Breaking the Sophomore Slump

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: Become a member on Patreon: Sign up for our newsletter: Make a donation via PayPal: 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 and California Privacy Notice at .

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Breaking the Sophomore Slump is an episode from Sound Opinions by WBEZ Chicago.

This episode is 00:49:44 long.

This episode was published on May 8, 2026.

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