Sound Opinions

Latest Episodes:

R.I.P. Rob Reiner, Opinions on Lily Allen & Dry Cleaning Jan 16, 2026

Show notes

In December of 2025, the world tragically lost actor and filmmaker Rob Reiner. This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot pay tribute to him by revisiting their 2014 interview in which they discuss This Is Spinal Tap, films, music and more. They also review new music from Lily Allen and Dry Cleaning.

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Featured Songs:

Spinal Tap, "Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight," This Is Spinal Tap, Polydor, 1984

Dry Cleaning, "Hit My Head All Day," Secret Love, 4AD, 2026

Dry Cleaning, "Rocks," Secret Love, 4AD, 2026

Dry Cleaning, "Blood," Secret Love, 4AD, 2026

Lily Allen, "West End Girl," West End Girl, BMG, 2025

Lily Allen, "Madeline," West End Girl, BMG, 2025

Lily Allen, "Just Enough," West End Girl, BMG, 2025

Spinal Tap, "Rock and Roll Creation," This Is Spinal Tap, Polydor, 1984

Spinal Tap, "Cups and Cakes," This Is Spinal Tap, Polydor, 1984

Spinal Tap, "Gimme Some Money," This Is Spinal Tap, Polydor, 1984

Spinal Tap, "Big Bottom," This Is Spinal Tap, Polydor, 1984

Black Sabbath, "Black Sabbath," Black Sabbath, Vertigo, 1970

Spinal Tap, "Head Hole," This Is Spinal Tap, Polydor, 1984

Roxy Music, "If There Is Something," Roxy Music, Island and Reprise, 1972

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A History Lesson from Professor DeRogatis Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

In this bonus episode, Jim shares an old country cut that recounts the assassination of President James Garfield, recorded by one of the genre’s all-time greats.

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2025 Mixtape, Obituaries and Singles of the Year Jan 09, 2026

Show notes

Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot close the book on 2025 by doing a final round of obituaries, playing favorite singles and sharing a mixtape that documents the ups and downs of the year that was.

Greg's Mixtape

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Featured Songs:

SPRINTS, "Something's Gonna Happen," All That Is Over, City Slang and Sub Pop, 2025

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

The Redwalls, "It's Alright," Universal Blues, Undertow, 2003

Joe Ely, "Boxcars," Honkey Tonk Masquerade, MCA, 1978

The Mavericks, "There Goes My Heart," What a Crying Shame, MCA Nashville, 1994

The Band, "Chest Fever," Music from Big Pink, Capitol, 1968

Chappell Roan, "The Subway," (Single), Amusement, 2025

Annabelle Dinda, "The Hand," (Single), Self-Released, 2025

Huntrix, "Golden," KPop Demon Hunters, Republic, 2025

Hayley Williams, "True Believer (Live on Tonight Show)," Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party, Post Atlantic, 2025

Bad Bunny, "BAILE INoLVIDABLE," DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, Rimas, 2025

MSPAINT, "Angel," No Separation, Convulse, 2025

Cardi B, "Outside," Am I the Drama?, Atlantic, 2025

Taylor Swift, "The Fate Of Ophelia," The Life of a Showgirl, Republic, 2025

Sharon Van Etten, "Somethin' Ain't Right," Sharon Van Etten and The Attachement Theory, Jagjaguwar, 2025

The Penrose Web, "I Dreamt I Woke Up Dead," It's...The Penrose Web, Fools Paradise and Gare Du Nord, 2025

Peter Peter Hughes, "The End of Your Empire," Half-Staff Blues, Tired Media, 2025

Mavis Staples, "Chicago," Sad and Beautiful World, Anti, 2025

The Belair Lip Bombs, "Again and Again," Again, Third Man, 2025

The Bug Club, "How to Be a Confidante," Very Human Features, Sub Pop, 2025

Perfume Genius, "It's a Mirror," Glory, Matador, 2025

Ed Kuepper and Jim White, "The 16 Days," After The Flood, Remote Control, 2025

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

Spinal Tap, "Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight," This Is Spinal Tap, Polydor, 1984

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So Good Even Dan the Automator Left It Alone Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

In this bonus episode, Greg adds a song to the Desert Island Jukebox that was arguably perfected upon its original release.

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British Post-Punk Pioneers the Raincoats Jan 02, 2026

Show notes

Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot explore the music and legacy of the Raincoats, a post-punk band beloved by musicians and critics alike. Raincoats leaders Gina Burch and Ana da Silva join Jim and Greg to reflect on creating their debut album in 1979 and staying creative in the decades since. Though they never found mainstream success, the Raincoats’ sound left a deep mark on alternative music—including on one of their most famous fans, Kurt Cobain of Nirvana.

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Featured Songs:

the Raincoats, "Fairytale In The Supermarket," The Raincoats, Rough Trade, 1979

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

Gina Birch, "Feminist Song," I Play My Bass Loud, Third Man, 2023

Gina Birch, "Causing Trouble Again," Trouble, Third Man, 2025

Gina Birch, "I Play My Bass Loud," I Play My Bass Loud, Third Man, 2023

the Raincoats, "The Void," The Raincoats, Rough Trade, 1979

the Raincoats, "In Love," The Raincoats, Rough Trade, 1979

the Raincoats, "Shouting Out Loud," Odyshape, Rough Trade, 1981

the Raincoats, "No One's Little Girl," Moving, Rough Trade, 1984

the Raincoats, "No Side to Fall In," The Raincoats, Rough Trade, 1979

the Raincoats, "Only Loved at Night," Odyshape, Rough Trade, 1981

the Raincoats, "Ooh Ooh La La La," Moving, Rough Trade, 1984

SPRINTS, "Something's Gonna Happen," All That Is Over, City Slang and Sub Pop, 2025

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Barely Scratching the Steve Albini Surface Dec 31, 2025

Show notes

In this bonus episode, Jim adds a track to the Desert Island Jukebox—one of Steve Albini’s many obscure recordings from the legendary engineer’s vast production discography.

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Radiohead's Kid A 25th Anniversary Plus Malcolm McLaren Dec 26, 2025

Show notes

Following up the guitar masterpiece of OK Computer, Radiohead threw the music world for a loop with Kid A. Twenty five years after its release, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot talk with author Steven Hyden about how the album was made and its lasting impact. They also discuss the life and career of the Sex Pistols and New York Dolls manager Malcolm McLaren.

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Featured Songs:

Radiohead, "Idioteque," Kid A, Parlophone, 2000

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

Radiohead, "How To Disappear Completely," Kid A, Parlophone, 2000

Radiohead, "Subterranean Homesick Alien," OK Computer, Parlophone, 1997

Travis, "Writing To Reach You," The Man Who, Independiente, 1999

Autechre, "Rae," LP5, Warp, 1999

Radiohead, "Fake Plastic Trees," The Bends, Parlophone, 1995

Radiohead, "Everything In Its Right Place," Kid A, Parlophone, 2000

Radiohead, "Kid A (Live)," Unreleased, N/A, 2001

Radiohead, "Kid A," Kid A, Parlophone, 2000

Radiohead, "Treefingers," Kid A, Parlophone, 2000

Radiohead, "The National Anthem (Live)," Unreleased, N/A, 2001

Radiohead, "15 Step," In Rainbows, Parlophone, 2007

Radiohead, "The National Anthem," Kid A, Parlophone, 2000

Sex Pistols, "Anarchy In the U.K.," Never Mind the Bullocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, Virgin, 1977

Sex Pistols, "God Save the Queen," Never Mind the Bullocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, Virgin, 1977

Sex Pistols, "Pretty Vacant," Never Mind the Bullocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, Virgin, 1977

Bow Wow Wow, "I Want Candy," The Last of the Mohicans, RCA, 1982

Malcolm McLaren, "Buffalo Gals," Duck Rock, Virgin, 1983

The Raincoats, "Lola," The Raincoats, Rough Trade, 1979

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RIP Joe Ely Dec 24, 2025

Show notes

In this bonus episode, Greg adds a song to the desert island jukebox to honor one of the great West Texas rockers, Joe Ely, who died on December 15, 2025.

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Jeff Tweedy on "Twlight Override" Dec 19, 2025

Show notes

Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot welcome Jeff Tweedy of Wilco for a wide-ranging discussion about his solo album "Twilight Override" and other aspects of Tweedy's long and storied career.

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Featured Songs:

Jeff Tweedy, "Lou Reed Was My Babysitter," Twilight Override, dBpm, 2025

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

Jeff Tweedy, "Feel Free," Twilight Override, dBpm, 2025

Jeff Tweedy, "One Tiny Flower," Twilight Override, dBpm, 2025

Jeff Tweedy, "Parking Lot," Twilight Override, dBpm, 2025

Jeff Tweedy, "Cry Baby Cry," Twilight Override, dBpm, 2025

Jeff Tweedy, "Blank Baby," Twilight Override, dBpm, 2025