Sound Opinions

Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot are joined by Jamie Fisher, author of Nobody Broke Your Heart: An Intimate Biography of Elliott Smith. Jamie traces the turning points in Smith's career through five essential songs. The hosts also review the new album by Fontaines D.C. and pay tribute to Detroit techno pioneer Juan Atkins.
--Content Advisory: There is discussion of self-harm and suicide in this episode. Listener discretion is advised. --

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Featured Songs:
Elliott Smith, "Between the Bars," Either/Or, Kill Rock Stars, 1997
The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967
Fontaines D.C., "Marianne," Dopamine Chamber, XL, 2026
Fontaines D.C., "Japan," Dopamine Chamber, XL, 2026
Fontaines D.C., "Six Shot Morning," Dopamine Chamber, XL, 2026
Fontaines D.C., "Mimesis," Dopamine Chamber, XL, 2026
Cybotron, "Clear," Clear, Fantasy, 1983
Model 500, "No Ufo's (Vocal)," No Ufo's (Vocal) (Single), Metroplex, 1985
Elliott Smith, "Angeles," Either/Or, Kill Rock Stars, 1997
Heatmiser, "Dead Air," Dead Air, Frontier, 1993
Elliott Smith, "Roman Candle," Roman Candle, Cavity Search, 1994
Elliott Smith, "Say Yes," Either/Or, Kill Rock Stars, 1997
Elliott Smith, "Sweet Adeline," XO, Bong Load, 1998
Elliott Smith, "Can't Make a Sound," Figure 8, DreamWorks, 2000
Elliott Smith, "Coast to Coast," From a Basement on the Hill, Kill Rock Stars, 2004
Elliott Smith, "Miss Misery," XO (Deluxe Edition), Interscope, 2024
Westside Cowboy, "Kick Stones (The Boys)," It Goes On, Island, 2026
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In this bonus episode, Jim digs into his Desert Island Jukebox for a track by a duo he calls “France’s answer to Sparks.”
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It’s been 50 years since Stevie Wonder released his masterpiece "Songs in the Key of Life." This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot revisit their dissection of the double album and EP, plus they discuss four newly released tracks and whether "Songs in the Key of Life" is Stevie Wonder’s best album. They’ll also hear from some listeners.
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Featured Songs:
Stevie Wonder, "Sir Duke," Songs in the Key Of Life, Tamla, 1976
The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967
Stevie Wonder, "Knocks Me Off My Feet," Songs in the Key Of Life, Tamla, 1976
Stevie Wonder, "Saturn," Songs in the Key Of Life, Tamla, 1976
Stevie Wonder, "Isn't She Lovely," Songs in the Key Of Life, Tamla, 1976
Stevie Wonder, "Joy Inside My Tears," Songs in the Key Of Life, Tamla, 1976
Stevie Wonder, "Contusion," Songs in the Key Of Life, Tamla, 1976
Stevie Wonder, "Black Man," Songs in the Key Of Life, Tamla, 1976
Stevie Wonder, "Pastime Paradise," Songs in the Key Of Life, Tamla, 1976
Stevie Wonder, "As," Songs in the Key Of Life, Tamla, 1976
Stevie Wonder, "I Can See The Sun In Late December," Songs in the Key of Life - The EP, Motown, 2026
Stevie Wonder, "It's Easier," Songs in the Key of Life - The EP, Motown, 2026
Stevie Wonder, "My Life Story Of Love," Songs in the Key of Life - The EP, Motown, 2026
Stevie Wonder, "I'm Into Livin'," Songs in the Key of Life - The EP, Motown, 2026
Stevie Wonder, "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)," Signed, Sealed & Delivered, Tamla, 1970
Stevie Wonder, "Outside My Window," Stevie Wonder's Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants", Tamla, 1979
Stevie Wonder, "Venus' Flytrap and the Bug," Stevie Wonder's Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants", Tamla, 1979
Stevie Wonder, "Higher Ground," Innervisions, Tamla, 1973
Stevie Wonder, "All In Love Is Fair," Innervisions, Tamla, 1973
Stevie Wonder, "Living For the City," Innervisions, Tamla, 1973
Ren, "Seven Sins," Sick Boi, The Other Songs, 2023
Kim Petras, "Close Your Eyes," Turn Off the Light, Vol. 1 , Bunhead, 2018
Teen Mortgage, "Devil Ultrasonic Dream," Devil Ultrasonic Dream, Roadrunner, 2025
Elliott Smith, "Say Yes," Either/Or, Kill Rock Stars, 1997
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In this bonus episode, Greg pays tribute to a legendary artist who would have recently celebrated his 100th birthday, revisiting his masterpiece.
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On the occasion of his 100th birthday, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot pay tribute to Chuck Berry. They talk with writers Ed Ward and RJ Smith to assess Berry's place in the creation of rock n roll. They also talk with the session drummer who played with Berry in his final Chicago concert.
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Featured Songs:
Chuck Berry, "Johnny B. Goode," Johnny B. Goode (Single), Chess, 1958
The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967
Chuck Berry, "Roly Poly," After School Session, Chess, 1957
Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five, "Ain't That Just Like a Woman (They'll Do It Every Time)," (Single), Decca, 1946
Joe Alexander and the Cubans, "Oh Maria," I Hope These Words Will Find You Well (Single), , 1954
Chuck Berry, "You Can't Catch Me," After School Session, Chess, 1957
Chuck Berry, "Almost Grown," Berry Is on Top, Chess, 1959
Chuck Berry, "Thirty Days (To Come Back Home)," Thirty Days (To Come Back Home) (Single), Chess, 1955
Muddy Waters, "She's All Right," She's All Right (Single), Chess, 1953
Chuck Berry, "Deep Feeling," After School Session, Chess, 1957
Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, "Ida Red," Ida Red (Single), Vocalion, 1939
Chuck Berry, "Maybellene," Maybellene (Single), Chess, 1955
Chuck Berry, "Carol," Carol (Single), Chess, 1958
Chuck Berry, "Blues #1," Rock And Roll Music - Any Old Way You Choose It (The Complete Studio Recordings ... Plus!), Chess, 2014
Chuck Berry, "You Never Can Tell," St. Louis to Liverpool, Chess, 1964
The Beach Boys, "Surfin' U.S.A.," Surfin' U.S.A., Capitol, 1963
The Beatles, "I Saw Her Standing There," I Want to Hold Your Hand (Single), Capitol, 1963
Bob Dylan, "Subterranean Homesick Blues," Bringing It All Back Home, Columbia, 1965
Rolling Stones, "Brown Sugar," Sticky Fingers, Rolling Stones, 1971
Simon and Garfunkel, "Kodachrome / Mabellene," The Concert in Central Park (Live), Geffen, 1982
Nina Simone, "Brown Eyed Handsome Man," High Priestess of Soul, Phillips, 1967
T. Rex, "Get It On," Electric Warrior, Reprise, 1971
Bruce Springsteen, "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)," The Ties That Bind: The River Collection, Columbia, 1980
Emmylous Harris, "(You Never Can Tell) C'est La Vie," Luxury Liner, Warner Bros, 1976
Sex Pistols, "Johnny B. Goode," The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle, Virgin, 1979
Buck Owens, "Johnny B. Goode," Buck Owens in London "Live", Capitol, 1969
Peter Tosh, "Johnny B. Goode," Mama Africa, EMI, 1983
Judas Priest, "Johnny B. Goode," Ram It Down, Columbia, 1988
LL Cool J, "Go Cut Creator Go," Bigger and Deffer, Def Jam, 1987
Chuck Berry, "Nadine (Is It You)," Nadine (Single), Chess, 1964
Stevie Wonder, "Sir Duke," Songs In The Key Of Life, Tamla, 1976
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