Sound Opinions

This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot share some of their favorite artists who beat the dreaded sophomore, delivering follow-ups that proved their debuts were no fluke. The hosts will also hear picks from the production staff.
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Featured Songs:
Horsegirl, "Switch Over," Phonetics On and On, Matador, 2025
The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967
Black Sabbath, "Paranoid," Paranoid, Vertigo, 1970
Public Enemy, "Bring the Noise," It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, Def Jam, 1988
Led Zeppelin, "Moby Dick," Led Zeppelin II, Atlantic, 1969
Pixies, "Debaser," Doolittle, 4AD, 1989
black midi, "Slow," Cavalcade, Rough Trade, 2021
Kanye West, "Touch the Sky (feat. Lupe Fiasco)," Late Registration, Roc-A-Fella, 2005
Fiona Apple, "Fast As You Can," When the Pawn..., Epic and Clean Slate, 1999
SZA, "Good Days," SOS, TDA and RCA, 2022
Erykah Badu, "Cleva (feat. Roy Ayers)," Mama's Gun, Motown, 2000
D'Angelo, "Chicken Grease," Voodoo, Virgin, 2000
Phoebe Bridgers, "Savior Complex," Punisher, Dead Oceans, 2020
Van Morrison, "Cyprus Avenue," Astral Weeks, Warner Bros., 1968
Violent Femmes, "Please Do Not Go," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983
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In this bonus episode, Jim digs up a song that owes more to AM radio nostalgia than to being, well…good.
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This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot talk with biographer Will Hermes about his book on Lou Reed, as well as Lou’s music, persona, legacy and more.
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Featured Songs:
Lou Reed, "Walk on the Wild Side," Transformer, RCA, 1972
The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967
The Velvet Underground and Nico, "Sunday Morning," The Velvet Underground & Nico, Verve, 1967
The Velvet Underground and Nico, "Heroin," The Velvet Underground & Nico, Verve, 1967
The Velvet Underground, "Pale Blue Eyes," The Velvet Underground, MGM, 1969
Lou Reed, "Coney Island Baby," Coney Island Baby, RCA, 1975
The Velvet Underground, "Some Kinda Love," The Velvet Underground, MGM, 1969
Lou Reed, "How Do You Think It Feels," Berlin, RCA, 1973
Lou Reed, "Perfect Day," Transformer, RCA, 1972
The Velvet Underground, "Sweet Jane," Loaded, Cotillion, 1970
The Velvet Underground and Nico, "I'll Be Your Mirror," The Velvet Underground & Nico, Verve, 1967
The Velvet Underground, "Candy Says," The Velvet Underground, MGM, 1969
Pixies, "Here Comes Your Man," Doolittle, 4AD and Elektra, 1989
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In this bonus episode, Greg shares a song that was championed early on by English radio DJ John Peel.
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This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot are joined by Ratboys lead singer and songwriter Julia Steiner. The Chicago band's sixth album, "Singin' To An Empty Chair," is one of the most acclaimed releases of 2026 so far. The hosts also review the new album from Chicago rockers, Friko.
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Featured Songs:
Ratboys, "Anywhere," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West, 2026
The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967
Friko, "Seven Degrees," Something Worth Waiting For, ATO, 2026
Friko, "Guess," Something Worth Waiting For, ATO, 2026
Friko, "Alice," Something Worth Waiting For, ATO, 2026
Friko, "Choo Choo," Something Worth Waiting For, ATO, 2026
Ratboys, "Folk Song For Jazz," AOID, Topshelf, 2015
Rat Boy, "My Name Is Rat Boy," Internationally Unknown, Parlophone, 2019
Ratboys, "Elvis Is In The Freezer," GN, Topshelf, 2017
Ratboys, "Just Want You To Know The Truth," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West, 2026
Ratboys, "Making Noises for the Ones You Love," The Window, Topshelf, 2023
Ratboys, "Burn It Down," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West, 2026
Ratboys, "At Peace In The Hundred Acre Wood," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West, 2026
Ratboys, "Light Night Mountains All That," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West, 2026
Lou Reed, "Vicious," Transformer, RCA, 1972
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