Sound Opinions

Sound Opinions has been running since 2005, which makes it one of the elder statesmen of music podcasts, and it still holds up. Hosted by rock critics Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot—both of whom have been covering music professionally for decades—the show pairs news commentary with album reviews, artist interviews, and curated music selections. With over 1,300 episodes and a 4.3-star rating from nearly 2,000 reviewers, this is a show that has earned its audience through consistency. What keeps Sound Opinions relevant is the hosts' willingness to disagree with each other on camera (well, on mic). DeRogatis and Kot don't always see eye to eye, and those disagreements produce genuinely interesting criticism rather than the bland consensus you get from most music coverage. Recent episodes have tackled late-period R.E.M. with biographer Peter Ames Carlin, protest songs, and buried treasures—their recurring segment spotlighting lesser-known tracks that deserve a second listen. The show comes out of WBEZ in Chicago and carries that public radio DNA: thoughtful, well-produced, and unafraid to spend real time with a subject. It covers more than just rock, but rock is the backbone, and the critical perspective the hosts bring makes it essential listening for anyone who cares about music as more than background noise.