Sound Opinions Specials

Series produced by Sound Opinions

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One-hour specials from the weekly public radio program hosted by Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot. These are available free to all stations with current PRX memberships, even if they aren't signed up to get the show weekly. Learn how to get the show weekly at prx.org/soundopinions.

Sound Opinions is your one-stop-shop for smart and engaging music criticism and conversation. For over a decade, Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis were competitors at Chicago’s top daily newspapers. Today Greg Kot is the rock critic at the Chicago Tribune, and Jim writes about music at WBEZ.org and teaches at Columbia College. The two share a passion for music, and nothing gets them — or the listener — more fired-up than arguing, and occasionally agreeing, about rock 'n' roll.

On each episode of Sound Opinions, Jim and Greg keep you up to date on what's going on in popular music. They break down music news and give their reviews of recently released albums from the top of the charts, as well as the indie underground. Jim and Greg also invite their favorite bands and artists to join them for conversation and a live performance. Sound Opinions has featured everyone from the Velvet Underground's John Cale on piano to Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo on electric guitar. Other guests include Somali rapper K'Naan, French pop group Phoenix and the most famous widow in rock, Yoko Ono.

SoundOpinions.org offers listeners free podcasts, live MP3 streams, and bonus content including footnotes, live songs and video.

Sound Opinions is produced by WBEZ Chicago, home to This American Life and Wait Wait...Don’t Tell Me!, and is distributed nationally by PRX. Sound Opinions can be heard on stations across the country and online at SoundOpinions.org. Hide full description

Sound Opinions is your one-stop-shop for smart and engaging music criticism and conversation. For over a decade, Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis were competitors at Chicago’s top daily newspapers. Today Greg Kot is the rock critic at the Chicago Tribune, and Jim writes about music at WBEZ.org and teaches at Columbia College. The two share a passion for music, and nothing gets them — or the listener — more fired-up than arguing, and occasionally agreeing, about rock 'n' roll.On each episode of Sound Opinions, Jim and Greg keep you up to date on what's going on in popular music. They break down music news and give their reviews of recently released albums from the top of the charts, as well as the indie underground. Jim and Greg also invite their favorite bands and artists to join them for... Show full description


36 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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Our most mirthful musical meeting of each year- holiday music collector Andy Cirzan's spectacular yearly collection of strange tunes. This year the...

Bought by WUTC and WLPR


  • Added: Dec 18, 2023
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 2
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This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot share their highly-anticipated “Best Albums” of 2023. Plus, they’ll also hear selections from productio...

Bought by WUTC, WVPE, and WLPR


  • Added: Dec 15, 2023
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 3
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Sound Opinions hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot bid farewell to the late singer, songwriter and activist Sinéad O’Connor, who recently died at age ...

Bought by WLRH


  • Added: Aug 04, 2023
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 1
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As a member of her family group The Staple Singers and as a solo artist, Mavis Staples has used her huge voice to power the Civil Rights Movement a...

Bought by KECG, WYPR, KASU, CHSR-FM 97.9, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio and more


  • Added: Feb 14, 2023
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 18
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As 2022 comes to a close, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot reveal their Best Albums of the Year, music they loved and couldn’t stop listening to. T...

Bought by WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., KLCC, KUT, and WVPE


  • Added: Dec 08, 2022
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 4
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Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot welcome our crate-digging Kris Kringle, Andy Cirzan to share great holiday songs that aren’t played-out. This year...

Bought by KDUR and KLCC


  • Added: Dec 06, 2022
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 2
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It's the most wonderful time of the year: Andy Cirzan has a bag full of fresh festive tunes for everyone to enjoy. The Sound Opinions Holiday Spect...

Bought by KUHF and RadioStPete Florida


  • Added: Dec 13, 2021
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 2
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Music critics and hosts of Sound Opinions Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot share their picks for the best albums of 2021.

Bought by KUCB, WGZS, KLCC, and WVPE


  • Added: Dec 09, 2021
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 4
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This has been one of the most challenging years ever for the music industry. Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot talk with people working in digital m...

Bought by RadioFreePalmer, Prairie Public, RADIOLEX, KHNS, KUGS Bellingham, Wash. and more


  • Added: Nov 19, 2020
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 8
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Sound Opinions hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot welcome our crate-digging Kris Kringle, Andy Cirzan to share great holiday songs that aren't played...

Bought by KSPB Pebble Beach, KHNS, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, KSFR, WWNO and more


  • Added: Nov 09, 2020
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 22
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The hosts of Sound Opinions Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot count down their favorite albums released in 2020.

Bought by KSPB Pebble Beach, Prairie Public, WGZS, RADIOLEX, Radio Catskill and more


  • Added: Nov 05, 2020
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 16
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This is a Christmas special like none other. Holiday music collector and expert Andy Cirzan scours record stores, dustbins, and basements to find t...

Bought by Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, KLCC, Prairie Public, KDUR, WLPR and more


  • Added: Dec 17, 2019
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 7
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As 2019 comes to a close, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot reflect on the best albums of the year. They also hear from Sound Opinions producers and...

Bought by Capital Public Radio, 90.1 WFYI Public Radio, New Hampshire Public Radio, WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., KHNS and more


  • Added: Dec 12, 2019
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 10
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This is a Christmas special like none other. Holiday music collector and expert Andy Cirzan scours record stores, dustbins, and basements to find t...

Bought by KHNS, KUPR low power FM, RadioFreePalmer, WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., Prairie Public and more


  • Added: Dec 14, 2018
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 6
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This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot share their favorite albums of 2018. They also hear picks from Sound Opinions producers and listeners.

Bought by WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., WYAP, KHNS, KRCB 104.9, RadioFreePalmer and more


  • Added: Dec 07, 2018
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 27
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The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, has died at age 76. This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot celebrate the life and career of the legend. Th...

Bought by KCNP, WDET Detroit Public Radio, KAZU Seaside, Calif., KCNP, Nevada Public Radio and more


  • Added: Aug 16, 2018
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 25
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Sound Opinions hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot are joined by avid music collector Andy Cirzan for the annual Holiday Spectacular featuring seasona...

Bought by KUPR low power FM and WUGA (part of GPB)


  • Added: Dec 15, 2017
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 2
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2017 has been full of highly anticipated releases and unexpected gems from relatively unknown artists. This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot ...

Bought by Radio Catskill, KDUR, KUER, WUGA (part of GPB), KVNF and more


  • Added: Nov 30, 2017
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 7
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Tom Petty was a master of the perfect three-chord pop song and an icon of American music. Sound Opinions hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot pay tribu...

Bought by WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., WDET Detroit Public Radio, Louisville Public Media, WYSO, WGZS and more


  • Added: Oct 06, 2017
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 16
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Chuck Berry, one of the architects of rock ‘n’ roll, died on March 18, 2017 at age 90. Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot reflect on the life, music,...

Bought by KMUW, WXPR, WNMU-FM, KUFM - Montana Public Radio, KMUN and more


  • Added: Mar 24, 2017
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 9