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Artwork for Sound Opinions

Sound Opinions

Sound Opinions
Chicago
Goose Island Beer Company
Soul Music
Desert Island Jukebox
Music
Bob Weir
Neil Young
Sound Opinions
Punk Rock
Fruit Bats
Rock Music
Roberta Flack
David Thomas
D'angelo
Christmas Music
Hip Hop
Sly and the Family Stone
Bob Dylan
Hip-Hop
Sly Stone

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1402Founded21 years ago
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MusicArts

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Artwork for Sound Opinions

Latest Episodes

On the occasion of his 100th birthday, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot pay tribute to Chuck Berry. They talk with writers Ed Ward and RJ Smith to assess Berry's place in the creation of rock n roll. They also talk with the session drummer who played... more

In this bonus episode, Jim shares a band you may know through covers of their songs, even if you’ve never heard the originals. A recent reissue from Third Man Records gives the band some overdue recognition.

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

Sound Opinions senior producer Alex Claiborne has a conversation with drag queen, DJ and singer-songwriter Trixie Mattel. They discuss the process of making her Halloween-inspired EP, 'Til Death Do Us Part. They also talk about Trixie's YouTube speci... more

Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot celebrate the spooky season with a contemporary Halloween playlist, from pop hits to underground gems. They also hear picks from the production staff and the Sound Opinions scholars.

Join our Facebook Group: https://... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Trixie Mattel
Drag queen, DJ, singer-songwriter, YouTube creator, and winner of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 3
Trixie Cosmetics
Episode: Trixie Mattel is the Queen of Halloween!
Kyle Gordon
Musical comedian known for songs parodying musical genres
Episode: Musical Comedy with Kyle Gordon
John Prine
Singer-songwriter and guest on episode
Episode: John Prine Revisited at 80
Erin Osmon
Author and guest discussing Prine's debut album
Author of Heartland Rock book
Episode: John Prine Revisited at 80
Bill Wyman
Rock critic and author of Bill Wyman's Rock & Roll Lists
Bill Wyman's Rock & Roll Lists
Episode: Ranking Rock Bands' Best and Worst Songs with Bill Wyman
Phoebe Bridgers
Singer-songwriter featured in the 2018 interview and 2024 reair
Phoebe Bridgers / Boygenius
Episode: Phoebe Bridgers Plus Opinions on Westside Cowboy
David Porter
Legendary soul songwriter and memoirist
Stax Records
Episode: "Soul Man" and "Hold On, I'm Comin'" Songwriter David Porter, Plus Opinions on Alabama Shakes
Melissa Auf der Maur
Musician and author of Even the Good Girls Will Cry
Author/ musician
Episode: Melissa Auf der Maur (Hole, The Smashing Pumpkins) & Opinions on Steve Lacy
Courtney Barnett
Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Self
Episode: Courtney Barnett, Opinions on Phoebe Bridgers & Twisted Teens

Hosts

Jim DeRogatis
Host of Sound Opinions
Greg Kot
Host of Sound Opinions

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 2.4k ratings
  • Sound Interviews, Unsound Opinions

    The interviews are good but the new music reviews drag the whole program down. If they don’t like something they’re just going to dump on it and provide little in the way of actual informative music criticism. A good review should inform the audience about the music, just telling us how much you hate something is not enough. It’s okay to not like everything but they’re so negative when they don’t like something I can’t listen anymore. I was genuinely surprised to learn how long they’ve been on t... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    binibob
    United States4 months ago
  • Where is the kneecap review?

    It was advertised on NPR but is not available here

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    frederick7
    United States6 months 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 States7 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 States7 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
    8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

A portion of reviews call for more diverse artists and broader genre coverage.
Overall, the show is praised for its thoughtful critique and strong guest lineups.
Audience enjoys nostalgic looks at classic albums and detailed discussions of production and arrangement.
The hosts' music expertise and long-form interviews are highly valued by listeners who want depth over quick takes.
Some listeners feel political commentary or sampling of guests can polarize, but many appreciate the historical and cultural context.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#88
United States/Music
Apple Podcasts
#211
Canada/Music
Apple Podcasts
#178
Ireland/Music
Apple Podcasts
#205
New Zealand/Music
Apple Podcasts
#215
Colombia/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Trixie Mattel is the Queen of Halloween!
Q: So I was wondering how much Milwaukee was an inspiration in that song and what it means to you when you recorded it, when you play it.
Mattel says “Polish Moon” grew from walking through Milwaukee and thinking about the life she might have had if she had stayed in Wisconsin. The song reflects her love for the city and uncertainty about the costs of pursuing an entertainment career.
Trixie Mattel is the Queen of Halloween!
Q: I was wondering if that affected this album.
Mattel says a more process-focused approach shaped the EP. She wrote songs without pressuring herself to make something marketable, and enjoyed building the tracks and making the accompanying special.
Musical Comedy with Kyle Gordon
Q: How did you watch out for not committing the same sins that Paul Simon may have committed when he did Graceland when you were doing this parody?
Gordon says he researched Zulu language, South African history, and the musical traditions that influenced Graceland. He acknowledged that the character still reflects a clueless American tourist, but tried to learn as much as possible before making the song and video.
Musical Comedy with Kyle Gordon
Q: When did you first get into music, and how did you learn to write songs that well and emulate different styles?
Gordon says classic rock radio introduced him to rock and pop, while School of Rock sparked his interest in genres. He learned through broad listening and developed his early songs by performing and refining them live.
Ranking Rock Bands' Best and Worst Songs with Bill Wyman
Q: Why did you include Nirvana as one of the two new entries in the book?
Because the band and its era defined a major shift in rock, and the personal and cultural significance they carried for critics and listeners alike made them essential to the narrative of late-20th-century rock.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Sound Opinions

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

Two veteran music critics deliver long-form conversations that blend deep dives into classic and contemporary rock with timely culture critique. Episodes span intimate interviews with legendary artists, historic album retrospectives, and roundups of new releases, all anchored by strong opinions, archival clips, and care for the craft of making and presenting music. The show often features tributes, nostalgia-soaked explorations of influential records, and context on how music intersects with culture, politics, and the industry ecosystem. A standout aspect is the willingness to foreground musicians' stories and studio processes while maintaining a sharply informed, opinionated lens that can guide listeners toward both discovery and evaluatio... more

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How many listeners does Sound Opinions get?

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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. Life of the Record
3. Rolling Stone All Access
4. NPR Music
5. Bandsplain

How many episodes of Sound Opinions are there?

Sound Opinions launched 21 years ago and published 1402 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. Trixie Mattel
2. Kyle Gordon
3. John Prine
4. Erin Osmon
5. Bill Wyman
6. Phoebe Bridgers
7. David Porter
8. Melissa Auf der Maur

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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