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The Sound Opinions Podcast


Previous Guests
Wild Belle
Peter Hook
Tame Impala
Kurt Vile
Roger Ebert
Emeli Sande
Tony Visconti
Lucinda Williams
Jimmy Cliff
The dB's
Trey Parker & Matt Stone
Aimee Mann
Divine Fits
John Cale
Ty Segall
Passion Pit
Japandroids
El-P
OFF!
Jack White
Lydia Loveless
Kelly Hogan
Van Hunt
Philip Sherburne
Screaming Females
James Mercer
Sharon Van Etten
Alabama Shakes
The Kills
Nick Lowe
Fred Armisen
Dessa
Debbie Harry
The Jayhawks
Trombone Shorty
Paul Krugman
Wild Flag
Brian Eno
Cut Copy
Bob Ezrin
Handsome Furs
Bootsy Collins
Iron & Wine
Damon & Naomi
The Swell Season
Bob Mould
tUnE-yArDs
Paul Barker & Chris Connelly
Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil
Arcade Fire
Mike Watt
Low
Titus Andronicus
Drive-By Truckers
The Vaselines
Jac Holzman
Gang of Four
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan
Superchunk
Dan Charnas
James Murphy
Teenage Fanclub
Best Coast
Michael Rother
White Mystery
Slayer
Tony Visconti
Stephen Malkmus
Stephen Street
Nelson George
Chrissie Hynde
Dave Tompkins
The xx
K'Naan
Beach House
Vivian Girls
AO Scott & Michael Phillips
Rivers Cuomo
Peaches
Black Francis
Kid Sister
Thenewno2
The Dodos
Grizzly Bear
Phoenix
Ani DiFranco
She & Him
The Jesus Lizard
St. Vincent
Trent Reznor
Dan Deacon
Nelson George
Franz Ferdinand
Jill Sobule
Blitzen Trapper
Neko Case
Frightened Rabbit
The Hold Steady
Amy Ray
Alejandro Escovedo
Don Felder
Nick Cave
Calexico
Oliver Sacks
Joan as Policewoman
Danny Goldberg
Tony Visconti
The Feelies
Cursive
Death Cab for Cutie
Saul Williams
Laurie Anderson
Ray Davies
Tim Fite
Steve Earle & Allison Moorer
Butch Vig
Bob Mould
Girl Talk
Bob Newhart
The Powerhouse Sound
Anthony Bourdain
The Swell Season
The Fiery Furnaces
Peter Bogdanovich
Tori Amos
The New Pornographers
Spoon
Robert Wyatt
Midlake
The Flaming Lips
Besnard Lakes
The Effigies
Yoko Ono
Arcade Fire
Peter Bjorn and John
The Decemberists
Parts and Labor
Wilco
Tom Morello
Joe Boyd
Booker T. Jones
Neko Case
Ron Asheton
Lily Allen
Lupe Fiasco
Robyn Hitchcock & Peter Buck
Buddy Guy
The Secret Machines
Andy Summers
Pere Ubu
DJ Shadow
Moby
Glenn Kotche
Gov't Mule
Mission of Burma
Jason Lytle
The Bellrays
Rhymefest
Jon Brion
Radiohead
Ernesto Lechner
Common
Art Brut
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Steve Wynn
Jenny Lewis
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Jeff Chang
Roger Ebert
Feist
Lawrence Lessig
Colin Meloy
Jon Langford
Donovan
Julian Casablancas
Billy Gibbons
John Cale
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Audio Archive: 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005

Show #161: 12.26.08
When Radiohead visited the show in 2006, no one could predict that the band’s experiment with In Rainbows would be so successful. Take a listen to Jim and Greg’s conversation with this year’s biggest newsmakers. And later the critics will sound off on the new album from pop punk outfit Fall Out Boy.

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Show #160: 12.19.08
Sound Opinions Christmas Spectacular 2008:
The show’s very own Kris Kringle, aka Andy Cirzan, is back with another batch of weird and wonderful holiday tunes.

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Show #159: 12.12.08
Music obsessives spend a lot of time creating lists, and Jim and Greg are no exception. Tune in this week to hear their ultimate list of the year: The Best Albums of 2008.

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Show #158: 12.05.08
Amy Ray has been one half of the successful duo The Indigo Girls for over two decades. Now she’s back with a new solo record and punk-rock alter ego.

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Show #157: 11.28.08
Sound Opinions celebrates Thanksgiving with the annual Turkey Shoot. The most disappointing albums of the year will finally be put out of their misery, and yours. Plus, Jim and Greg will review rapper Kanye West’s new album.

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Show #156: 11.21.08
Jim and Greg welcome rocker Alejandro Escovedo for a conversation and live performance. They'll also review the long awaited album from Guns N' Roses, and then it's Greg's turn to add a track to the Desert Island Jukebox.

Footnotes: (link)
Reviews: (link)
DIJ: (link)
Live Songs: (link)

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Show #155: 11.14.08
With the explosion of acts like The Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus, it’s time to take a look at the musical genre that has had teens screaming for over half a century: Bubblegum Pop.

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Show #154: 11.07.08
Guitarist Don Felder joins Jim and Greg for a conversation about the ups and downs of life with The Eagles. Plus they'll review new albums from former A Tribe Called Quest-er, Q-Tip, and Deerhunter.

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Show #153: 10.31.08
At a time when most artists start to slow down, 30 year rock vets Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are only revving up. The band recorded one of Jim and Greg’s favorite albums of the year, and now you can hear them perform their bitingly funny, dark and raucous garage rock live on the show.

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Reviews: (link)
Live Songs: (link)

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Show #152: 10.24.08
Been feeling under the weather? Need a good dose of rock and roll? Then tune in this week for another appointment with the Rock Doctors. Drs. Kot and DeRogatis will help a patient with a mean case of the musical blues.

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DIJ: (link)

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Show #151: 10.17.08
Jim and Greg welcome eclectic indie rockers Calexico. Tune in to hear the band's cinematic mix of rock, folk, blues and even mariachi. And stay tuned for the latest music news and reviews.

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Show #150: 10.10.08
“Awakenings” neurologist Oliver Sacks joins Jim and Greg for an enlightening discussion about the powerful connection between music and the brain. And later the critics rate new albums from TV on the Radio and Oasis.

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Reviews: (link)

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Show #149: 10.03.08
Jim and Greg check into the "Psychedelic Shack." Tune in to hear their dissection of Psychedelic Soul, from Sly and the Family Stone to Gnarls Barkley.

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Show #148: 09.26.08
Jim and Greg welcome Joan as Policewoman. The classically trained musician has collaborated with the likes of Rufus Wainwright and Antony and the Johnsons, and now she brings her unique brand of American soul music to the Sound Opinions studio.

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DIJ: (link)
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Show #147: 09.19.08
Jim and Greg are back with a new batch of Buried Treasures. These underground gems might not be well-known but they deserve more attention. And later in the show, the critics rate the latest album from rock legend Brian Wilson.

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Show #146: 09.14.08
Manager, label executive, publicist—Danny Goldberg has donned many hats in the music industry. Tune in to hear this music insider share stories of working with everyone from Led Zeppelin to Nirvana. Plus, Jim and Greg will review the new album from orchestral indie rockers Ra Ra Riot.

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DIJ: (link)

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Show #145: 09.05.08
The carefree days of sun, sand and no school have come to an end. Jim and Greg want to help you beat the end of summer blues with their favorite Back-to-School songs.

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Show #144: 08.29.08
Jim and Greg invite you on a trip back to The Dawn of Metal. Tune in to learn about the roots of rock’s heaviest genre. Then stay tuned for a review of the new joint project from Brian Eno and David Byrne.

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DIJ: (link)

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Show #143: 08.22.08
Jim and Greg welcome producer Tony Visconti, the man behind the glam-rock sounds of T. Rex and David Bowie.

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Show #142: 08.15.08
Actress Zooey Deschanel has briefly left behind her male movie costars for a musical one. She's joined musician M. Ward to form She & Him, Jim and Greg's guests this week. Tune in to hear the duo's intimate conversation and live performance.

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Show #141: 08.08.08
Jim and Greg honor country music maverick Johnny Cash with a Classic Album Dissection of his legendary live recording At Folsom Prison, now 40 years old.

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Show #140: 08.01.08
Like the independent record store and band, the small rock club is also struggling to survive. Jim and Greg check in with a panel of music club owners, bookers and promoters from around the country to find out how things are faring in clubland.

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Show #139: 07.25.08
Believe it or not, sometimes Jim and Greg are wrong. And this week on the show, they man up and admit it. Tune in to hear these critics admit to their occasional lapses in judgment.

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Show #138: 07.18.08
It's the reunion Jim and Greg have been waiting for: The Feelies live in Hoboken, NJ. Tune in to hear their conversation with the art-punk pioneers, as well as a sampling of their exclusive performance recorded at the music club Maxwell's. Then Jim and Greg rate the new albums from Nas and Girl Talk.

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Show #137: 07.11.08
In honor of Sub Pop Record's 20th anniversary, Jim and Greg speak with co-founder Jonathan Poneman and play their favorite tracks from the venerated Seattle label. Then stay tuned for their reviews of the latest album from Beck and the debut record from current Sub Pop artist Fleet Foxes.

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Reviews: (link)

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Show #136: 07.04.08
Join Jim and Greg for the ultimate Independence Day celebration. They'll play their favorite Songs About America and hear some of your picks.

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Show #135: 06.27.08
Jim and Greg love lists so much they can’t wait until the end of the year to make them. Tune in to hear their lists for the Best Albums of 2008...So Far. Then stay tuned for their review of the new album from My Morning Jacket.

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Reviews: (link)

Listen to the MP3 Stream: (link)
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Show #134: 06.20.08
With the digital music explosion, the issues of copyright, authorship and ownership have never been so important. Tune in to hear a re-broadcast of Jim and Greg’s interview with legal expert Lawrence Lessig. Plus, they’ll take a listen to the latest releases from Lil Wayne and Alejandro Escovedo.

Footnotes: (link)
Reviews: (link)
DIJ: (link)

Listen to the MP3 Stream: (link)
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Show #133: 06.13.08
Omaha's own Cursive sits down with Jim and Greg live in their hometown to perform some never-before-heard tracks. Then the critics will rate the latest releases from Coldplay and Weezer.

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Show #132: 06.06.08
Jim and Greg celebrate the songs of summer. Tune in to hear their musical remedies to beat the heat. Plus, Greg honors music legend Bo Diddley.

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Show #131: 05.30.08
Death Cab for Cutie
has gone from indie obscurity to having the #1 selling album in the country. Tune in to hear their discussion with Jim and Greg and performance in front of a live audience.

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Show #130: 05.23.08
Buried Treasures: Jim and Greg unearth another trove of underground music to add to your collection

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Show #129: 05.16.08
Poet turned musician Saul Williams visits the show to talk about his newsmaking album "The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust." Tune in to hear his unique live performance which blends politics with dance beats.

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Show #128: 05.09.08
Paging the Rock Doctors! This week on the show Drs. DeRogatis and Kot are called upon to tend to another ailing patient. Tune in to hear if their diagnoses can save this listener's musical life.

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DIJ: (link)

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Show #127: 05.02.08
Singer, songwriter, poet and performance artist Laurie Anderson sits down with Jim and Greg to discuss her always ambitious, and often provocative, art and music.

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Show #126: 04.25.08
Join Jim and Greg in their celebration of the One Note Wonders of rock and roll. They may only do one thing, but they do it really well.

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Show #125: 04.18.08
One of the most influential singer/songwriters of all time joins Jim and Greg live in the studio. Ray Davies, former frontman for the Kinks, talks about his four decades making music and plays songs off his new album "Working Man's Café."

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Show #124: 04.11.08
Tim Fite
mixes hip hop, folk, rock and blues with a heavy dose of humor and politics. Tune in to hear his conversation with Jim and Greg, plus a sampling of his genre-defying musical style. Jim and Greg will also review the latest from sister act The Breeders.

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Show #123: 04.04.08
iTunes, YouTube and MySpace have completely changed how we listen to music. But have they changed what we’re hearing? This week Jim and Greg invite producer Butch Vig and music journalist Bob Gendron to talk about the digital era’s impact on the sound of music.

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Show #122: 03.28.08
Jim and Greg welcome the always outspoken and political singer-songwriter Steve Earle. He’s joined by wife Allison Moorer for a conversation and live performance. Then the critics will review the second effort by “Crazy” duo Gnarls Barkley and the Jack White side project, The Raconteurs.

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Show #121: 03.21.08
Jim and Greg have returned from another pilgrimage to what many call the live music capital of the world: Austin, TX. Tune in to hear their reports of the annual South by Southwest Music Festival, including what bands to look out for in the year to come.

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Show #120: 03.14.08
Butch Vig, the man behind the sounds of Sonic Youth, Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana, joins Jim and Greg for a conversation about acting as producer, and therapist, to some of the biggest names in the business. Jim and Greg will also review new albums from Beach House and Goldfrapp.

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Show #119: 03.07.08
Bob Mould founded two of the most influential rock bands of the past 3 decades and pioneered what we know today as “indie rock.” Tune in to hear the Husker Du and Sugar musician talk with Jim and Greg and perform his signature electric guitar.

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Show #118: 02.29.08
It's been 25 years since fans first purchased Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Now the King of Pop has released a special edition of the landmark album, and Jim and Greg will tell you whether or not to shell out your dough a second time around. They’ll also review the latest from Jackson’s sister Janet, as well as Erykah Badu, Black Mountain and Sia.

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DIJ: (link)

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Show #117: 02.22.08
This week Jim and Greg will dissect one of the greatest albums of all time--Revolver--and talk with Geof Emerick, the man who engineered it.

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Show #116: 02.15.08
Jim and Greg gear up for the Oscars by discussing the most important part of a movie: the soundtrack. Saturday Night Fever, Purple Rain, The Graduate...Tune in to see what made the cut.

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Show #115: 02.08.08
Gregg Gillis, aka Girl Talk, has become an underground sensation by using other people's music. This week the sample-based collage artist joins Jim and Greg for a discussion about dance parties, biomedicine and running from the law.

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Show #114: 02.01.08
The members of Powerhouse Sound, Ken Vandermark, Nate McBride, Jeff Parker and John Herndon, blend jazz, rock, reggae, punk and funk for a sound that defies boundaries. Tune in to hear their discussion with Jim and Greg, plus a special live performance.

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Show #113: 01.25.08
Superstar chef, author and TV host Anthony Bourdain joins Jim and Greg for a conversation about two of the best things on earth: Music and Food. What’s the connection between these two great pleasures? Jim and Greg hear from chefs around the country and play their favorite culinary-themed songs.

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Show #112: 01.18.08
Unsung Heroes: In rock and roll, it's usually the biggest personalities who get the most attention. So this week on the show, Jim and Greg will celebrate the little guy and showcase the “Unsung Heroes” of rock.

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Show #111: 01.11.08
Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard went from struggling musicians to bona fide movie stars after appearing in the hit movie-musical Once. Tune in to hear their discussion with Jim and Greg plus a live musical performance.

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Show #110: 01.04.08
Brother-sister rock duo The Fiery Furnaces join Jim and Greg for a conversation and live performance. Jim and Greg also talk to Peter Bogdanovich, director of "Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream", and review the new album by rapper Lupe Fiasco.

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