Critically Acclaimed

Sasquatch, Godzilla, King Kong, Loch Ness, Goblin, ghoul, a zombie with no conscience. Question: what is on the cover of Yves Tumor’s excellent 2018 LP Safe in the Hands of Love? Everybody knows it’s the introduction to a dark, disgusting, pain-filled world where heavenly beams of light catch you off guard. On this episode of Critically Acclaimed, host Jake Ramirez and […]

What comes to mind when you see the word “Bloom”? Renewal? Death? Algae? There are no answers to be found on Beach House’s landmark 2012 LP Bloom, just interpretations. On this episode of Critically Acclaimed, host Jake Ramirez and On Tap Magazine’s M.K. Koszycki pretend to figure out the story of one of the decade’s most […]

Emotionally estranged from your spouse? Avid vocal fry ASMR listener? The National’s Grammy winning record Sleep Well Beast may be for you. On this episode of Critically Acclaimed, host Jake Ramirez and Sea Grapes / Community Radio Tapes mastermind Luke Janke search for the structure in the murkiest album of one of the decade’s most celebrated […]

Y’all ever heard of irony? Welcome to Father John Misty’s orchestral universe of love and loathing, I Love You, Honeybear.  On this episode of Critically Acclaimed, host Jake Ramirez and repeat guests Davis Harrison (Illinois) and DJ Sutton (2012-2017, The Ooz) dive into misconceptions around the artist and work out why Honeybear is one of […]

Who is billy woods? While he may keep his face hidden, the New York-based rapper is one of the most prolific and accomplished musicians of the decade who launched his run with 2012’s History Will Absolve Me. On this episode of Critically Acclaimed, host Jake Ramirez and The Wildebeest founder Jeff Leon discuss woods’ rare […]

Critically Acclaimed is back! Host Jake Ramirez apologizes for an unannounced ten month hiatus. The upcoming arc of episodes will focus on the best albums of the decade, from 2010 to 2019.

Critically Acclaimed is live at Dangerously Delicious Pies! Host Jake Ramirez and freelance music writer Chris Kelly dig into Things Fall Apart, the 1999 LP by The Roots that kicked off the brief but essential Soulquarian era. The two discuss the how the album has aged gracefully, how it hasn’t, and why music wouldn’t be the same […]

Swedish musician Jens Lekman is a master storyteller who seems to exist in a timeless realm.  On this episode of Critically Acclaimed, host Jake Ramirez and Sea Grapes frontman / Community Radio Tapes founder Luke Janke discuss Lekman’s lowkey charm, his sample-heavy production style, and why the warm and genuine nature of Lekman’s work is […]

While King Krule was never a particularly cheery musician, he sank deeper than ever on his sophomore album The Ooz. On this episode of Critically Acclaimed, host Jake Ramirez and former student radio co-host DJ Sutton talk about King Krule’s multidisciplinary bend, what it means when an album is labeled “indulgent”, and why telling stories about […]

On this special bonus holiday episode of Critically Acclaimed, host Jake Ramirez and sister-of-the-podcast/host of Through the Dreamhole Mina Ramirez take a trip to DC record store Joint Custody to ask an employee to select the album of the week. The album of the week is Formulas Fatal to the Flesh, the 1998 album by […]