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Music criticism programming for people who love music!
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Whether you're an expert, or just a casual fan, *Sound Opinions* is your source for smart and engaging music criticism and conversation. Each week on the show, nationally respected rock critics and interview artists, talk about pop culture and music industry news, review new record releases and give trends a historical context. And, because on *Sound Opinions*, "everyone's a

critic," listeners are invited to join in the debate.

*Sound Opinions* is distributed nationally by [{tag: PRX}](http://www.prx.org/soundopinions/). *Sound Opinions* can be heard on stations across the country and online at SoundOpinions.org.

09/15/2025

Is “Dad Rock” just a genre or something more profound? Greg explores that question in his look at Niko Stratis’ new memoir, a front-runner for best book title of the year. This sharp and thoughtful read challenges how we think about music, identity, and what it means to grow older: https://bit.ly/4gg7Jpe

09/09/2025

Greg pays tribute to Latin jazz legend Eddie Palmieri, who passed away on August 6, 2025, at the age of 88. Tune in to hear how his powerful legacy continues to shape the sound of Latin jazz today: https://bit.ly/46jVZPj

09/05/2025

Author Jason Schneider digs into his book "That Gun in Your Hand: The Strange Saga of ‘Hey Joe’ and Popular Music’s History of Violence" with Jim and Greg. They explore the song’s complex legacy and how its many cover versions mirror shifting views on violence in American culture. Listen to hear how one song became a lens into the darker side of popular music history: https://bit.ly/4mXfSBS

09/02/2025

Jim recommends the 2011 film “Perfect Sense,“ starring Eva Green and Ewan McGregor. He's amazed it never entered the discourse during COVID-19 lockdowns: https://bit.ly/4n6zu65

08/29/2025

Jim and Greg chat with author and climate activist Bill McKibben about the power of solar energy, the role of protest music, and his upcoming activism event "Sun Day."

Bill shares why the latest breakthroughs in solar tech give him real hope for the future and how music can help spark change.

Then the whole team picks their favorite songs about the sun, with tracks from Captain Beefheart, Stevie Wonder, and more: https://bit.ly/4mDXgGT

08/28/2025

🔆 Greg writes about welcoming back journalist and activist Bill McKibben, who joins the show to talk solar power, his upcoming national day of action Sun Day (Sept. 21), and how the Sun is reshaping our energy future.

As Bill says: “Renewable energy has suddenly become the obvious, cost-efficient choice… a very big and hopeful thing.”

Read more: https://bit.ly/47BspGj

08/25/2025

Raised in West Tennessee, celebrated singer and songwriter Valerie June continues to push boundaries blending bluegrass, country, soul, Appalachian folk, and psychedelic rock into something truly her own.

In our latest newsletter, Jim takes you inside a powerful live session at Goose Island Salt Shed Pub, where her passion, presence, and poetic words captivated everyone in the room.

🎥 Watch the full performance here: https://bit.ly/4mVkrMp

🗞️ Read the newsletter: https://bit.ly/4mWLfvT

08/22/2025

After seeing "Twisted Melodies," a powerful one-man play written and performed by fellow Chicagoan Kelvin Roston Jr. in tribute to the underappreciated genius Donny Hathaway, Greg was deeply moved by a performance of a song that was once banned by many radio stations.

The song comes from one of the great live albums of the 1970s, and in this bonus episode, Greg shares the track and reflects on its enduring power and Hathaway’s lasting legacy: https://bit.ly/4fLTCbf

08/21/2025

Jim and Greg revisit their deep dive into OutKast’s classic album "Stankonia" for its 25th anniversary, exploring the duo's bold creative choices and the impact of this landmark release. A sharp and insightful look at a record that redefined the boundaries of hip-hop: https://bit.ly/4lAKJm8

08/14/2025

Written in cramped New York dorms and recorded with Cate Le Bon at Wilco’s loft during a brutal Chicago winter Horsegirl's latest album "Phonetics On and On" buzzes with city energy while staying intimate and unmistakably their own.

"It’s not only the best album I’ve heard from Chicago this year, it’s one of the best from anywhere." Jim says in this week’s Sound Opinions newsletter: https://bit.ly/4fAWW91

08/12/2025

Jim pops a quarter into the Desert Island Jukebox and plays a track that blends yé-yé pop with a Motown groove — a French-sounding hit that turns out to be ripping off Detroit soul, but surprisingly, it’s by an Italian band. Listen to the Le Snobs breakdown here: https://bit.ly/3Ja6WKk

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