WMSE DJS TOP PICKS FOR 2024
POSTED:: December 18, 2024
FILED UNDER:: General
DJs picked their Top 10 records and or shows – check ’em out below.
(this list will be constantly updated so you’ll definitely want to check back)
DJ John Radtke (a.k.a creamcityrocker) – Sub / Various Shows
2024
Caley Conway – Partner (Crutch Of Memory Enterprises)**
Jenny Don’t & The Spurs – Broken Hearted Blue (Fluff And Gravy Records)
PACKS – Melt The Honey (Fire Talk Records)
X – Smoke & Fiction (Fat Possum)
Chuck Prophet – Wake The Dead (Yep Roc Records)
Linval Thompson – Ganja Man (Irie Ites Records)
Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Early Daze (Reprise)
VA – The Power Of The Heart: A Tribute To Lou Reed (Light In The Attic)
VA – Niney The Observer – Jah Fire: The Observer 7″ Singles (Doctor Bird)
VA – Studio One Power Mix! (Soul Jazz Records)
DJ Kelly Algion – Female Focus – alternate Sundays- 9 – Midnight
Here are my Top 5 Releases:
1. Charlie XCX – Brat
2. Allie X – Girl With No Face
3. Claire Rousay – Sentiment
4. Faye Webster – Underdressed at the Symphony
5. Joey Valence & Brae – No Hands
My top 5 shows for this year are:
1. Nation of Language – Turner Hall
2. Lil Yachty – The Sylvee, Madison
3. Joey Valance & Brae – The Outset, Chicago
4. Luna – The Backroom at Colectivo
5. Milwaukee Metal Fest – The Rave
DJ Grant Killoran – Happy Mondays – Alternate – Mondays – 6 – 9AM
Top 5 releases:
Fontaines D.C. – Romance
MJ Lenderman – Manning Fireworks
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings – Woodland
The Cure – Songs of a Lost World
Tyler, the Creator – Chromakopia
Top 5 live shows:
LCD Soundsystem – Aragon Ballroom, Chicago (May 2024)
Wilco – Riverside Theater (June 2024)
The Hold Steady – Summerfest (June 2024)
Death Cab for Cutie/The Postal Service – Miller High Life Theatre (May 2024)
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo – Esplanade at Edinburgh Castle, Scotland (August 2024)
DJ Andy – Five and Dime – alternate Thursdays- 9 to Noon
(In no particular order)
1. John Lurie – “Painting With John: music from the series by John Lurie” (Strange and Beautiful Music)
2. The Necks – “Bleed” (Northern Spy)
3. Shellac – “To All Trains” (Touch and Go)
4. Beak> – “>>>>” (Temporary Residence)
5. Jeff Parker ETA IVtet – “The Way Out of Easy” (International Anthem)
6. R.N.A. Organism – “R.N.A.O. Meets P.O.P.O.” (Mesh-Key Records)
7. The Hard Quartet – “The Hard Quartet” (Matador)
8. Various – “Super Disco Pirata: De Tepito Para El Mundo 1965-1980” (Analog Africa)
9. Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Nathan Salsburg, and Tyler Trotter – “Hear The Children Sing & The Evidence” (No Quarter)
10. Bill Orcutt – “ How To Rescue Things” (Palilalia)
DJ Maggie – Poundcake Punk -Thursdays – 6 – 9AM
Top 5 Albums
1. The Demix, Arrival (self-released)
2. Nayeon, NA (JYP Entertainment)
3. Tyler, the Creator, Chromakopia (Columbia Records)
4. IVE, Switch (Starship Entertainment)
5. Garden Home, Garden Home (Thumbs Up Records)**
Top 5 Shows
1. The Matches – 20th Anniversary of E. Von Dahl Killed the Locals (September 28, House of Blues, Chicago, IL)
2. IVE – Show What I Have Tour (March 26, Allstate Arena, Rosemont, IL)
3. (G)I-dle – i-DOL World Tour (September 15, Allstate Arena, Rosemont, IL)
4. Milwaukee Hardcore Summer Jam Vol. 3 (June 22, X-Ray Arcade)**
5. Patric Catani (September 5, Ground Kontrol, Portland, OR)
DJ Von Munz – Von Munz Vinyl Variety Show – Thursdays- Noon to 3PM
Local:
Devil’s Teeth ‘In The Key Of Dickie G.”
Plasticland ‘Spree’
Fight Dice ‘Total Party Kill’
Diamond Life ‘Neon Dreams’
Lavish Waste ‘Electric Beach’
National:
Jack White ‘No Name’
Fu Manchu ‘The Return Of Tomorrow’
Judas Priest ‘Invincible Shield’
Amyl and the Sniffers ‘Cartoon Darkness’
Goat ‘Goat’
DJ Matt – City Rock Showgram- every third Wednesday – 6 – 9PM
Top 5 Releases (Alphabetic Order)
Balance & Composure – With You In Spirit
Better Lovers – Highly Irresponsible
Drug Church – Prude
Hot Water Music – VOWS
Suburban Eyes – Suburban Eyes
Top 5 Shows (Chronological Order)
Better Lovers at the Majestic Theater (Madison) – May 12
Hot Water Music & Quicksand at Concord Music Hall (Chicago) – June 15
Foxy Shazam at the Majestic Theater (Madison) – July 12
Matt Talbott at Lilliput Records (Milwaukee) – September 20
The Lawrence Arms & The Smoking Popes at The Metro (Chicago) – December 6
DJ Robert Szocik of Alternating Currents – Sunday- 6PM – 9PM
Marina Džukljev – Live in Stockholm
أحمد [Ahmed] – Giant Beauty
Mali Obomsawin, Magdalena Abrego & Allison Burik – Live Sketches
Lyle, Sams, Weinstein, Smith, Moses & Claude – 29 Birds You Never Heard
Charles Gayle / Milford Graves / William Parker – Webo
Mats Gustafsson & Liudas Mockūnas – Watching a Dog. Smiling.
Peter Brötzmann / Paal Nilssen-Love – Butterfly Mushroom
Green Plum Ensemble – The Heavenly Music
Amalie Dahl, Henrik Sandstad Dalen & Jomar Jeppsson Søvik – Live in Europe
Teiku – Teiku
Honorable Mention: Dr. Mark Mantel – “11 Pieces for Piano”
Top Discoveries: Michel Portal – 1969-1971 catalog, Ernst-Ludwig Petrowsky – extended catalog (1969 to 1990)
DJ Christreater Hello, Milwaukee – Mondays -3 – 6PM
1. Jack White: No Name
2. The Cure: Songs From a Lost World
3. Pissed Jeans: Half Divorced
4. Diamond Life: Neon Dreams
5. Misha Panfilov Septet: Live in Stockholm & Tallinn
6. Freddie Gibbs: You Only Die 1nce
7. The Cromagnon Band: Mode
8. Penza Penza: Alto E Primitivo
9 Your Old Droog: Movie
10. Kota The Friend: Once in a Blue Moon
DJ Russel Clark – Friday Morning Shrapnel – 12 – 3AM
No particular order
Ensiferum-Winter Storm Metal Blade
Atrophy- Asylum Massacre Records
Flotsam and Jetsam-I am the Weapon AFM Records
Borknagar-Fall Century Media
Judas Priest-Invincible Shield Columbia Records
High Parasite-Forever we burn Candlelight Records
Fleshgod Apocalypse-Opera Nuclear Blast
My Dying Bride-A Mortal Binding Nuclear Blast
Morbid Saint-Swallowed by Hell High Roller REcords
Deceased-Fed to Mother Earth Hells Headbangers
DJ Grant – Mish Mosh – Fridays – 3 – 6AM:
Releases:
Johnny Blue Skies/Sturgill Simpson- passage du desir
Mdou Moctar – Funeral for Justice
Heavy Moss – Dead Slow
Dummy – Free Energy
Billy Strings- Highway Prayers
Shows:
Phish- Alpine Valley
King Gizz- Miller High Life
Rose City Band – vivarium
Billy Strings- Pine Knob (MI)
Joe Russo – Riverside
DJ Pete – MESSY Radio – 9- Midnight
Blues:
Shemekia Copeland – Blame It On Eve
Sue Foley – One Guitar Woman
Country:
Kurt Anderson – Life On Interstate 40
Pat Reedy – Make It Back Home
Jazz:
Hot Club of Los Angeles – Nova
The Hot Toddies Jazz Band – Triple Step
Local:
Armchair Boogie – Hard Times & Deadlines
Tourist In The Basement – Let It Go Rock:
Lone Justice – Viva Lone Justice
Michael McDermott – Lighthouse On The Shore / East Jesus
DJ Zorro – Alternating Currents – Sundays- 6- 9PM
New 2024 Releases
Olivia Block “The Mountain Pass” (Black Truffle) Bandcamp
أحمد [Ahmed] “Giant Beauty” (Fönstret) Bandcamp
Sarah Davachi “The Head As Form’d In The Crier’s Choir” (Late Music) Bandcamp
Amirtha Kidambi’s Elder Ones “New Monuments” (We Jazz) Bandcamp
Cunningham, Ewen, Smith, Cameron “Meshes Of Light” (Infrequent Seams) Bandcamp
Diamanda Galas “In Concert” (Intravenal Sound Operations) Bandcamp
Chantal Michelle “ℎ− 2− ℎ− − 2 ℎ−” (Dinzu Artefacts) Bandcamp
Archival 2024 Releases
Byard Lancaster “The Complete Palm Recordings 1973 – 1974” (Souffle Continu Records) Bandcamp
Black Artist Group “For Peace And Liberty, In Paris Dec 1972” (We Want Sounds) Bandcamp
Charles Gayle / Milford Graves / William Parker “WEBO” (Black Editions) Bandcamp
Erik Void – Everything That Rises Must Converge – Saturdays- 12 – 3AM
Kim Deal – Nobody Loves You More
Punchlove – Channels
Various – All My Friends Who Play Guitar: A Tribute To Starflyer 59
Trentemøller – Dreamweaver
Analytica – Strategy Of Tension
Majesty Crush – Butterflies Don’t Go Away
Precocious Neophyte – Stony
Tears Run Rings – Everything In The End
Brief Candles – Unfinished Nature**
Velvet – Romance
Dottie – Midheaven
The Prids – I Only Care About You and Me
Shopkeeper Ken – The Five & Dime Show – alternate Thursdays- 9 – Noon
Jeff Parker ETA IVtet – The Way Out Of Easy
Yara Asmar – Stuttering Music
Svaneborg Kardyb – Superkilen
Nala Sinephro – Endlessness
Ariel Kalma, Jeremiah Chiu, Marta Sofia Honer – The Closest Thing To Silence
Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti & Frank Rosaly – Mestizx
The Hard Quartet – S/T
Bill Callahan – Resuscitate!
John Lurie – Music From the Series Painting With John
Tomin – A Willed And Conscious Balance
DJ Dennis Clarke – Found All Parts – Thursdays Midnight – 3AM
Top 10 Shows
Jason and the Scorchers – January @ Eastside Bowl, Nashville
Kevn Kinney w/ Miles Nielsen – January @ Shank Hall
Cheap Trick – February, after Admrials Game
Erik Koskinen – April @ White Lilac, Kenosha
Agent Orange – June @ Turf Skatepark Benefit
Bad Crime/So Zuppy/Direct Hit – June @ Anodyne on Bruce
The Mighty Deerlick – August @ Club Garibaldi
The Lemon Twigs – October @ Shank Hall
dB’s w/ Terry Alan Hackbarth – October @ Shank Hall
Nada Surf – October @ Vivarium
Mark Krueger – Planet Prog – Sundays – 9PM – 10:30PM
ARTIST TITLE COUNTRY
1) Lars Fredrick Froislie Fire Fortellinger Norway
2) Opeth The Last Will and Testament Sweden
3) Big Big Train The Likes of Us UK
4) Izz Collapse The Wave USA
5) Odd Leaf Same France
6) Perilymph Progressions Imaginaires France
7) Flame Dream Silent Transition Switzerland
8) Yang A Complex Nature Switzerland
9) Focus Focus 12 Holland
10) Jupiter Funfus Garden Electric Greece
Sonia’s Top Five Blues Albums of 2024 (in alphabetical order) – Friday Blues Drive – 6- 9PM:
- · Bernard Allison, Luther’s Blues (Ruf)
- · Ronnie Baker Brooks, Blues in My DNA (Alligator Records)
- · Chicago Blues Lifters, Blues Scouts (Big Eye Records)**
- · The Taj Mahal Swingin’ Sextet, Live at the Church in Tulsa (Lightning Rod Records)
- · Jovin Webb, Drifter (Blind Pig)
Sid – Music Director – Squid Inc – Wednesdays -12:30 – 3PM
DEHD – Poetry – Fat Possum
Idles – Tangk – Partisan
Fat Dog – Woof – Domino
Kneecap – Fine Art – Heavenly Recordings
Jack White – No Name – Third Man Record
Amyl andThe Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness – Amyl and The Sniffers
Devils Teeth – The Key of Dickie G – Triple Eye Industries**
Fight Dice – Total Party Kill – Forge Again Records**
King Diamond- St. Lucifer’s Hosptial at the Riverside – Live show
WMSE’s Backyard BBQ – headliner GBV – Live show**
Rich Mars – Rockcity Showgram- Wednesday 6PM – 9PM
Jack White “No Name”
Mdou Moctar “Funeral For Justice”
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds “Wild God”
Bab L’ Bluz “Swaken”
Sleater-Kinney “Little Rope”
The Waeve “City Lights”
Top five shows
The Kills at The Rave
Luna at Vivarium
Guided By Voices at WMSE Backyard BBQ**
Combustor at Bay View Bash**
Brian Lynch Group at Lake Park
Cal Roach – Midnight Radio – alternate Tuesdays- 7 – 9PM
TOP 5 MKE ALBUMS
1. Caley Conway, PARTNER
2. Barely Civil, I’D SAY I’M NOT FINE
3. Ceiling Spirits, THE BLOODWREN
4. HollowHecatomb, SATANIC NIGHTMARE
5. Haunter, MYTHARC
TOP 5 MKE SHOWS
1. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Miller High Life Theatre, 9/4
2. Mr. Bungle: Metal Fest, 5/18
3. BEAT: Riverside Theater, 11/2
4. Brittany Howard: Summerfest, 6/20
5. Ispíní na hÉireann: Irish Fest, 8/18
Get Moses – Non-Pop! Radio – Tuesdays- 9 – Midnight
Releases:
Hiatus Kaiyote – Love Heart Cheat Code
Rapsody – Please Don’t Cry
Lupe Fiasco – Samurai
Justice – Hyperdrama
Tyler the Creator – Chromakopi
Shows:
Fred Again.. at Alpine Valley
Hiatus Kaiyote at The Salt Shed (CHI)
Lupe Fiasco at The Novo (LA)
Eric the Architect at Reggie’s (CHI)
Skratch Bastid at Grand Star Jazz Club (LA)
Buzz – Buzz’s Garage – Mondays- 6-9PM
Jon Spencer – Sick of Being Sick! – Bronze Rat
Boris The Sprinkler – …Gets A Clue – Rum Bar**
The Routes – Surfin’ Pleasures – Topsy Turvy
The Okmoniks – Afterparty Fever!!! – Slovenly
X – Smoke & Fiction – Fat Possum
Hot Single: The Zack Static Sect – Rock ‘N’ Roll Records EP – Static Records
Andy – Zero Hour – Friday – Noon – 3PM
1. The Fleshtones – It’s Getting Late (And More Songs About Werewolves) – Yep Roc
2. Nick Lowe – Indoor Safari (Yep Roc)
3. Peter Perrett – The Cleansing (Domino)
4. Terry Anderson & the Olympic Ass-Kickin’ Team – Got To Be Strong (Kool Kat)
5. The Caezars – S/T (Folc)
6. The Cure – Songs of A Lost World (Polydor)
7. Movie Movie – In 4-D! (Topsy Turvy)
8. Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders – Keepin’ Chaos at Bay (Hound Gawd)
9. Wussy – Cincinnati, Ohio (Shake It)
10. Th’ Losin Streaks – Last House (Slovenly)
Craig – The Shape of Rock – Tuesday- 6-9AM
Caley Conway / Partner / Crutch of Memory**
Jack White / No Name / Third Man Records
Diamond Life / Neon Dreams / Triple Eye Industries**
Body Futures / Do Not Befriend the Reaper / Self Release**
J. Robbins / Basilisk / Dischord
Redshift Headlights / If You Are Around Still / Self Release**
Okay Omen / Echos of Loss / Self Release**
Sumac / The Healer / Thrill Jockey
Bell & Circuit / Crystallized Learning / Self Release
Devils Teeth / The Key of Dickie G / Triple Eye Industries**
Ian McCallister – Fresh Finds – Tuesday- 12:30 – 3PM
1. Kill Bill: the Rapper & Rav – KEEP THE CHANGE!
2. Amigo the Devil – Yours Until the War is Over
3. Dead Poet Society – FISSION
4. Hobo Johnson – DARI#$%/SACRAMENTO 12 STEP
5. Worthikids – Beam of Light
6. Joey Valence & Brae
7. Deca & DLZMKSBTS – Bough
8. underscores – Wallsocket (Directers Cut)
9. Yard Act – Where’s My Utopia
10. Jakey – ROMCOM
John Komp – The Truth About De-Evolution – Mondays – Midnight -3AM
Jim White and Marisa Anderson – Swallowtail
Jeff Parker and EVA IVtet – The Way Out Easy
Dirty Three – Love Changes Everything
Water Damage – In E
Mary Halvorson – Cloudward
Idles – Tangk
Aphex Twin – Music From The Merch Desk (2016 – 2023)
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds – Wild God
Suss – Birds and Beasts
Myiram Gendron – Mayday
Patrick Buckley – Happy Monday – Mondays – 6-9AM
Top 5 Shows of 2024 (in chronological order)
Graham Hunt/ Rustbelt @ The Cactus Club
U2 @ Sphere
Cat Power- Royal Albert Hall @ The Pabst
Guided By Voices @ WMSE Backyard BBQ**
Kneecap @ Concord Music Hall
Tops 5 Albums of 2024
Michael Kiwanuka- Small Changes
MJ Lenderman- Manning Fireworks
Kneecap- Fine Art
Caley Conway- Partner**
Cindy Lee- Diamond Jubilee
DJ Ascot – Triple Play – Fridays- 6-9AM
Shows
Brainstory @ cactus club
Salami rose Joe Louis @ sleeping village
King gizzard and lizard wizard @ northerly island
La Lom @ cactus club
Childish Gambino @ Fiserv
Records
Service Merchandise by Previous Industries
Memorial Waterslides by Memorials
Anna Butterss Mighty Vertebrate
Helado Negro Phasor
Rubblebucket Year of the Banana
The Good John – Blues Hide Out – Saturdays – 9 – Noon
1) Tab Benoit – I Hear Thunder
2) Red Clay Strays – Made By These Moments
3) Ladybird – Amy Come On Home (LOCAL)**
4) Various Artists – I’m Glad About It: The Legacy Of Gospel Music In Louisville 1958-1981
5) Mark Hummel – True Believers
6) Damon Fowler – Barnyard Smile
7) Johnny Blue Skies (Sturgill Simpson) – Passage Du Desir
8) Jovin Webb – Drifter
9) Chicago Blues Lifters – Blues Scouts
10) Silverada – Silverada
Bob Midnight – Midnight Radio – alternate Tuesdays- 7 – 9PM:
1. Nada Surf – Moon Mirror
2. Fontaines D.C. – Romance
3. Real Estate – Daniel
4. J. Mascis – What Do We Do Now
5. Dawes – Oh Brother
Concerts of 2024:
1. Stevie Wonder – Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee
2. Dinosaur Jr. – Shaky Knees Festival, Atlanta (in the pouring rain!)
3. Rolling Stones – Soldier Field, Chicago
Scott Lucey – DJ Sub
1. Why Lawd? — NxWorries // Anderson.Paak // Knxwledge
2. Mid Spiral — BADBADNOTGOOD
3. New Internationale — Kit Sebastian
4. Yamaha — Fazer
5. Mighty Vertebrate — Anna Butterss
Mickey – DJ Sub
fcukers – baggy$$
kendrick lamar – gnx
caribou – honey
jamie xx – in waves
l’imperatrice – pulsar