💡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: bit.ly/4pZ96wu Plus, read Jim’s reflections on why we create these lists: bit.ly/3MpOtLi

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 now: bit.ly/4a6g3qX

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: bit.ly/48lMu1Z

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: bit.ly/3LxhJiQ

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: bit.ly/47OYetn

Artist, poet, actor, and a true embodiment of the city’s spirit, Tony Fitzpatrick left an indelible mark on the people and culture around him. Greg pays tribute to Fitzpatrick and the legacy he left behind, featuring a song from one of his long-time collaborators, Steve Earle: bit.ly/48ZU9VB

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. Discover why this film made an impression: bit.ly/3IWwafw

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. Free admission | Doors open 12:30p.m. Tix ➡️ bit.ly/4o53gZF

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." 🔗 bit.ly/3WgerTf

Greg honors the late Sonny Curtis, a Texas-born singer/songwriter who helped build the foundation for rock ’n’ roll. 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. bit.ly/42C07Ik

Arthur Baker the visionary behind the pioneering single #PlanetRock, dishes on his colorful career with Jim and Greg. Baker further elaborates on the stories in his new memoir including his groundbreaking work with Bruce Springsteen, New Order and Rick Rubin. 🔗 bit.ly/4q741mz

Chicago lost one of its best today. RIP Tony Fitzpatrick. I met Tony through Steve Earle, whose LP covers frequently became canvasses for Fitzpatrick's artwork. Jon Langford & Tony collaborated on a tribute to another one-of-a-kind Chicagoan, Lin Brehmer, at the Hideout in 2023 (pic below). (1/2)

Jim shares how he filters through hundreds of recommendations, tips, and emails to find just a few standout songs for his Buried Treasures. 📌 Read more about Jim's process: bit.ly/4gS0rIK ➡️ Hear all the Buried Treasure Tracks: bit.ly/48b6civ

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. ➡️ bit.ly/46T8jFc

How the scene that emerged in a funky Manhattan neighborhood shaped the future of American music. @soundopinions.bsky.social with author David Browne. My spiel here: bit.ly/4gVKQYx Interview with David here: bit.ly/4mRRyjT Enjoy!

Jim recommends a movie that just started streaming in June — "It's part caper flick, part slapstick comedy, and part action movie." It’s messy, fast, and completely ridiculous in the best way. Catch the full conversation now on Everything Else: www.patreon.com/posts/everyt... #DeepCover

Where did indie rock go? Chris DeVille, author of "Such Great Heights," talks with Greg and Jim about how indie rock evolved from its underground roots to become a dominant force in mainstream music. 📌 Read Greg's take on the book: bit.ly/4gOQufk ➡️ Listen to the full episode: bit.ly/3IIqp4G

"I'm a sucker for songs about being alive," Jim admits in this bonus episode. He shares a track from the ’90s that almost inspires him enough to try meditation. It's a short, powerful listen that reminds us how music can shift your entire state of mind: apple.co/3Kog1j1

Producers Alex and Andrew try to sell Jim and Greg on “The White Lotus“ Season 3 and it is not an easy pitch. Along the way they spotlight standout cast members Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood and debate whether this season can live up to the hype: www.patreon.com/posts/137637...

When "Horses" dropped in December 1975, Patti Smith didn’t just release an album...she lit a fuse. Blending poetry, punk, and raw defiance, her debut became an instant landmark in New York’s underground scene. Fifty years later, Jim and Greg revisit the record that changed everything: bit.ly/3Vl7T5h

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 book challenges how we think about music and what it means to grow older: bit.ly/4gg7Jpe

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: bit.ly/46jVZPj

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: bit.ly/4mXfSBS

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

It's a solar-powered @soundopinions.bsky.social this week, as ace journalist/activist @billmckibben.bsky.social returns to the show. As Bill says: “Renewable energy has suddenly become the obvious, cost-efficient choice… a very big and hopeful thing.” We provide the soundtrack. More: bit.ly/47BspGj

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: bit.ly/3Ja6WKk

Jim and Greg return mid-summer with a fresh batch of "Buried Treasures." From indie rock and doom metal to funk and chamber music, these are hidden gems worth your ears. Discover your next favorite track: bit.ly/40AjAIo

Greg pays tribute to the King of Zydeco himself — Clifton Chenier — a pioneering accordionist whose sound stretched far beyond the Louisiana bayou. Hear Greg’s salute to a true American original: bit.ly/40whhpJ

This week, Jim brings a truly wild pick to the Desert Island Jukebox: David Bedford’s "Star Clusters, Nebulae & Places in Devon" — a piece that features a brass band, electronic keyboards, a children’s choir, and yes, helium. 🎈🎈Listen now: bit.ly/4mbykWq

We’re on Sound Opinions! It is a legitimate honor to have thee @jimderogatis.bsky.social pick our track to start episode 1025, BUT, to also spend that time talking about us and breaking apart our sounds on rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest talk show! Now airing on 150 stations! @soundopinions.bsky.social

It's one of the most popular traditions throughout Sound Opinions' 1000-plus nationally broadcast episodes. Greg Kot shares a look at the show's annual mid-year top 10 list: bit.ly/44MG5vZ

Jim and Greg talk with Scott Lucas of Local H about his long-running career and the new self-made documentary, "Lifers." They also review the first new Stereolab album in 15 years and the long-awaited return of Mclusky, a major influence on today’s post-punk revival. Listen now: bit.ly/3Trhoip

The year’s only halfway over, but 2025 is already stacked with great albums. Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot share their picks for the best music of the year so far—plus favorites from the Sound Opinions production team. 🔗 2025 Side A: bit.ly/45PsOE0

This week on Sound Opinions, we pay tribute to a musical genius who reshaped pop music. From the soaring harmonies of the #BeachBoys to the groundbreaking beauty of "Pet Sounds," Brian Wilson gave us timeless art that continues to inspire. 🔗 Read more: bit.ly/44wazkJ

In Episode 24 of Everything Else, Jim explores two powerful stories that dig into ambition, truth, and the weight of history. Listen to the breakdown: bit.ly/44aEe2L

My favorite LPs of the year so far. My list, Dero's list, etc: @soundopinions.bsky.social soundopinions.org/show/1022

Greg writes about the man behind the myth — not just the funk pioneer, but the teenage music student named Sylvester Stewart. In his forthcoming project, Greg devotes a full chapter to Sly, tracing his path from a struggling student to an icon of American music: bit.ly/45KEeZR

What’s the worst band name you’ve ever heard? Jim and Greg talk with writer Kyle Ryan about "Band Name Bureau", a collection of hilariously bad, weird, and regrettable band names. Starting as a fun project at "The A.V. Club," it’s now a beloved newsletter and social media archive: bit.ly/3G0AaKf

Sly and the Family Stone sounded fresh in 1973, and they still do. Sly is gone, but the music will outlive us all. We pay tribute to a great one on @soundopinions.bsky.social this week. Listen now: bit.ly/43HBIC1

Greg adds a new track to the Desert Island Jukebox—one that took on fresh meaning after he watched "I'm Still Here," the powerful new Brazilian film set during the military dictatorship of the 1970s. Listen to Greg’s pick and hear the story behind it on the latest bonus episode: bit.ly/45ngBq0

What’s your favorite revolutionary song? One voice that stands out is Tom Zé — the wildcard genius of Brazil’s Tropicalia movement. Greg spotlights Zé’s defiant, mischievous sound — music that thrived under censorship, surveillance, and fear. Read more: bit.ly/4jMExGy

Jim and Greg pay tribute to the late singer-songwriter Jill Sobule, revisiting their 2009 conversation about her music and her pioneering work in crowdfunding independent art. They also review new releases from Shamir, Pelican and Tune-Yards. Listen now: bit.ly/4dQ3hwj

Following our tributes to David Thomas and Peter Laughner of Pere Ubu, Jim rounds out the trilogy with a song by another of the band's members: bit.ly/43Zbn2l

Jim revisits a 2009 session with the unforgettable Jill Sobule — a true indie trailblazer. Long before crowdfunding was common, Jill raised $75K directly from fans to create "California Years." Read more: bit.ly/3FMaiBH

Accomplishments? They’ve had a few. Greg writes about Jenny Toomey and Kristin Thomson—cofounders of the band Tsunami, the Simple Machines label, and the Future of Music Coalition. Visionaries who helped reshape indie music for the digital age: bit.ly/4kAYDVc

Best record this year so far.

Julien Baker and Torres are both accomplished solo artists, but the breakout success of Baker’s group Boygenius has brought new attention to their debut collaborative album, "Send A Prayer My Way." — soundopinions.org/show/1017

Today at noon- free @soundopinions.bsky.social live taping with Valerie June at Salt Shed. Come out! clicks.eventbrite.com/f/a/3UgtAMnO...

Greg picks out a gem for the stoner rock fans—a track from the long-running "Brown Acid" compilation series, a labor of love curated by Permanent Records and Riding Easy Records: bit.ly/3ZAK3EW

This week, Jim dives into the vibrant, gritty tradition of street performance in "Down On the Corner: Adventures in Busking & Street Music"—a new book by longtime friend and music industry legend Cary Baker — bit.ly/4kzgpZ4