10 top Milwaukee albums and songs for November 2023, from Willy Porter, Felix Ames, more

A couple of very different Milwaukee artists tap into the national zeitgeist with their newest songs, while another releases his debut album on a major national record label.

They’re among 10 top new albums, EPs and songs to check out from Milwaukee artists this November. They're listed in alphabetical order.

'Ain't Lost (Expletive),' Chicken P

Milwaukee’s flourishing street-rap scene owes some debt to Chicken P, one of the crucial players who put it on the map. A veteran by fast-moving hip-hop standards, Chicken, true to the title of his new seven-song EP, is still on top, putting his memorable stamp on the city’s lowend sound with “Rick Owen Boots” and showcasing growing depth on the introspective “Here Now” without sacrificing his signature energy.

'Alphabet Crown,' Social Caterpillar

Conor Oberst comes to mind hearing Kyle Smith pine on the prog-leaning, indie-rock quartet's fourth full-length album. That's not the only way Social Caterpillar resembles Oberst's oeuvre, especially Bright Eyes, with Caterpillar's arrangements (and especially Eric Ash's string work) conjuring intimacy and grandeur with equal finesse, all without following predictable patterns.

'Blank Space,' Gold Steps

There’s no disputing that Taylor Swift is the biggest phenomenon on the planet right now, so covering one of her signature songs, “Blank Space,” is a savvy move by Gold Steps. But this isn’t some cheap publicity stunt: The song takes on a new identity with rollicking punk drums from Mike Britz, and singer Liz Mauritz bringing a Hayley Williams-like scorched-earth performance that noted Paramore fan Swift would certainly appreciate.

'Blooming After a Cold Dark Night,' Luxi

You'd think between making video games and opening up her own vintage clothing store (on top of other day-to-day tasks) that Luxi wouldn't have time to make music, or that the quality would drop off. That's not the case, with the electronic artist's five-song soundtrack to her new racing game of the same name, building from the dreamy and ethereal "Love Each Other" to the sweaty, shake-out-the-stress '90s house homage "Textures."

'Faint of Heart,' Nora Collins

I've admired the Brookfield-born, Nashville-based Collins' perseverance and growing country songwriting skills for over a decade now. On her latest and greatest EP "Faint of Heart," she reaches a new level, the cracks in her voice and the heartfelt epiphany of slow-burning stunner "Slow Lane" giving me literal chills. The inspired meaning of the song — about maintaining hope and patience as you pursue big dreams — is a fitting message for an artist who's just too good not to be rewarded with ongoing success.

'Fast Car,' J.P.

Even if you heard Luke Combs' ubiquitous cover of Tracey Chapman's "Fast Car" a thousand times, you haven't heard it like this — with a twisted, distorted sample inspiring the blown-out-bass rattle of lowend rapper J.P.'s latest bizarre banger.

'Jena,' Felix Ames

Last year, the Milwaukee native placed a song on one of the biggest shows of the year, Netflix's "Wednesday," with local band of brothers Immortal Girlfriend. A year later, he's released his debut album on Def Jam, a shimmering collection of simmering, assured R&B songs that come straight from his soul, from "Bend, Don't Break," in which he realizes "there's a whole lot of broken inside of me," to the hopeful "Taxi Driver," where he realizes "I ain't got time to waste." He's definitely made the most of this major platform he's earned.

'Limonada,' Reyna

There are few artists I can say this about, but I'll admit it about Reyna: They have not written a song that I did not, at the very least, enjoy, and more often, absolutely love. They're masters when it comes to pop melodies, as this five-song EP makes clear. There's so much to adore here, like the contrast of sparkly synths and rich bass grooves for "Optimist," over intimate lyrics about serving a lover "Apple Jacks in bed." And "Serotonin" is sublime, with dreamy, smartly utilized guitar washes and quietly bouncy keys, Gab Banuelos' blissful vocals, and a hook that evokes the Everly Brothers' classic "Dream," co-written by Milwaukee native Felice Bryant. Bryant, one of the greatest songwriters of the past century, would admire Reyna's own songwriting craft.

'Rearview,' The Keystones

The prolific indie-rock trio isn't shy about citing the Strokes as a major influence, and that's more apparent than ever on their new four-song EP, right down to Jack Sherman's droning vocals with occasional drawn-out snarls on "People You Meet." But with hooks this catchy, they come closer to consistently capturing the electricity of the Strokes' early years than the Strokes have themselves lately.

'The Ravine,' Willy Porter

It was two years ago, on Oct. 24, 2021, that Mike Hoffmann, a quietly towering figure in the Milwaukee music scene, unexpectedly passed away. What a joy it is to hear some final contributions from him on Willy Porter's latest album. The gentle and moving "Your Honor," a spiritual descendant of Simon & Garfunkel, features Hoffmann on electric guitar and backing vocals, while Hoffmann offers some slide guitar and backing vocals on the swinging, blues funk of the sweetly nostalgic "Baseball on the Radio." I'd call them both highlights, but Porter's album is such a rich listen from start to finish that it's hard to pick true standouts. It's the testament of an artist still inspired to explore new adventures 33 years after his first album.

"Must-Hear Milwaukee Music" runs on or around the first of every month in the Journal Sentinel and at jsonline.com. If you have a new album, EP or song coming out, contact Piet Levy at plevy@journalsentinel.com for review consideration. Follow him on X at @pietlevy or Facebook at facebook.com/PietLevyMJS.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 10 top Milwaukee albums, songs for November, from Willy Porter, more