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Artwork for Sound Opinions

Sound Opinions

Sound Opinions
Chicago
Goose Island Beer Company
Soul Music
Punk Rock
Music
Music Industry
Rock Music
Redd Kross
Desert Island Jukebox
Grateful Dead
Bob Weir
1984
Neil Young
Witches
Ghosts
Sound Opinions
Fruit Bats
Punk Music
South African Music
Roberta Flack

Take two nationally respected rock critics, the latest music news, personal commentary, and exclusive interviews and performances, add a huge pile of records old and new, and the result is Sound Opinions, where people who love music can come together.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1357Founded21 years ago
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MusicArts

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Artwork for Sound Opinions

Latest Episodes

This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot are digging into the Sound Opinions archives to share some rare tracks recorded in live sessions for past episodes. They'll share songs by Sleater Kinney, Courtney Barnett, Drive-By Truckers and more. The h... more

In this bonus trip to the Desert Island Jukebox, Jim highlights a singer who spent years in the orbit of some of post-punk's most celebrated and notorious figures before stepping into the spotlight herself.

Join our Facebook Group: bit.ly/3... more

This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot are joined by returning guest and favorite music writer Jimmy McDonough. Jimmy recently released a biography 40 years in the making, Gary Stewart: I Am From the Honky-Tonks, and joins the show to help Jim a... more

In this bonus Desert Island Jukebox episode, Greg shares a cult favorite from Milwaukee's psychedelic scene.

Join our Facebook Group: bit.ly/3sivr9T

Become a member on Patreon: bit.ly/3slWZvc

Sign up for our newsletter: bit... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Geoffrey Himes
Author of Willie Nelson, All the Albums
University of Maryland? (mentioned as author; book focus)
Episode: Willie Nelson: The Five Essential Albums & Opinions on Kacey Musgraves
Nic Brown
Author of a book on The Violent Femmes' debut for the 33 1/3 series
Author
Episode: The Violent Femmes' Debut Album
Will Hermes
Author of Lou Reed, The King of New York
Harcourt Books (author)
Episode: Lou Reed
Julia Steiner
Songwriter and singer of Rat Boys
Rat Boys
Episode: Ratboys & Opinions on Friko
Billy Woods
Fiercely independent voice in hip hop, co-founder of Backwoodz Studios
Backwoodz Studios
Episode: Rapper Billy Woods, Opinions on Robyn & Courtney Barnett
Rob Miller
Co-founder of Bloodshot Records, author of The Hours Are Long, But the Pay is Low
Bloodshot Records
Episode: Bloodshot Records with Co-Founder Rob Miller
Jimmy McDonough
Author of Soul Survivor, biographer of Al Green
Author, Soul Survivor
Episode: Al Green's The Belle Album & Opinions on Mitski
Bonnie Raitt
Late-career encore performer, highlighted by producer Andrew Gill
Bonnie Raitt Band
Episode: Late Career Encores
Beth Streit
Listener and Desert Island Jukebox contributor
Oak Park, Illinois
Episode: A Song About the Dark Side of Organ Donation

Hosts

Greg Kot
Co-host of Sound Opinions; music critic with deep background in rock history and production.
Jim DeRogatis
Host; renowned music critic known for in-depth cultural and historical analysis of rock and related genres.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 2.4k ratings
  • Where is the kneecap review?

    It was advertised on NPR but is not available here

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    frederick7
    United Statesa month ago
  • Too short. Go deeper

    Why do a podcast, a platform that allows long from discussions, when you only barley scratch the surface?

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Rivermantengo
    United States2 months ago
  • Updated review

    Sorry guys but you are losing the plot. You chat about something for 5 minutes, interspersed with smokers cough laughing and the obligatory name dropping (Brian Eno - DING!), and then you play a small snippet of whatever you claimed was so great. But increasingly, the music isn’t great. And you miss dozens of regional bands, innovative players, and even classic sounds from all over the world. PLEASE, play more diverse music besides your favorite punk/grunge acts, and PLEASE lay off the cig... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Another Anonymous ID
    United States2 months ago
  • This one is special. My introduction to REM was during college attending a tiny venue concert performed and produced by fellow students: rare artsy kids in a conservative engineering university. Themes were youth, DIY, artsy vibe, and music that was in the zeitgeist. The lights were controlled by a Commodore 64 from a student's own project. It was a special experience, and I link it to my introduction to REM. Thanks for doing the deep dive on this lifetime band.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    jdspatula
    3 months ago
  • Old and Out of Touch

    Hard to believe (or is it?) that these two have agreed on the best album of the year. I dare you to venture outside of this echo chamber.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    ronaldacunajr13
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Longtime fans praise deep dives into music history and interviews with artists.
Critics point to strong host chemistry and insightful contextual analysis, with occasional strong opinions.
A segment of listeners wants broader genre coverage and less repetition of familiar acts.
Some listeners feel pacing can be slow and ad-laden at times.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#61
United States/Music
Apple Podcasts
#157
Canada/Music
Apple Podcasts
#119
New Zealand/Music
Apple Podcasts
#174
Brazil/Music
Apple Podcasts
#182
Finland/Music
Apple Podcasts
#188
Singapore/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Willie Nelson: The Five Essential Albums & Opinions on Kacey Musgraves
Q: What are the five essential Willie Nelson albums to start with for the uninitiated?
The guests and hosts walk through the chosen five—Phases and Stages, Red Headed Stranger, Stardust, Sings Kristofferson, Spirit—discussing why each marks a pivotal point in Willie's career and what new listeners should listen for in each.
Willie Nelson: The Five Essential Albums & Opinions on Kacey Musgraves
Q: How did you, this is an immense overwhelming project, how tough was it to grade Willie Nelson's entire career in recorded music?
Himes explains that the grading process balanced accessibility for casual listeners with depth for superfans, using a core set of essential records to illustrate the arc of Nelson's career and the evolving artistry.
Lou Reed
Q: What motivated you to undertake a scope-heavy biography of Lou Reed?
Will Hermes explains that being a Velvet Underground fanatic and a desire to tell a comprehensive, readable story with a narrative arc drove the work, even though it required sifting through vast amounts of data and endnotes to balance accessibility with detail.
Ratboys & Opinions on Friko
Q: When did the songwriting become a central focus for you, and how did you evolve as a writer?
Steiner describes starting to write around age 13, using songs to process personal feelings, and growing through experiences, including formal writing prompts and workshops, which helped her confidence and honesty in her craft.
Rapper Billy Woods, Opinions on Robyn & Courtney Barnett
Q: Where would you point a novice Woods fan?
A good starting point is to begin with Blood Simple and then move through Maps, Golliwog, and History Will Absolve Me, as these titles showcase different facets of his storytelling, production choices, and collaborations, helping new listeners understand his range.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Sound Opinions

What is Sound Opinions about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show features two veteran rock critics who unpack music history, production, and cultural context through long-form discussions and interviews. Episodes often swing between in-depth album analyses, artist spotlights, and vivid storytelling, with a mix of sharp critical insight, personal anecdotes, and occasional live performances or guest conversations. Notable strengths include rigorous historical framing, cross-genre references, and a knack for connecting classic records to contemporary scenes, making it appealing to listeners who love thoughtful music criticism and deep-dive conversations. A distinctive quality is the blend of scholarly context with accessible, conversational banter that invites both music nerds and casual fans to e... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Sound Opinions?

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How many listeners does Sound Opinions get?

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What are the audience demographics for Sound Opinions?

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How many subscribers and views does Sound Opinions have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Sound Opinions has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Sound Opinions?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Sound Opinions:

1. Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond
2. NPR Music
3. Rolling Stone All Access
4. Bullseye with Jesse Thorn
5. Fresh Air

How many episodes of Sound Opinions are there?

Sound Opinions launched 21 years ago and published 1357 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Sound Opinions?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Sound Opinions?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Sound Opinions from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Sound Opinions?

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What guests have appeared on Sound Opinions?

Recent guests on Sound Opinions include:

1. Geoffrey Himes
2. Nic Brown
3. Will Hermes
4. Julia Steiner
5. Billy Woods
6. Rob Miller
7. Jimmy McDonough
8. Bonnie Raitt

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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