Breaking the Sophomore Slump
Sound Opinions
Sound Opinions
4.3 • 2K Ratings
🗓️ 8 May 2026
⏱️ 55 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
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/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:
Horsegirl, "Switch Over," Phonetics On and On, Matador, 2025
The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967
Black Sabbath, "Paranoid," Paranoid, Vertigo, 1970
Public Enemy, "Bring the Noise," It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, Def Jam, 1988
Led Zeppelin, "Moby Dick," Led Zeppelin II, Atlantic, 1969
Pixies, "Debaser," Doolittle, 4AD, 1989
black midi, "Slow," Cavalcade, Rough Trade, 2021
Kanye West, "Touch the Sky (feat. Lupe Fiasco)," Late Registration, Roc-A-Fella, 2005
Fiona Apple, "Fast As You Can," When the Pawn..., Epic and Clean Slate, 1999
SZA, "Good Days," SOS, TDA and RCA, 2022
Erykah Badu, "Cleva (feat. Roy Ayers)," Mama's Gun, Motown, 2000
D'Angelo, "Chicken Grease," Voodoo, Virgin, 2000
Phoebe Bridgers, "Savior Complex," Punisher, Dead Oceans, 2020
Van Morrison, "Cyprus Avenue," Astral Weeks, Warner Bros., 1968
Violent Femmes, "Please Do Not Go," Violent Femmes, Slash, 1983
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Hey there, if you're listening to this and you support us on Patreon, you can hear it via the Patreon page and free. |
| 0:08.0 | So now, ladies and gentlemen, it is start time. Are you ready for start time? |
| 0:38.7 | Woo! You're listening to sound opinions, and this week, we're diving into some of our favorites that broke the dreaded sophomore slump. I'm Jim D. Regatus. And I'm Greg Kot. Let's get into it. |
| 0:44.6 | Sound Pinyons is supported by the Goose Island Beer Company. For over 20 years, Goose Island has |
| 0:51.0 | been brewing their iconic 312 beer for the best moments in our city. |
| 0:55.7 | It's the Chicago Thing. |
| 0:57.3 | This month, we're asking listeners to go to soundopinions.org |
| 1:00.9 | and leave us a voice message on the most Chicago thing you've ever seen or experienced. |
| 1:06.1 | Like this story from Ed on how he scored tickets to a Cubs playoff game in 1984. |
| 1:11.9 | Chicago Cubs incredibly made the MLB playoffs for the first time in like forever. |
| 1:18.3 | And I was really determined, as a Cubs fan, to go down to Wrigleyville and watch the game. |
| 1:24.7 | There was a place on the corner of Clark and Grace. |
| 1:27.7 | I got there about an hour before the first pitch and it was really just me and the bartender there. |
| 1:32.4 | I ordered my first beer and before you know it I heard heavy footsteps right behind me. |
| 1:37.9 | That's shuffling. It was this big Chicago beat cop and he goes, |
| 1:42.2 | hey kid you know anyone wants a ticket for the game? I go, how much? |
| 1:47.1 | Where's it at? Thirty-five bucks, he says. Box seat, left field. I'll take it. I tell the cop, |
| 1:54.6 | and in the back of my mind, I'm waiting for a detective to walk in any moment and arrest me, |
| 1:59.4 | never happened. So, ended up watching the Cubs |
| 2:02.8 | win big in that thrilling game, another beer in hand, and that's my most Chicago thing ever. |
| 2:09.2 | 312 beer. It's a Chicago thing. |
| 2:14.0 | Sound Opinions is an independent production supported by listeners like me on Patreon. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Sound Opinions, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Sound Opinions and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.