Greg Kot

In this bonus episode of Sound Opinions, Jim shares a Kot-esque pick from a band named after someone very dear to him. Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9T Become a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvc Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnG Make a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lU Send us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot have been writing about Chicago and music for a long time. Greg was the rock music critic at the Chicago Tribune from 1990 to 2020. Jim spent 15 years as the music critic at the Chicago Sun Times . Both have written several great books - Greg's published books include Wilco: Learning How to Die, I'll Take You There Mavis Staples and Ripped: How the Wired Generation Revolutionized Music. Jim's titles include Let It Blurt: The Life and Times of Lester Bangs, Staring at Sound: The True Story of Oklahoma's Fabulous Flaming Lips and Soulless: The Case Against R. Kelly. But they may be best known for the long-running podcast Sound Opinions which celebrated its 1,000th episode in 2025. We loved getting the chance to talk shop with Jim & Greg about what it has been like to cover music for so long, how things have evolved over the years and what they like (and dislike) about Chicago. As a disclaimer - Jim's views on Chicago pizza are his alone and do not reflect the opinions of No Wristbands (and he's clearly wrong!). https://www.gregkot.com/ https://jimdero.com/ Time stamps: 3: What's the biggest misconception people have about being music journalists? 10: What are some of your greatest music discovery moments you've experienced in Chicago? 14:30: What has changed throughout your time as being a music journalist? 17:45: With the rise of online music publications, did that have any impact on how you wrote and/or talked about music? 28: People should get paid to be music journalists. 32: Who are some bands/artists from Chicago that you felt like never hit as big as they should have? 35:25: What makes Chicago such a good and unique music scene? 45: What keeps you going with Sound Opinions? 48:44: Thick or thin crust pizza fans? 51:45: What are some of your favorite venues to see shows at in Chicago?

Every year, host Greg Kot makes a mixtape of new songs to express his feelings about the past year. Greg shares a selection of that mix and the rest of the show staff look at other top singles of 2024. Plus, the hosts remember a few other musicians we lost in 2024. Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9T Become a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvc Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnG Make a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lU Send us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops Featured Songs: Chappell Roan, "Good Luck, Babe!," Good Luck, Babe! (Single), Island, 2024 The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967 King Crimson, "21st Century Schizoid Man," In the Court of the Crimson King, Island, 1969 The Allman Brothers Band, "Ramblin' Man," Brothers and Sisters, Capricorn, 1973 Slim Dunlap, "The Ballad of the Opening Band," The Old New Me, Medium Cool/Twin/Tone, 1993 Marlena Shaw, "Woman of the Ghetto," The Spice of Life, Cadet, 1969 Beyoncé, "16 CARRIAGES," Cowboy Carter, Parkwood and Columbia, 2024 Sabrina Carpenter, "Espresso (Mark Ronson x FNZ Working Late Remix)," Espresso (Mark Ronson x FNZ Working Late Remix) (Single), Island, 2024 Kabin Crew, "The Spark (feat. Lisdoonvarna Crew)," The Spark (feat. Lisdoonvarna Crew) (Single), Rubyworks, 2024 Charli XCX, "Girl, so confusing featuring lorde," Brat and It's Completely Different but Also Still Brat (Single), Atlantic, 2024 Geordie Greep, "Holy, Holy," The New Sound, Rough Trade, 2024 Shaboozey, "A Bar Song (Tipsy)," Where I've Been, Isn't Where I'm Going, American Dogwood and Empire, 2024 Wussy Duo, "Cellar Door," Cellar Door EP, Shake It!, 2024 La Luz, "Strange World," News of the Universe, Sub Pop, 2024 Trupa Trupa, "Sister Ray," Sister Ray (Single), Glitterbeat, 2024 The Bug Club, "Lonsdale Slipons," On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System, Sub Pop, 2024 Lambrini Girls, "God's Country," God's Country (Single), City Slang, 2024 Tunde Adebimpe, "Magnetic," Magnetic (Single), Sub Pop, 2024 The Unfit, "Who's in Charge," Disconnected EP, Share It Music, 2024 The Jesus Lizard, "Hide & Seek," Rack, Ipecac, 2024 Shellac, "Chick New Wave," To All Trains, Touch And Go, 2024 Horsegirl, "2468," 2468 (Single), Matador, 2024 X, "The Hungry Wolf," Under the Big Black Sun, Elektra, 1982 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

One conversation is not enough! Greg Kot is back by popular demand. We hop into the time machine and discuss what was happening in Wilco world thirty years ago this summer. We discuss the break-up of Uncle Tupelo, the recording of AM, and the eventual recording of Being There. Greg also shares a song he wishes Wilco would cover. The answer might just surprise you. Greg Kot was the former rock critic at the Chicago Tribune for 30 years and is cohost of "Sound Opinions" -- "the world's only rock 'n' roll talk show" -- an independently produced podcast that airs on more than 150 public-radio stations nationwide. Listen here: soundopinons.org . Kot is also the author of seven books, including "Wilco: Learning How to Die," which is available at numerous on-line outlets and independent bookstores, including "Exile in Bookville" in Chicago: https://www.exileinbookville.com/ . --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/shovingwilco/support

Every year, host Greg Kot makes a mixtape of new songs to express his feelings about the past year. Greg shares a selection of that mix and the rest of the show staff look at other top singles of 2023. Plus, the hosts remember a few other musicians we lost in 2023. Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9T Become a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvc Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnG Make a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lU Send us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops Featured Songs: Olivia Rodrigo, "Vampire," GUTS, Geffen, 2023 The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967 The Moody Blues, "Go Now!," The Magnificent Moodies, Decca, 1965 The Pogues, "Fairytale of New York (feat. Kirsty MacColl)," If I Should Fall from Grace with God, Warner, 1988 The Del-Lords, "Burning In The Flame Of Love," Frontier Days, EMI, 1984 Dwight Twilley Band, "I'm On Fire," Sincerely, Shelter, 1976 Dua Lipa, "Dance The Night," Barbie The Album, Atlantic, Warner Bros., Mattel, 2023 SZA, "Kill Bill (feat. Doja Cat)," Kill Bill (feat. Doja Cat) (Single), Top Dawg, RCA, 2023 XG, "LEFT RIGHT," SHOOTING STAR - Single, XGALX, 2023 PinkPantheress & Ice Spice, "Boy's a liar, Pt. 2," Boy's a liar, Pt. 2 (Single), Warner Music, 2023 Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, "White Beretta," Weathervanes, Southeastern, Thirty Tigers, 2023 Shame, "Fingers of Steel," Food for Worms, Dead Oceans, 2023 Miley Cyrus, "Flowers," Endless Summer, Columbia, 2023 Ratboys, "Crossed That Line," The Window, Topshelf, 2023 RVG, "Midnight Sun," Brain Worms, Fire, 2023 The Rain Parade, "Last Rays of a Dying Sun," Last Rays of a Dying Sun, Label 51, 2023 Sara Noelle, "Dry the Rain," Dry the Rain (Single), Sara Noelle, 2023 Ladytron, "City of Angels," Time's Arrow, Cooking Vinyl, 2023 Ric Wilson, Chromeo & A-Trak, "Everyone Moves To LA (feat. Felicia Douglass)," CLUSTERFUNK, Free Disco/Empire, 2023 Butcher Brown, "MOVE (RIDE) (feat. Jay Prince)," Solar Music, Concord, 2023 Avalon Emerson, "Sandrail Silouette," & The Charm, Another Dove/One House, 2023 Bob Dylan, "Tangled Up in Blue," Blood on the Tracks, Columbia, 1975 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

For more Greg, go to this website. Sound Opinions is Greg's music talk show podcast with Jim DeRogatis. And they have a Patreon, too. For even more Greg, you can check out this episode of fellow Wilco podcast Shoving Wilco.

In this episode of Shoving Wilco, Todd visits with the venerable rock critic and author Greg Kot to unpack his phenomenal book, "Wilco: Learning How to Die." In this thought-provoking episode, Greg Kot, known for his insightful commentary on music and culture, shares his firsthand experiences and unique insights into the world of Wilco. "Learning How to Die" isn't just a book about a band; it's a journey through the evolution of Wilco's sound, the struggles they've faced, and the artistry that has defined their career. _____ Greg Kot was the former rock critic at the Chicago Tribune for 30 years and is cohost of "Sound Opinions" -- "the world's only rock 'n' roll talk show" -- an independently produced podcast that airs on more than 150 public-radio stations nationwide. Listen here: soundopinons.org . Kot is also the author of seven books, including "Wilco: Learning How to Die," which is available at numerous on-line outlets and independent bookstores, including "Exile in Bookville" in Chicago: https://www.exileinbookville.com/ .

Bill Withers is beloved for writing classics like Lean On Me, but Greg Kot has long contended that Withers’ best album is Live at Carnegie Hall. This week hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot honor Withers’ life by doing a classic album dissection on that record and review the latest album from Anohni and the Johnsons. Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9T Become a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvc Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnG Make a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lU Send us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops Featured Songs: Bill Withers, "Use Me (Live)," Bill Withers Live at Carnegie Hall, Sussex, 1973 The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967 Anohni and the Johnsons, "It Must Change," My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross, Secretly Canadian, 2023 Anohni and the Johnsons, "Scapegoat," My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross, Secretly Canadian, 2023 Anohni and the Johnsons, "You Be Free," My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross, Secretly Canadian, 2023 Anohni and the Johnsons, "Sliver Of Ice," My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross, Secretly Canadian, 2023 Bill Withers, "Lean On Me (Live)," Bill Withers Live at Carnegie Hall, Sussex, 1973 Lou Rawls, "St. James Infirmary," Live, Capitol, 1966 Bill Withers, "Three Nights and a Morning," Three Nights and a Morning (Single), Lotus, 1967 Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, "Express Yourself," Express Yourself, Warner Bros, 1970 Bill Withers, "Harlem," Just As I Am, Sussex, 1971 Bill Withers, "Ain't No Sunshine," Just As I Am, Sussex, 1971 Bill Withers, "Use Me," Still Bill, Sussex, 1972 Grace Jones, "Use Me," Nightclubbing, Island, 1981 Liza Minnelli, "Use Me," The Singer, CBS, 1973 Bill Withers, "I Can't Write Left-Handed (Live)," Bill Withers Live at Carnegie Hall, Sussex, 1973 Bill Withers, "Friend of Mine (Live)," Bill Withers Live at Carnegie Hall, Sussex, 1973 Bill Withers, "Grandma's Hand (Live)," Bill Withers Live at Carnegie Hall, Sussex, 1973 Bill Withers, "Harlem/Cold Baloney," Bill Withers Live at Carnegie Hall, Sussex, 1973 Lauryn Hill, "The Mystery of Iniquity," MTV Unplugged 2.0, Columbia, 2002 Bill Withers, "Ain't No Sunshine (Live)," Bill Withers Live at Carnegie Hall, Sussex, 1973 Merle Haggard and the Strangers, "Sidewalks of Chicago," Hag, Capitol, 1971 Support The Show: https://www.patreon.com/soundopinions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot look at the music of 2022 from the rearview mirror. Jim and the producers share some of their favorite singles of the year, review some missed obituaries and Greg plays an excerpt from his legendary annual mixtape. Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9T Become a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvc Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnG Make a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lU Send us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops Featured Songs: Bad Bunny, "Moscow Mule," Un Verano Sin Ti, RIMAS ENTERTAINMENT, 2022 Irene Cara, "Flashdance...What a Feeling," Flashdance: Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture, Casablanca, 1983 Irene Cara, "Fame," Fame: The Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture, RSO, 1980 The Clean, "Anything Could Happen," Compilation, Flying Nun, 1986 Hawkwind, "Master of the Universe," In Search of Space, United Artists, 1971 Public Image Ltd, "Public Image," Public Image: First Issue, Virgin, 1978 Robyn Hitchcock, "The Man Who Loves the Rain," Shufflemania!, Tiny Ghost, 2022 Ateez, "Guerilla," The World EP.1 : Movement, KQ Entertainment, 2022 Lil Nas X, "That's What I Want," Montero, Columbia, 2021 Glass Animals, "Heat Waves," Dreamland, Wolf Tone, 2020 Superchunk, "If You're Not Dark," Wild Loneliness, Merge, 2022 GAYLE, "abc (nicer)," abc (nicer) (Single), Atlantic, 2021 Nicki Minaj, "Super Freaky Girl," Super Freaky Girl (Single), Young Money, 2022 Taylor Swift, "Would've, Could've, Should've," Midnights (3am Edition), Republic, 2022 Dummy, "Mono Retriever," Mono Retriever (Single), Sub Pop, 2022 PLOSIVS, "Hit the Breaks," Hit the Breaks (Single), Swami, 2021 Bodega, "Statuette on the Console," Broken Equipment, What's Your Rupture?, 2022 Thee Oh Sees, "A Foul Form," A Foul Form, Castle Face, 2022 Anna Calvi, "Ain't No Grave," Tommy - EP, Domino, 2022 Brittany Davis, "I Choose to Live," I Choose to Live - EP, Loosegrove, 2022 Say Sue Me, "To Dream," The Last Thing Left, Damnably & Beach Town Music, 2022 Yola, "Strange Things Are Happening Every Day," ELVIS (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), RCA, 2022 Stillwater, "Fever Dog," Almost Famous, DreamWorks, 2000

Mike and Chris are joined by former Chicago Tribune rock critic, author, and the man behind the liner notes for the 1998 Cheap Trick reissues, Greg Kot as they look back at "Stiff Competition" from the band's 1978 album, HEAVEN TONIGHT.

"People ask us, 'What's your favorite record?' Our answer is 'The one we're going to hear next week.'" That anecdote on today's show from Greg Kot is why he and his Sound Opinions co-host Jim DeRogatis have inspired legions of music journalists for decades: Between emotional reactions to pop music and intellectual analysis of art-rock, they consistently remain curious. As former critics at the Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times respectively, they have seen weird fads, legendary careers and physical media come and go, documenting it all -- whether in print, via the web or on the air. On this episode, Greg and Jim dive into their own early obsessions with vinyl, whether or not we can truly judge someone by their record collection, and why music criticism shouldn't be a solo project. Find Sound Opinions wherever you hear podcasts, or at soundopinions.org .

In a Classic Album Dissection, Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot examine The Stooges' Fun House record from 1970. The album brought together garage rock, rhythm and blues and free jazz, setting a template for the punk revolution to come. Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton talks about the album as well as producer Don Gallucci, whose unorthodox studio technique is credited with capturing the singular sound of The Stooges. Plus Greg Kot adds a song by Gene Clark to the Desert Island Jukebox. Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9T Become a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvc Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnG Make a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lU Send us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops Featured Songs: The Stooges, "T.V. Eye," Fun House, Elektra, 1970 The Stooges, "Down On The Street," Fun House, Elektra, 1970 The Stooges, "Loose," Fun House, Elektra, 1970 The Stooges, "Dirt," Fun House, Elektra, 1970 The Stooges, "1970," Fun House, Elektra, 1970 The Stooges, "Fun House," Fun House, Elektra, 1970 The Stooges, "L.A. Blues," Fun House, Elektra, 1970 Iggy Pop, "Dum Dum Boys," The Idiot, RCA, 1977 The Stooges, "I Wanna Be Your Dog," The Stooges, Elektra, 1969 The Stooges, "Not Right," The Stooges, Elektra, 1969 MC5, "Rocket Reducer N.62 (Rama Lama Fa Fa Fa)," Kick Out The James, Elektra, 1969 The Stooges, "No Fun," The Stooges, Elektra, 1969 The Stooges, "Loose (Demo Version)," Fun House (2005 Deluxe Edition), Elektra, 2005 The Stooges, "Slide (Slidin' The Blues)," Fun House (2005 Deluxe Edition), Elektra, 2005 Bread, "It Don't Matter to Me," Bread, Elektra, 1969 The Kingsmen, "Louie Louie," The Kingsmen In Person, Wand, 1963 The Stooges, "T.V. Eye (Takes 7 & 8)," Fun House (2005 Deluxe Edition), Elektra, 2005 The Stooges, "1970 (Take 3)," Fun House (2005 Deluxe Edition), Elektra, 2005 Iggy and The Stooges, "Louie Louie (Live)," Metallic K.O., Jungle, 1976 James Brown & The Famous Flames, "I Feel All Right (Live 1967)," Live at the Apollo, Vol. II, Polydor, 1968 John Coltrane, "A Love Supreme Pt 2 Resolution," A Love Supreme, Impulse!, 1965 The Doors, "Touch Me," The Soft Parade, Elektra, 1969 The Stooges, "1969," The Stooges, Elektra, 1969 Sonic Youth, "Kool Thing," Goo, DGC, 1990 Minutemen, "Maybe Partying Will Help," Double Nickels On The Dime, SST, 1984 Mission of Burma, "The Ballad of Johnny Burma," Vs., Ace of Hearts, 1982 Depeche Mode, "Dirt," Exciter, Mute, 2001 The Damned, "I Feel Alright," Damned Damned Damned, Stiff, 1977 Radio Birdman, "T.V. Eye," Radios Appear, Trafalgar, 1977 Nirvana, "Scentless Apprentice," In Utero, DGC, 1993 Mudhoney, "Touch Me I'm Sick," Touch Me I'm Sick (Single), Sub Pop, 1988 The Stooges, "Down On The Street (Single Mix)," Down On The Street (Single), Elektra, 1970 Gene Clark, "Some Misunderstanding," No Other, Asylum, 1974 David Bowie, "Heroes," "Heroes", RCA, 1977