 15, 2026

Show notes

In this bonus episode, Greg pays tribute to legendary drummer James Gadson who died on April 2, 2026 at age 86.

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A Journey Though Neil Young's Catalog Apr 10, 2026

Show notes

This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot will do an overview of Neil Young’s six decade-long career in just 12 songs.

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Featured Songs:

Neil Young, "Old Man," Harvest, Reprise, 1972

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

Neil Young and Crazy Horse, "Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)," Rust Never Sleeps, Reprise, 1979

Neil Young, "Sugar Mountain (Demo for Elektra Records, 1965)," Decade, Warner Bros., 1977

Buffalo Springfield, "Expecting to Fly," Buffalo Springfield Again, Atco, 1967

Neil Young with Crazy Horse, "Cinnamon Girl," Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, Reprise, 1969

Neil Young, "On the Beach," On the Beach, Reprise, 1974

Neil Young, "Campaigner," Decade, Warner Bros., 1977

Neil Young and Crazy Horse, "Like a Hurricane," American Stars 'n Bars, Reprise and Warner Bros., 1977

Neil Young, "Mr. Soul," Trans, Geffen, 1983

Neil Young, "Rockin' in the Free World (Live on Saturday Night Live, 1989)," Freedom, Geffen, 1989

Neil Young and Crazy Horse, "F_!#In' Up," Ragged Glory, Reprise, 1990

Neil Young, "Walk With Me," Le Noise, Reprise, 2010

Neil Young, "Devil's Sidewalk," Greendale, Warner Bros., 2003

Neil Young, "After the Gold Rush (Live at Massey Hall, 2011)," After the Gold Rush, Reprise, 1970

Billy Woods, "Misery (feat. Kenny Segal)," Golliwog, Backwoodz, 2025

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Three Voices, One Rockin’ Cover Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

In this bonus episode, Jim highlights a cover that outshines the original, thanks to three legendary blues singers.

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Bloodshot Records with Co-Founder Rob Miller Apr 03, 2026

Show notes

Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot explore the history of Chicago’s Bloodshot Records, an iconic, insurgent country music label. They talk with co-founder Rob Miller about the music and the business of running an independent label. They’ll also share some of their favorite songs from the vast catalog.

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Featured Songs:

Robbie Fulks, "Every Kind Of Music But Country," Country Love Songs, Bloodshot, 1996

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

The Bottle Rockets, "Every Kinda Everything," For A Life of Sin: Insurgent Chicago Country, Bloodshot, 1994

Jason & the Scorchers, "Lost Highway," Lost & Found, EMI, 1985

Hank Williams, "Lost Highway," Lost Highway (Single), MGM, 1949

Scott H. Biram, "Blood Sweat and Murder," For a Decade of Sin: 11 Years of Bloodshot Records, Bloodshot, 2005

Handsome Family, "Tower of Song," Too Late to Pray: Defiant Chicago Roots, Bloodshot, 2019

Justin Townes Earle, "Far Away in Another Town," The Good Life, Bloodshot, 2008

Alejandro Escovedo, "Castanets," A Man Under the Influence, Bloodshot, 2001

Lydia Loveless, "Bad Way to Go," Indestructable Machine, Bloodshot, 2011

Neko Case, "Deep Red Bells," Blacklisted, Bloodshot, 2002

Neil Young, "Rockin' in the Free World," Freedom, Reprise, 1989

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When a Legend Lost the Crowd Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

In this bonus episode, Greg highlights a record that was poorly received at the time but has since aged into greatness.

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Springtime Buried Treasures Mar 27, 2026

Show notes

Every few weeks, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot are bursting at the seams with new underground music to recommend—it's time for another round of Buried Treasures. The hosts share a handful of tracks, and the production team chimes in as well.

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Featured Songs:

Brother Ali, "Another Country," Another Country (Single), Travelers, 2026

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

Tim Cain, "Chant for the Hauntlings," "LOVE, Tim Cain" Volume 1, Self-released, 2025

Private Wives, "Haymaker," Three of Swords, Farmer & The Owl, 2026

Kory Quinn, "OxyContin Blues," Safer In The Lee, Ma & Pa, 2026

MC Abdul, Noel Kharman, and Tamer Nafar, "The Beat Never Goes Off," In the name of the father, the Imam & John Lennon, Tamer Nafar and Levantine Music, 2026

Clark, "Janus Modal," Steep Stims, Throttle, 2025

Brian Gerald Bulger, "Thinking of Her Again," Thank God I'm Far From Heaven - EP, Maybe Someday, 2026

Muistardeaux Collective, "Mon Soon," Ktwe, Slink Sandwich, 2023

Ekko Astral, "lil xan goes to washington," lil xan goes to washington (Single), self-released and Many Hats Distribution, 2026

Time Thieves, "Remember I Forgot," Come Home/If You Survive EPs (Extended Edition), Self-released, 2026

Rio Kosta, "Follow The River (Vandelux Remix - Extended)," Follow The River (Vandelux Remix - Extended) (Single), Verdigris, 2026

Susannah Joffe, "Texas Baby," Texas Baby (Single), broke, 2026

Boiled In Lead, "The King of the Dogwoods," King of the Dogwoods, DeSelby, 2026

JR JR , "Stuck in My Mind," Back To The Land, Love is EZ, 2025

Donny Hathaway, "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know," Extension of a Man, Atco, 1973

Viagra Boys, "Man Made of Meat," viagr aboys, Shrimptech Enterprises, 2025

Neko Case, "Hold On, Hold On," Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, ANTI-, 2006

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