Writing And Music: Sound Opinions

For a decade, Chicago-based music journalists Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis have been presenting the show Sound Opinions. It's a testament to their commitment to being interesting that no two shows are ever truly alike. Sometimes the show centres on a live performance, sometimes they excavate the story of revered albums, other times, as in Episode 690, they select a theme and base the show around that. In the case of Episode 690, that theme is songs about writers. Including songs by artists ranging from soul legend Bobby Womack to the eternally underrated British songwriter Robyn Hitchcock, the show spans genres to trace the ways in which literature influences music, and, in the case of Hitchcock in particular, where song lyrics become literature. There are discoveries to be had even for experienced music fans in such themed shows. I don't think I'd have ever found Peter Laughner's track "Sylvia Plath" without this programme, for example. 

Some may find Episode 690 a bit too centred on pop and rock, but exploring the archive (easily accessible on the pod's homepage), the interested listener will find high quality content on hip hop (especially on Run the Jewels and Chicago star Vic Mensa), blues, disco, soul, funk, metal, even prog rock. The episode also comes with reviews of new releases. On Episode 690 the reviews are of new records by the post-punk warhorse Bob Mould (late of Husker Du and Sugar), and the Washington D.C.-based micro-pop artist Sneaks. In a world where finding good music is as hard as it ever was, Kot and DeRogatis play the role of Vergil in Dante's Musical Inferno – to keep the literary theme going – by guiding listeners to various  forms of sonic redemption.