Each week, music writer John Spong talks to one notable Willie Nelson fan about one Willie song that they love, leading to highly personal looks at the life, art, and legend of a genuine American folk hero. Listen here.New Yorker music critic Amanda Petrusich looks at the other big hit off Willie and Merle Haggard’s classic 1983 Pancho & Lefty album, “Reasons to Quit.” It’s a classic Haggard drinking song, but a little more pensive than most, and Amanda reframes it—and really, all of Pancho & Lefty—as an example of what she calls the Outlaw’s Conundrum, i.e. what’s an old rebel to do when the time comes to settle down? Then we get into the all-star band that backed Willie and Merle on the record and, in a particularly insightful interlude, the specific ways sad songs can help people when life feels like too much to bear.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot speak with Jenny Toomey and Kristin Thomson, founders of the '90s indie rock band Tsunami and key figures of the D.C. punk scene. The hosts also review the new collaborative album from Julien Baker & Torres.Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9TBecome a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvcSign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnGMake a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lUSend us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops Featured Songs:Tsunami, "In a Name," Deep End, Simple Machines, 1993The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967Julien Baker & Torres, "Sugar in the Tank," Send a Prayer My Way, Matador, 2025Julien Baker & Torres, "Tuesday," Send a Prayer My Way, Matador, 2025Julien Baker & Torres, "Tape Runs Out," Send a Prayer My Way, Matador, 2025Tsunami, "David Foster Wallace," A Brilliant Mistake, Simple Machines, 1997Tsunami, "Newspaper," World Tour & Other Destinations, Simple Machines, 1995Tsunami, "Punk Means Cuddle," World Tour & Other Destinations, Simple Machines, 1995Tsunami, "Water's Edge," Deep End, Simple Machines, 1993Tsunami, "Be Like That," The Heart's Tremolo, Simple Machines, 1994Tsunami, "Loud is as Loud Does," The Heart's Tremolo, Simple Machines, 1994Tsunami, "The Workers Are Punished," A Brilliant Mistake, Simple Machines, 1997Tsunami, "Slugger," Deep End, Simple Machines, 1993Jill Sobule, "Supermodel," Jill Sobule, Lava, 1995See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this bonus episode, Greg shares a track by an artist who was long overdue for their recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.Become a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvcJoin our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9TSign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnGMake a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lUSend us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundopsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot talk with author Cary Baker about the musical tradition of street performance, also known as busking. The hosts also review the solo album from TV On The Radio lead singer Tunde Adebimpe and hear feedback from listeners on recent episodes.Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9TBecome a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvcSign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnGMake a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lUSend us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops Featured Songs:Arvella Gray, "John Henry," I Blueskvarter Chicago 1964, Volume Two, Jefferson, 2000The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967Tunde Adebimpe, "Magnetic," Thee Black Boltz, Sub Pop, 2025Tunde Adebimpe, "Ate The Moon," Thee Black Boltz, Sub Pop, 2025Tunde Adebimpe, "Pinstack," Thee Black Boltz, Sub Pop, 2025Tunde Adebimpe, "Drop," Thee Black Boltz, Sub Pop, 2025Tunde Adebimpe, "Blue," Thee Black Boltz, Sub Pop, 2025Tunde Adebimpe, "Somebody New," Thee Black Boltz, Sub Pop, 2025Tunde Adebimpe, "ILY," Thee Black Boltz, Sub Pop, 2025Tracy Chapman, "Stand By Me (Live At The Late Show With David Letterman)," Greatest Hits, Elektra, 2015Moondog, "Nocturne Suite Part 1," On The Streets of New York, Mississippi, 2019Cortelia Clark, "Bye, Bye, Love," Blues in the Street, RCA, 1966George Coleman, "Innocent Little Doggy," Bongo Joe, Arhoolie, 1969Fantastic Negrito, "Nobody Makes Money," Fantastic Negrito EP, Blackball Universe, 2014Violent Femmes, "Blister In The Sun," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983Ted Hawkins, "Strange Conversation," The Next Hundred Years, Geffen, 1994Mary Lou Lord, "St. Swithin's Day," Real, Deep Music, 1993Lucinda Williams, "Ramblin' On My Mind," Ramblin' on My Mind, Folkways, 1979Dom Flemons, "Charmin Betsy," Black Cowboys, Smithsonian Folkways, 2018Emmylou Harris, "Crescent City," Cowgirl's Prayer, Asylum, 1993Stan Rogers, "Barrett's Privateers," Fogarty's Cove, Barn Swallow, 1977Tsunami, "In A Name," Deep End, Simple Machines, 1992See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Following our tribute to David Thomas, Jim reflects on another Pere Ubu and Rocket from the Tombs member lost too early, and pays tribute with a Desert Island Jukebox selection.Become a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvcJoin our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9TSign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnGMake a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lUSend us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundopsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot pay tribute to the late singer, songwriter and musician David Thomas. They do a deep dive on his career and life, discussing his music with Pere Ubu and Rocket from the Tombs.Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9TBecome a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvcSign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnGMake a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lUSend us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops Featured Songs:Pere Ubu, "Non-Alignment Pact," The Modern Dance, Plan 9, 1978The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967Pere Ubu, "Babylonian Warehouses (Live on Sound Opinions)," Why I Hate Women, Smog Veil, 2006Dead Boys, "Ain't It Fun," We Have Come for Your Children, Sire, 1978Pere Ubu, "30 Seconds Over Tokyo," 30 Seconds Over Tokyo (Single), Hearthan, 1975Dead Boys, "Sonic Reducer," Young, Loud and Snotty, Sire, 1977Rocket from the Tombs, "Amphetamine (Live)," The Day the Earth Met Rocket from the Tombs (Live From Punk Ground Zero, Cleveland 1975), Smog Veil, 2002Pere Ubu, "Laughing," The Modern Dance, Blank, 1978Pere Ubu, "Humor Me," The Modern Dance, Blank, 1978Pere Ubu, "Dub Housing," Dub Housing, Chysalis, 1978Pere Ubu, "Caligari's Mirror," Dub Housing, Chysalis, 1978Pere Ubu, "(Pa) Ubu Dance Party," Dub Housing, Chysalis, 1978Pere Ubu, "Navvy," Dub Housing, Chysalis, 1978Pere Ubu, "Waiting For Mary," Cloudland, Fontana, 1989Pere Ubu, "George Had a Hat," The Tenement Year, Enigma, 1988Rocket from the Tombs, "Sonic Reducer," The Day the Earth Met Rocket from the Tombs (Live From Punk Ground Zero, Cleveland 1975), Smog Veil, 2002Pere Ubu, "Caroleen (Live on Sound Opinions)," Why I Hate Women, Smog Veil, 2006Arvella Gray, "John Henry," I Blueskvarter Chicago 1964, Volume Two, Jefferson, 2000See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this bonus episode, Greg shares a track he discovered from the long-running Brown Acid stoner rock compilation series—a labor of love from Permanent Records and Riding Easy Records.Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9TBecome a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvcSign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnGMake a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lUSend us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundopsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot share new music they're digging that flies under the mainstream radar, buried treasures! They also hear buried treasure picks from the production staff.Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9TBecome a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvcSign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnGMake a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lUSend us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops Featured Songs:Daisychain, "G-String," G-String (Single), self-released, 2025The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967Obongjayar, "Not in Surrender," Paradise Now, September, 2025Sex Scenes, "Want & Need," Want & Need (Single), Big Neck, 2025TAKAAT, "Amidinin," Is Noise, Vol. 1, Purplish, 2025GoGo Penguin, "Fallowfield Loops," Necessary Fictions, XXIM, 2025Propagandhi, "At Peace," At Peace, Epitaph, 2025Jim Nothing, "Raleigh Arena," Grey Eyes, Grey Lynn, Meritorio, 2024Point Mort, "The Bent Neck Lady," The Bent Neck Lady (Single), Almost Famous, 2025Sombr, "undressed," undressed (Single), Warner, 2025Bnny, "Good Stuff," One Million Love Songs, Fire Talk, 2024Ben Kweller, "Dollar Store (feat. Waxahatchee)," Dollar Store (feat. Waxahatchee) (Single), The Noise Company, 2025Cameron Winter, "Love Takes Miles," Heavy Metal, Partisan, 2024Shishi, "Can't Stop Believing," FAQ - EP, Birthday Cake, 2025Barry Can't Swim, "Different," Different (Single), Ninja Tune, 2025Poor Creature, "The Whole Town Knows," The Whole Town Knows (Single), River Lea, 2025PyPy, "Erase," Sacred Times, Goner, 2024Daisychain, "Waste Your Time," Waste Your Time (Single), self-released, 2025Pere Ubu, "Non-Alignment Pact," The Modern Dance, Plan 9, 1978See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thanks to a couple of listener, Jim realizes he credited the wrong orchestra on a recent show. But the mistake sparks a deeper appreciation for the band he mentioned by accident, and he adds one of their songs to the Desert Island Jukebox.Become a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvcJoin our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9TSign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnGMake a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lUSend us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundopsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Musicians like Emmylou Harris, Rosanne Cash, Guy Clark and others changed the scope of country music forever. Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot talk with author Geoffrey Himes about the artists of the movement he calls “in-law country.” They also hear from some listeners.Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9TBecome a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvcSign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnGMake a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lUSend us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops Featured Songs:Emmylou Harris, "Born to Run," Cimarron, Warner Bros. Nashville, 1981The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967Rosanne Cash, "Seven Year Ache," Seven Year Ache, Columbia, 1981Rosanne Cash, "My Baby Thinks He's A Train," Seven Year Ache, Columbia, 1981The Flying Burrito Brothers, "Six Days on the Road," Last of the Red Hot Burritos, A&M, 1972Emmylou Harris, "Luxury Liner," Luxury Liner, Warner Bros. Nashville, 1976The Byrds, "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere," Sweetheart of the Rodeo, Columbia, 1968The Byrds, "Time Between," Younger Than Yesterday, Columbia, 1967Emmylou Harris, "If I Could Only Win Your Love," Pieces of the Sky, Reprise, 1975Rodney Crowell, "I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried," Diamonds & Dirt, Columbia, 1988Emmylou Harris, "Two More Bottles of Wine," Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town, Warner Bros. Nashville, 1978Emmylou Harris, "Pancho and Lefty," Luxury Liner, Warner Bros. Nashville, 1976Emmylou Harris, "Till I Gain Control Again," Elite Hotel, Reprise, 1975Ricky Skaggs, "Heartbroke," Highways & Heartaches, Epic, 1982Guy Clark, "L.A. Freeway," Old No. 1, RCA, 1975Liquid Mike, "Drinking and Driving," Paul Bunyan's Slingshot, Temporal, 2024TAE & The Neighborly, "We Can Be," Self Help, smooth bean, 2024David Grisman and Jerry Garcia, "Whiskey In the Jar," Shady Grove, Acoustic Disc, 1996Graham Nash, "Chicago / We Can Change the World," Songs for Beginners, Atlantic, 1971Bnny, "Good Stuff," One Million Love Songs, Fire Talk, 2024See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this bonus episode, Greg shares a song by an 80s synth-pop band that set themselves apart with their great sense of humor.Become a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvcJoin our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9TSign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnGMake a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lUSend us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundopsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As spring is springing, the volume of new albums coming out is hard to keep up with. This week hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot dig out from “music mountain” by reviewing new albums from Lucy Dacus, Saba and No ID, Mekons and Perfume Genius. They also pay tribute to Clem Burke of Blondie and Dave Allen of Gang of Four.Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9TBecome a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvcSign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnGMake a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lUSend us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops Featured Songs:Lucy Dacus, "Ankles," Forever is a Feeling, Geffen, 2025The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967Blondie, "Heart Of Glass," Parallel Lines, Chrysalis, 1979Blondie, "Atomic," Eat to the Beat, Chrysalis, 1980Blondie, "Call Me," American Gigolo, Chrysalis, 1980Gang of Four, "Ether," Entertainment!, EMI, 1979Gang of Four, "Damaged Goods," Entertainment!, EMI, 1979Lucy Dacus, "For Keeps," Forever is a Feeling, Geffen, 2025Lucy Dacus, "Most Wanted Man," Forever is a Feeling, Geffen, 2025Lucy Dacus, "Lost Time," Forever is a Feeling, Geffen, 2025Saba and No I.D., "head.rap (ft. Madison McFerrin, Ogi & Jordan Ward)," From the Private Collection of Saba and No I.D., From the Private Collection of Saba and No I.D., 2025Saba and No I.D., "Every Painting Has a Price (feat. Eryn Allen Kane & BJ Chicago Kid)," From the Private Collection of Saba and No I.D., From the Private Collection of Saba and No I.D., 2025Saba and No I.D., "Breakdown," From the Private Collection of Saba and No I.D., From the Private Collection of Saba and No I.D., 2025Saba and No I.D., "How to Impress God," From the Private Collection of Saba and No I.D., From the Private Collection of Saba and No I.D., 2025Perfume Genius, "Clean Heart," Glory, Matador, 2025Perfume Genius, "No Front Teeth (feat. Aldous Harding)," Glory, Matador, 2025Perfume Genius, "Left For Tomorrow," Glory, Matador, 2025Perfume Genius, "Full On," Glory, Matador, 2025Mekons, "Mudcrawlers," Horror, Fire, 2025Mekons, "You're Not Singing Anymore," Horror, Fire, 2025Mekons, "Private Defense Contractor," Horror, Fire, 2025Mekons, "The Western Design," Horror, Fire, 2025Mekons, "War Economy," Horror, Fire, 2025Mekons, "Sad and Sad and Sad," Horror, Fire, 2025Rosanne Cash, "Seven Year Ache," Seven Year Ache, Columbia, 1981See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.