Jim is co-host of Chicago Public Radio’s Sound Opinions, the world’s only rock ‘n’ roll talk show, which is nationally distributed by American Public Media.

Prior to joining the staff of Chicago Public Radio in the fall of 2005, Jim co-hosted Sound Opinions with Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune on WXRT-FM 93.1 since 1998. In addition to serving as the pop music critic at the Chicago Sun-Times, he has written several books about rock ‘n’ roll: Staring at Sound: The True Story of Oklahoma’s Fabulous Flaming Lips; Let It Blurt: The Life and Times of Lester Bangs, America’s Greatest Rock Critic; Milk It! Collected Musings on the Alternative Music Explosion of the ’90s; and Turn On Your Mind: Four Decades of Great Psychedelic Rock. He also edited Kill Your Idols: A New Generation of Rock Writers Reconsiders the Classics.

Jim has a B.A. in Journalism and Sociology from New York University.

Originally from Jersey City, New Jersey, Jim resides in the West Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago with his wife, Carmél Carrillo, and daughter.