Sound Opinions

Home
United States
Chicago, IL
Sound Opinions

LISTEN CRITICALLY ®
Music criticism programming for people who love music!
(260)

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.

12/11/2025

Jim and Andrew share their thoughts on the show, "The Lowdown," from the creator of Reservation Dogs and staring Ethan Hawke: https://bit.ly/4iGdaz4

12/09/2025

💡What’s the best album you heard in 2025?

Our annual Best Albums of 2025 episode is here, and it’s always a listener favorite. In a year that was anything but boring, great music helped us all make it through. Jim and Greg share the albums that rose to the top, many of them created by women who are far from happy with the way things are going: https://bit.ly/4pZ96wu

And if you want the full story behind the list, including Jim’s reflections on why we make these lists and how we don’t get hung up on timing, read our newsletter for the complete rundown: https://bit.ly/3MpOtLi

12/08/2025

John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats talks with Sound Opinions producer Andrew Gill about his new book, "This Year: 365 Songs Annotated: A Book of Days,” which pairs 365 of Darnielle’s songs with his own commentary and illustrations by longtime collaborator John Keogh. It includes reflections on the people and experiences that shaped his music.

Listen now for a conversation about the songs, the stories behind them, and Darnielle’s creative process: https://bit.ly/4rJtoM2

12/04/2025

Where do you stand on prog rock — love it, hate it, or somewhere in between?

Greg revisits Yes’s 1977 landmark album "Going for the One," the record that saw the return of Rick Wakeman and proved that prog rock could evolve. With soaring vocals, sweeping arrangements and a new balance of ambition and accessibility, the album blends epic scope with refined songwriting.

➡️ Read now and discover what makes this record a lasting chapter in progressive music: https://bit.ly/4pb5jfB

12/02/2025

Jim shares a Kot-esque pick, spinning Carmel’s cover of “Tracks of My Tears” from their 1982 debut album. Formed in Manchester and fronted by Carmel McCourt, the band delivers a stripped-down, intimate, and sensual interpretation of the Smokey Robinson classic, blending jazz, soul, and blues with a minimalist elegance: https://bit.ly/4osIKSq

11/30/2025

What songs about giving thanks make your holiday rotation?

Jim and Greg revisit a Sound Opinions favorite "Songs About Giving Thanks," digging into tracks that capture the spirit of gratitude, with fresh picks from the production team.

➡️ Listen and see which tracks deserve a place on your holiday mix: https://bit.ly/4a6g3qX

11/29/2025

Asked to capture the mood in Chicago right now, Jim found himself returning to the city’s tradition of rising above through protest music. That led him straight to Naked Raygun, one of Chicago’s most political punk bands, and their fierce track “Home of the Brave.”

As ICE enters the city and tensions rise, the song’s imagery of “jack-booted thugs on every corner along all 27 miles” feels unsettlingly current. Jim hears in it a reminder that Chicago has confronted this kind of pressure before and has always answered with clarity, resistance, and voice.

Hear why this decades-old anthem still hits with force: https://bit.ly/4p19fiQ

11/26/2025

Why do you think "Rumours" still resonates nearly 50 years later with young listeners?

Jim and Greg dig into Fleetwood Mac’s enduring classic with journalist Alan Light, whose new book "Don’t Stop" explores why new generations keep discovering and loving this album.

Greg shares how he once wrote "Rumours" off as too "mainstream," only to have a dorm-room heartbreak and nonstop spins of "Go Your Own Way" pull him in. Decades on, he has come to appreciate the album’s emotional rawness, killer rhythm section, and the songwriting trio that made it timeless. Read more: https://bit.ly/48vEM6y

Alan makes the case that "Rumours" is the rare classic-rock record that still sounds modern, hooky, sharp, and painfully honest about relationships unraveling. Together, he, Jim, and Greg break down the music, the history, and why young listeners continue to claim it as their own. Listen here: https://bit.ly/4pOXj3R

11/24/2025

Greg pays tribute to Neil Young, celebrating his 80th birthday and the 50th anniversary of his classic album "Zuma." Released after a challenging series of albums Young dubbed the "Ditch Trilogy, " he reunited with the surviving members of Crazy Horse to record one of his defining LPs.

Listen to Greg’s tribute: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/long-may-he-run/id94793843?i=1000737364147

11/15/2025

Can a band that sold 43 million albums still be underappreciated? Bill Janovitz thinks so, and his new biography makes the case. Read Jim’s newsletter for a fresh look at the band’s music, their lasting influence, and his firsthand memories of seeing them live as a teenager: https://bit.ly/3LxhJiQ

11/14/2025

Greg takes a deep dive into “River of Hills,” the propulsive track from Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest film "One Battle After Another." Composed by innovative rock guitarist Jonny Greenwood, the piece underscores what Greg calls one of the most gripping chase scenes of Anderson’s career, unfolding across sweeping hills in a blur of motion and tension.

Greg unpacks how Greenwood’s layered instrumentation amplifies the intensity of the pursuit and puts the audience right in the driver’s seat.

Listen to the full breakdown here: https://bit.ly/4nR25MH

11/11/2025

What’s your favorite song about the moon?🌙

Jim and Greg continue their celestial theme by turning from the sun to the moon. Hear the team share their favorite moon-inspired tracks and the stories behind them, out now on Sound Opinions: https://bit.ly/47OYetn

Address

Chicago, IL

Telephone

+18888591800

Website

http://www.soundopinions.org/

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

Want your business to be the top-listed Media Company in Chicago?