Sound Opinions

Sound Opinions LISTEN CRITICALLY ®
Music criticism programming for people who love music!
(263)

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.

Our producer Alex Claiborne recommends the film "Together" and presents a compelling case for why horror deserves more r...
10/30/2025

Our producer Alex Claiborne recommends the film "Together" and presents a compelling case for why horror deserves more respect. The story follows a couple who leave the city behind only to confront a force far more terrifying than isolation. Their love and very humanity are at stake.

Discover why this film made a lasting impression: https://bit.ly/3IWwafw

Take a late lunch and join our hosts, Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot, for a live taping of Sound Opinions at the Goose Islan...
10/24/2025

Take a late lunch and join our hosts, Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot, for a live taping of Sound Opinions at the Goose Island Salt Shed Pub on Friday, November 7, with an interview and performance by Lili Trifilio of Beach Bunny.

Beach Bunny, formed by Trifilio in 2015, has gained national attention for candid, relatable songwriting and dynamic, guitar-driven sound. Their latest album, "Tunnel Vision," released in April 2025, further establishes the band as one of Chicago’s most exciting indie rock voices.

Admission is free, with doors opening at 12:30p.m. Seating is first come, first served. This event is 21+. Get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/4o53gZF

Join us for a beer, a bite, and an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Sound Opinions.

If Geoff Travis was at the show, you knew you were in the right place. This week, we talk to the Rough Trade founder and...
10/23/2025

If Geoff Travis was at the show, you knew you were in the right place. This week, we talk to the Rough Trade founder and his partner Jeannette Lee about their game-changing legacy and why their new alliance with River Lea Records could spark the next folk revolution. Plus, Greg pulls Rough Trade classics from his own shelves.

➡️ Listen to the full conversation: https://bit.ly/3KZuQZJ

🗞️ Explore Greg’s newsletter and Rough Trade deep cuts: https://bit.ly/3WeT98C

Jim says sometimes a great hook comes down to the way one word is delivered. He proves it with Cheryl Lynn’s 1978 classi...
10/19/2025

Jim says sometimes a great hook comes down to the way one word is delivered. He proves it with Cheryl Lynn’s 1978 classic “Got to Be Real,” a song that defined the height of disco. For Jim, it’s all about her unforgettable vocal delivery of that single word "real." Hear his full take on what makes Lynn's hook stick: https://bit.ly/3WgerTf

Alex and Max bring "Weapons" to the table, a new horror film that’s been generating quite a bit of buzz. It opens with a...
10/15/2025

Alex and Max bring "Weapons" to the table, a new horror film that’s been generating quite a bit of buzz. It opens with a haunting mystery: at 2:17 a.m., 17 elementary school students leave their homes and vanish.

Jim and Greg weigh in on its eerie setup, ambitious structure, and what it’s really trying to say. Listen now on Patreon: https://bit.ly/4h78oKh

Greg pays tribute to the late Sonny Curtis, a Texas-born singer/songwriter who helped build the foundation for rock ’n’ ...
10/13/2025

Greg pays tribute to the late Sonny Curtis, a Texas-born singer/songwriter who helped build the foundation for rock ’n’ roll. A prolific songwriter, he and the rest of Buddy Holly's band, the Crickets, performed the original version of Curtis' "I Fought the Law," later covered by the Bobby Fuller Four and the Clash. Some of Curtis' wide-ranging array of songwriting credits may surprise you.

Join our team in remembering his impact: https://bit.ly/42C07Ik

Arthur Baker, the visionary behind the pioneering single "Planet Rock," dishes on his colorful career with Jim and Greg....
10/12/2025

Arthur Baker, the visionary behind the pioneering single "Planet Rock," dishes on his colorful career with Jim and Greg. Baker further elaborates on the stories in his new memoir "Looking for the Perfect Beat: Remixing and Reshaping Hip-Hop, Rock and Rhythms,” including his groundbreaking work with Bruce Springsteen, New Order and Rick Rubin. Listen to the full interview: https://bit.ly/4q741mz

💎 Every Buried Treasures episode is a challenge to introduce without giving too much away. Jim prefers that you experien...
10/10/2025

💎 Every Buried Treasures episode is a challenge to introduce without giving too much away. Jim prefers that you experience the music firsthand, free of preconceptions about the tracks he and the rest of the Sound Opinions team have unearthed.

In his latest newsletter, he shares how he filters through hundreds of recommendations, tips, and emails to find just a few standout songs. It is a reminder of how much great music is out there and how little time there is to hear it all.

This episode features 13 new discoveries. Dive in and see what resonates.

📌 Read more about Jim's process: https://bit.ly/4gS0rIK

➡️ Hear all the treasures: https://bit.ly/48b6civ

In episode 38, Jim recommends the BritBox Original series "Outrageous," a sharp and surprising take on Britain’s politic...
10/06/2025

In episode 38, Jim recommends the BritBox Original series "Outrageous," a sharp and surprising take on Britain’s political history.

It is just one of the cultural picks featured in the latest installment of "Everything Else," where the Sound Opinions team steps away from music to highlight books, films, shows, and more.

➡️ Listen today on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3VLyE37

In this bonus episode, Jim pays tribute to Rick Davies, the legendary keyboardist, vocalist, and co-founder of Supertram...
10/05/2025

In this bonus episode, Jim pays tribute to Rick Davies, the legendary keyboardist, vocalist, and co-founder of Supertramp.

From his distinctive playing to unforgettable songs like "Bloody Well Right" and "Goodbye Stranger," Davies shaped the sound of a generation and left a lasting mark on rock music.

Listen now as we honor his life, legacy, and the music that still resonates: https://bit.ly/46T8jFc

“A gigantic 12-step program of people considered total losers and failures... But they were doing it with a vengeance.”T...
10/05/2025

“A gigantic 12-step program of people considered total losers and failures... But they were doing it with a vengeance.”

That’s how music polymath David Amram described the Greenwich Village scene, and it sets the tone for David Browne’s new book "Talkin’ Greenwich Village," a vivid look at how a few blocks in Manhattan shaped the future of American music.

This week on Sound Opinions, Browne joins us to explore the Village’s rise and legacy, just ahead of the new Bob Dylan box set focusing on his early days on Bleecker Street.

📰 Read Greg’s full newsletter: https://bit.ly/4gVKQYx

➡️ Listen to the interview with David Browne: https://bit.ly/4mRRyjT

Greg pays tribute to drummer Jim Kimball, known for his fierce, unforgettable work with Laughing Hyenas, Mule, The Jesus...
09/28/2025

Greg pays tribute to drummer Jim Kimball, known for his fierce, unforgettable work with Laughing Hyenas, Mule, The Jesus Lizard, and more. Kimball passed away on August 27, 2025, at the age of 59. His impact on underground rock was massive; raw, relentless, and entirely his own: https://bit.ly/42fkXNs

Address

600 E Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL
60611

Telephone

+18888591800

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Sound Opinions posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Sound Opinions:

Shortcuts

Share

Category