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.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:Horsegirl, "Switch Over," Phonetics On and On, Matador, 2025The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967Black Sabbath, "Paranoid," Paranoid, Vertigo, 1970Public Enemy, "Bring the Noise," It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, Def Jam, 1988Led Zeppelin, "Moby Dick," Led Zeppelin II, Atlantic, 1969Pixies, "Debaser," Doolittle, 4AD, 1989black midi, "Slow," Cavalcade, Rough Trade, 2021Kanye West, "Touch the Sky (feat. Lupe Fiasco)," Late Registration, Roc-A-Fella, 2005Fiona Apple, "Fast As You Can," When the Pawn..., Epic and Clean Slate, 1999SZA, "Good Days," SOS, TDA and RCA, 2022Erykah Badu, "Cleva (feat. Roy Ayers)," Mama's Gun, Motown, 2000D'Angelo, "Chicken Grease," Voodoo, Virgin, 2000Phoebe Bridgers, "Savior Complex," Punisher, Dead Oceans, 2020Van Morrison, "Cyprus Avenue," Astral Weeks, Warner Bros., 1968Violent Femmes, "Please Do Not Go," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983See 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, Jim digs up a song that owes more to AM radio nostalgia than to being, well…good.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.

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.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:Lou Reed, "Walk on the Wild Side," Transformer, RCA, 1972The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967The Velvet Underground and Nico, "Sunday Morning," The Velvet Underground & Nico, Verve, 1967The Velvet Underground and Nico, "Heroin," The Velvet Underground & Nico, Verve, 1967The Velvet Underground, "Pale Blue Eyes," The Velvet Underground, MGM, 1969Lou Reed, "Coney Island Baby," Coney Island Baby, RCA, 1975The Velvet Underground, "Some Kinda Love," The Velvet Underground, MGM, 1969Lou Reed, "How Do You Think It Feels," Berlin, RCA, 1973Lou Reed, "Perfect Day," Transformer, RCA, 1972The Velvet Underground, "Sweet Jane," Loaded, Cotillion, 1970The Velvet Underground and Nico, "I'll Be Your Mirror," The Velvet Underground & Nico, Verve, 1967The Velvet Underground, "Candy Says," The Velvet Underground, MGM, 1969Pixies, "Here Comes Your Man," Doolittle, 4AD and Elektra, 1989See 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 that was championed early on by English radio DJ John Peel.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.

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.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:Ratboys, "Anywhere," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West, 2026The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967Friko, "Seven Degrees," Something Worth Waiting For, ATO, 2026Friko, "Guess," Something Worth Waiting For, ATO, 2026Friko, "Alice," Something Worth Waiting For, ATO, 2026Friko, "Choo Choo," Something Worth Waiting For, ATO, 2026Ratboys, "Folk Song For Jazz," AOID, Topshelf, 2015Rat Boy, "My Name Is Rat Boy," Internationally Unknown, Parlophone, 2019Ratboys, "Elvis Is In The Freezer," GN, Topshelf, 2017Ratboys, "Just Want You To Know The Truth," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West, 2026Ratboys, "Making Noises for the Ones You Love," The Window, Topshelf, 2023Ratboys, "Burn It Down," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West, 2026Ratboys, "At Peace In The Hundred Acre Wood," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West, 2026Ratboys, "Light Night Mountains All That," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West, 2026Lou Reed, "Vicious," Transformer, RCA, 1972See 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, Jim cues up a Desert Island Jukebox pick—and explains why it’s deeper than it first sounds.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.

The prolific and singular rapper Billy Woods has spent decades carving out his own lane in hip-hop. This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot chat with Billy Woods about his career, discography, and the process driving his music. The hosts also review new albums from Robyn and Courtney Barnett.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:Billy Woods, "Misery (feat. Kenny Segal)," Golliwog, Backwoodz Studioz, 2025The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967Robyn, "Sexistential," Sexistential, Konichiwa and Young, 2026Robyn, "Sucker For Love," Sexistential, Konichiwa and Young, 2026Robyn, "Really Real," Sexistential, Konichiwa and Young, 2026Robyn, "Blow My Mind," Sexistential, Konichiwa and Young, 2026Courtney Barnett, "Mantis," Creature of Habit, Mom + Pop, 2026Courtney Barnett, "Another Beautiful Day," Creature of Habit, Mom + Pop, 2026Courtney Barnett, "Great Advice," Creature of Habit, Mom + Pop, 2026Courtney Barnett, "One Thing At A Time," Creature of Habit, Mom + Pop, 2026Armand Hammer & The Alchemist, "Glue Traps (Feat. Quelle Chris)," Mercy, Backwoodz Studioz, 2025Billy Woods, "Corinthians Corinthians (feat. Despot & EL-P)," Golliwog, Backwoodz Studioz, 2025Billy Woods, "The Things They Carried," Camouflage, Backwoodz Studioz, 2003Billy Woods & Messiah Musik, "Pollo Rico," Church, Backwoodz Studioz, 2022Billy Woods, "Make No Mistake (feat. Messiah Musik)," Golliwog, Backwoodz Studioz, 2025Billy Woods & Messiah Musik, "Paraquat," Church, Backwoodz Studioz, 2022Billy Woods, "No Hard Feelings," Aethiopes, Backwoodz Studioz, 2022Billy Woods, "Asylum," Aethiopes, Backwoodz Studioz, 2022Billy Woods & Kenny Segal, "Spongebob," Hiding Places, Backwoodz Studioz, 2020Ratboys, "What's Right?," Singin' To An Empty Chair, New West Records, 2026See 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 pays tribute to legendary drummer James Gadson who died on April 2, 2026 at age 86.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.

This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot will do an overview of Neil Young’s six decade-long career in just 12 songs.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:Neil Young, "Old Man," Harvest, Reprise, 1972The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967Neil Young and Crazy Horse, "Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)," Rust Never Sleeps, Reprise, 1979Neil Young, "Sugar Mountain (Demo for Elektra Records, 1965)," Decade, Warner Bros., 1977Buffalo Springfield, "Expecting to Fly," Buffalo Springfield Again, Atco, 1967Neil Young with Crazy Horse, "Cinnamon Girl," Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, Reprise, 1969Neil Young, "On the Beach," On the Beach, Reprise, 1974Neil Young, "Campaigner," Decade, Warner Bros., 1977Neil Young and Crazy Horse, "Like a Hurricane," American Stars 'n Bars, Reprise and Warner Bros., 1977Neil Young, "Mr. Soul," Trans, Geffen, 1983Neil Young, "Rockin' in the Free World (Live on Saturday Night Live, 1989)," Freedom, Geffen, 1989Neil Young and Crazy Horse, "F_!#In' Up," Ragged Glory, Reprise, 1990Neil Young, "Walk With Me," Le Noise, Reprise, 2010Neil Young, "Devil's Sidewalk," Greendale, Warner Bros., 2003Neil Young, "After the Gold Rush (Live at Massey Hall, 2011)," After the Gold Rush, Reprise, 1970Billy Woods, "Misery (feat. Kenny Segal)," Golliwog, Backwoodz, 2025See 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, Jim highlights a cover that outshines the original, thanks to three legendary blues singers.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 explore the history of Chicago’s Bloodshot Records, an iconic, insurgent country music label. They talk with co-founder Rob Miller about the music and the business of running an independent label. They’ll also share some of their favorite songs from the vast catalog. 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:Robbie Fulks, "Every Kind Of Music But Country," Country Love Songs, Bloodshot, 1996The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967The Bottle Rockets, "Every Kinda Everything," For A Life of Sin: Insurgent Chicago Country, Bloodshot, 1994Jason & the Scorchers, "Lost Highway," Lost & Found, EMI, 1985Hank Williams, "Lost Highway," Lost Highway (Single), MGM, 1949Scott H. Biram, "Blood Sweat and Murder," For a Decade of Sin: 11 Years of Bloodshot Records, Bloodshot, 2005Handsome Family, "Tower of Song," Too Late to Pray: Defiant Chicago Roots, Bloodshot, 2019Justin Townes Earle, "Far Away in Another Town," The Good Life, Bloodshot, 2008Alejandro Escovedo, "Castanets," A Man Under the Influence, Bloodshot, 2001Lydia Loveless, "Bad Way to Go," Indestructable Machine, Bloodshot, 2011Neko Case, "Deep Red Bells," Blacklisted, Bloodshot, 2002Neil Young, "Rockin' in the Free World," Freedom, Reprise, 1989See 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 highlights a record that was poorly received at the time but has since aged into greatness.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.