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KCRW's Best of 2023
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Let's get personal: Dig into the favorites of 2024 from KCRW Music’s DJs, curators, and tastemakers.

DJ Picks


Say She She - Silver
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Alejandro Cohen Director of Music

Albums

  • Julia Holter Something in the Room She Moves
  • Jessica Pratt Here In the Pitch
  • The Cure Songs of a Lost World
  • SOPHIE SOPHIE
  • Cindy Lee Diamond Jubilee
  • Jimetta Rose & The Voices of Creation Things Are Getting Better
  • Kokoroko Get The Message
  • Helado Negro PHASOR
  • Chicano Batman Notebook Fantasy
  • André 3000 New Blue Sun

Songs

    • Jamie xx “All You Children (Feat. The Avalanches)”
    • Beth Gibbons “Floating On a Moment”
    • Caribou “Broke My Heart”
    • BADBADNOTGOOD Poeira Cosmica (Feat. Tim Bernardes)”
    • Mermaid Chunky “Chaperone”
    • Two Shell “Everybody Worldwide”
    • Tunde Adebimpe "Magnetic"
    • Joshua Idehen "Mum Does the Washing"
    • Jerry Paper “Everything Angel”
    • Photay “Derecho”
Lil Yachty - Let’s Start Here.

Novena Carmel Host, Morning Becomes Eclectic

Albums

  • Swim Surreal + Zero 7 In The Half Life
  • Brijean Macro
  • Idles TANGK
  • Willow empathogen
  • The Smile Cutouts
  • Soweto Gospel Choir x Groove Terminator History of House
  • Brainstory Sounds Good
  • Clairo Charm
  • Armando Young Armando Young Vol. 1
  • Fousheé Pointy Heights

Songs

    • Tierra Whack "SHOWER SONG"
    • Yukimi "Break Me Down"
    • Joshua Idehen “Mum Does the Washing”
    • Gavin Turek “IOU”
    • Ezra Collective “God Gave me Feet For Dancing (Feat. Yazmin Lacey)”
    • Moses Sumney "Vintage"
    • James Blake “Thrown Around”
    • Luke Temple “Church Street”
    • Amaro Freitas, Criolo, & Dino D’Santiago “Esperança”
    • Leon Bridges “Peaceful Place”
Nation of Language - Strange Disciple

Travis Holcombe Host, FREAKS ONLY

Albums

    • Jessica Pratt Here In The Pitch
    • Aili Nandakke?
    • Nia Archives Silence Is Loud
    • Casual Sex Collected Works 2008-2014
    • Ruthven Rough & Ready
    • Cindy Lee Diamond Jubilee
    • Emperor Machine Island Boogie
    • La Femme Rock Machine
    • Clairo  Charm
    • YACHT New Release

Songs

  • Mermaid Chunky “Céilí”
  • Fcukers “Bon Bon”
  • Mermaid Chunky “Chaperone”
  • The Bug Club “Lonsdale Slipons”
  • Woolfy vs. Love Athletics “Making It Right”
  • King Willonious “BBL Drizzy”
  • Jayson Green & The Jerk “Local Jerk”
  • Psymon Spine “Bored Of Guitar”
  • Biesmans "High All The Time"
  • Bibi Club “Shloshlo”
Upchuck - Bite The Hand That Feeds

Henry Rollins DJ

Albums

  • Ekko Astral Pink Balloons
  • Jealous Yellow Czech Vampires
  • Continuals Continuals
  • Freak Genes Delirik
  • Dr. Sure’s Unusual Practice Total Reality
  • J Mascis What Do We Do Now
  • Kid Congo & the Pink Monkey Birds That Delicious Vice
  • Des Demonas Apocalyptic Boom! Boom!
  • Anno Anno
  • Bed Maker Bed Maker
Jungle - Volcano

Raul Campos DJ, Host of Global Beat: Mexico

Albums

  • Soweto Gospel Choir x Groove Terminator History of House
  • Ezra Collective Dance, No One's Watching
  • Aaron Frazer Into the Blue
  • Jamie xx In Waves
  • The Cure Songs Of A Lost World
  • Justice Hyperdrama
  • Khruangbin A LA SALA
  • Hermanos Gutiérrez Sonido Cósmico
  • Rufus Du Sol Inhale/Exhale
  • Leon Bridges Leon

Songs

    • Jungle “Let's Go Back”
    • Braxe + Falcon “All This Love (Feat. Bibio)”
    • Ezra Collective “God Gave me Feet For Dancing (Feat. Yazmin Lacey)”
    • Father John Misty “I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All”
    • Jerry Paper “Scenic Route”
    • Slowdive “Kisses - sky ii”
    • Lake Street Dive “Good Together”
    • Nilufer Yanya “Just A Western (Boy Harsher Remix)”
    • Moby "Should Sleep (Feat. J.P. Bimeni)”
    • Future Islands “Glimpse”
Say She She - Silver

Anne Litt DJ

Albums

  • Leon Bridges Leon
  • Justice Hyperdrama
  • Jessica Pratt Here In The Pitch
  • Nick Cave Wild God
  • Ezra Collective Dance, No One’s Watching
  • Michael Kiwanuka Small Changes
  • Soweto Gospel Choir x Groove Terminator History of House
  • St. Vincent All Born Screaming
  • Jack White No Name
  • Madison Cunningham & Andrew Bird Bird Cunningham

Songs

    • Lady Blackbird “Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled”
    • Father John Misty “I Guess Time Just Makes Fools Of Us All"
    • Vampire Weekend "Connect"
    • Idles "Grace"
    • Kit Sebastian "Faust"
    • MRCY "Lorelei"
    • Sea Pipes “The Right Through”
    • Saya Gray “SHELL (OF A MAN)”
    • James Blake “Thrown Around”
    • Braxe + Falcon “All This Love (Feat. Bibio)”
Cherry Glazerr - I Don't Want You Anymore

Chris Douridas DJ, Eclectic24 Curator

Albums

  • Billie Eilish HIT ME HARD AND SOFT
  • Ezra Collective Dance, No One's Watching
  • Nick Cave Wild God
  • carbeau Madrugada + Tramonto
  • The Marías Submarine
  • Joe Armon-Jones Nubya's Side of Town/Ceasefire
  • WILLOW empathogen
  • Jamie xx In Waves
  • Michael Kiwanuka Small Changes
  • Beatrixl Vertigo

Songs

  • Ezra Collective “God Gave Me Feet For Dancing”
  • Peter Cat Recording Co. “People Never Change”
  • Vampire Weekend "Connect"
  • Billie Eilish “THE DINER”
  • WILLOW “symptom of life”
  • Joshua Idehen “Mum Does the Washing”
  • Caravan Palace “Mirrors”
  • Father John Misty “I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All”
  • Ëda Diaz “Lo Dudo”
  • Leon Bridges “Peaceful Place”
  • Lady Blackbird "Purify"
  • MRCY "Lorelei"
Cherry Glazerr - I Don't Want You Anymore
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Jason Bentley DJ, Host of “Metropolis”

Songs

    • Joy Anonymous, Todd Edwards, Reggie Watts “Joy (Sun On My Skin)”
    • Blessed Madonna feat. Yuki Kanesa “Count On My Love”
    • Machinedrum feat. Tinashe "Zoom"
    • Francis Mercier, Salif Kieta, Nomis “Kabe”
    • Jamie xx “Baddy on the Floor”
    • Odesza ““Heavier” (Rome In Silver Remix)”
    • KC Lightse “Fly”
    • Gilligan Moss “Turn Back Time”
    • Blond:ish feat. Stevie Appleton “Never Walk Alone”
    • DRAMA “Till We Die, Inshallah” (Robin Hannibal Remix)
Nabihah Iqbal - DREAMER

Dan Wilcox DJ

Albums

  • Angélica Garcia Gemelo
  • IDLES TANGK
  • St. Vincent All Born Screaming
  • Helado Negro PHASOR
  • Brittany Howard What Now
  • Ibibio Sound Machine Pull the Rope
  • Fontaines D.C. Romance
  • Erick the architect I've Never Been Here Before
  • KOKOKO! BUTU
  • Brijean Brijean

Songs

  • Orbital, David Holmes, Mike Garry & DJ Helen “Tonight In Belfast”
  • Father John Misty "I Guess Time Make Fools of Us All"
  • Ezra Collective "God Gave Me Feet For Dancing"
  • Reyna Tropical "Cartagena"
  • Faye Webster "But Not Kiss"
  • Obongjayar "Tomorrow Man"
  • Lime Garden "Love Song"
  • Jamie xx "Dafodil (Feat. Kelsey Lu, John Glacier & Panda Bear"
  • The Bug Club ""Lonsdale Slipons"
  • Killer Mike "HIGHER LEVEL"
Miguel Atwood-Ferguson - Les Jardins Mystiques Vol. 1

Jeremy Sole DJ

Albums

  • Miguel Atwood-Ferguson Boy Kills World OST
  • Joshua Idehen Mum Does the Washing
  • Liam Bailey Zero Grace
  • Thee Sacred Souls Got A Story To Tell
  • Meridian Brothers Mi Latinoamérica Sufre
  • Gitkin Golden Age
  • GUTS Straight From The Decks Vol. 4
  • Christoph El Truento Dubs From The Neighbourhood
  • Kamasi Washington Fearless Movement
  • Adrian Younge/Various ArtistsAdrian Younge Presents Linear Labs: São Paulo
Ren - Sick Boi

Jason Kramer DJ

Albums

  • Billy Strings Highway Prayers
  • Jean Dawson Glimmer of God
  • Brittany Howard What Now
  • Orville Peck Stampede
  • Spencer Sutherland The Drama
  • Maverick Sabre Burn the Right Things Down
  • The Blessed Madonna Godspeed
  • Billie Eilish HIT ME HARD AND SOFT
  • Nick Ward House with the Blue Door
  • Mk.gee Two Star & the Dream Police

Songs

  • Finneas "Cleats"
  • Mau P "Merther"
  • Artemas "I Like the Way you Kiss Me"
  • Good Neighbours "Home"
  • Hak Baker "Poems"
  • Fink “What Would You Call Yourself”
  • Nick Ward "All your life"
  • Daniel Blake "Somedays"
  • Jean Dawson "Lose Control"
  • Billie Eilish “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”
Aruán Ortiz - Pastor's Paradox

Leroy Downs DJ

Albums

  • Caroline Davis Portals, Volume 2: Returning
  • Patrician Brennan Breaking Stretch
  • Ohad Talmor Back to the Land
  • STEMESEDER LILLINGER QUARTET UMBRA II
  • Alina Bzhezhinska & Tony Kofi Altera Vita
  • BORDERLANDS TRIO Rewilder
  • Kris Davis Run the Gauntlet
  • Tyshawn Sorey The Susceptible Now
  • Tarbaby You Think This America
  • Matt Mitchell Zealous Angles

Songs

  • Immanuel Wilkins "EVERYTHING"
  • Ize Trio "Let us Out"
  • Angelica Sanchez & Chad Taylor “Myopic Sear”
  • Carlos Bica “Roots”
  • Darius Jones “Affirmation Needed”
  • Keyon Harrold “Find Your Peace”
  • Ryan Truesdell “Suite for Clarinet and String Quartet 4: Image of Mystery”
  • Samara Joy “Reincarnation Of A Lovebird”
  • Scott Colley, Edward Simon & Brian Blade "Nostalgia"
Tuzeint - Raixes
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Nassir Nassirzadeh DJ, KCRW Music Producer

Albums

  • Jamie xx In Waves
  • Jessica Pratt Here in the Pitch
  • Vampire Weekend Only God Was Above Us
  • Jack J Blue Desert
  • Good Looks Lived Here For A While
  • Royel Otis PRATTS & PAIN (It Ain't Over Til It Ends Edition)
  • Rosali Bite Down
  • Katy J Pearson Someday, Now
  • Peel Dream Magazine Rose Main Reading Room
  • RÜFUS DÜ SOL Inhale / Exhale

Songs

  • King Princess "Fantastic"
  • Moody Joody "El Camino High"
  • John Tejada & Mason Bee "Wake-Up"
  • Jack J “Wrong Again”
  • Jamie xx “All You Children (Feat. The Avalanches)”
  • Peter Cat Recording Co. "People Never Change”"
  • Ezra Collective “God Gave Me Feet For Dancing (Feat. Yazmin Lacey)”
  • Metronomy “With Balance (Feat. Naima Bock & Joshua Idehen)”
  • Rosali "Rewind"
  • Adrianne Lenker "Sadness As A Gift"
Jungle - Volcano

José Galván DJ

Albums

  • Royel Otis PRATTS & PAIN
  • Jamie xx In Waves
  • Tems Born in the Wild
  • Fontaines D.C Romance
  • The Marías Submarine
  • Erick The Architect I’ve Never Been Here Before
  • Bleachers Bleachers
  • Clairo Charm
  • Nilüfer Yanya My Method Actor
  • The Last Dinner Party Prelude to Ecstasy

Songs

  • Fat Dog "Running"
  • WILLOW "b i g f e e l i n g s"
  • Vacations "Next Exit"
  • Honeyglaze "Don't"
  • Future Islands "The Tower"
  • Yannis & The Yaw "Walk Through Fire"
  • Ginger Root "All Night"
  • Kasabian "Call"
  • Glass Beams "Black Sand"
  • IDLES "Dancer (Feat. LCD Soundsystem)"
Young Fathers - Heavy Heavy

Francesca Harding DJ

Albums

  • Fousheé Pointy Heights
  • Tyler, the Creator CHROMAKOPIA
  • Ginger Root SHINBANGUMI
  • TiRon & Ayomari The Adventures of TiRon & Ayomari
  • Mdou Moctar Funeral for Justice
  • Jamie xx In Waves
  • BALTHVS Harvest
  • Kaytranada TIMELESS
  • Joshua Idehen Mum Does the Washing
  • Gavin Turek Diva of the People

Songs

  • Karriem Riggins "Affectionate Overture"
  • Sault "Acts of Faith"
  • Darkside "Graucha Max"
  • Bjork & Rosalia "Oral (Olof Dreijer Remix)"
  • Val Fleury "Technically"
  • Parbleu & Arp Frique "Père-du-Perdu"
  • Kendrick Lamar "Not Like Us"
  • Guts, Pat Kalla, & Assane Mboup “Medewui (Captain Planet Remix)”
  • Obongjayar "Tomorrow Man"
  • TOKiMONSTA "Corazon” / “Death by Disco Pt. 2"
Baby Rose - Through and Through

Ro "Wyldeflower" Contreras DJ

Albums

  • Brainstory Sounds Good
  • Rogê Curyman II
  • Baby Rose Slow Burn
  • Kendrick Lamar GNX
  • The Smile Cutouts
  • Kali Uchis ORQUÍDEAS
  • Bilal Adjust Brightness
  • Tyler, The Creator CHROMAKOPIA
  • Chicano Batman Notebook Fantasy
  • Jack White Noname

Songs

  • James Blake "Thrown Around"
  • Alvaro Lancellotti "Maneira de Ver"
  • Flying Lotus "Let Me Cook (Feat. Dawn Richard)"
  • Amaro Freitas, Criolo, and Dino D'Santiago "Esperança"
  • Gavin Turek "Off The Wheel"
  • The Gaslamp Killer & Jason Wool "Mystic Memories"
  • Kimbra "Keen"
  • Kendrick Lamar "Not Like Us"
  • Moses Sumney "Vintage"
  • Pale Jay "Easy, Lee"
Say She She - Silver

Tyler Boudreaux DJ

Albums

  • Mk.gee Two Star & The Dream Police
  • King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Flight B741
  • YĪN YĪN Mount Matsu
  • Mildlife Forever
  • Ghost Funk Orchestra A Trip To The Moon
  • Gustaf Package Pt. 2
  • Glass Beams Mahal
  • Fcukers Baggy$$
  • Shannon & The Clams The Moon Is In The Wrong Place
  • Hermanos Gutiérrez Sonido Cósmicon

Songs

    • The Lemon Twigs "Sweet Vibration"
    • BODEGA "Tarkovski"
    • Disclosure "She’s Gone, Dance On"
    • Charli XCX "Von Dutch"
    • Dehd "Mood Ring"
    • GUM & Ambrose Kenny-Smith "Ill Times"
    • IDLES "Grace"
    • LP Giobbi "Carolyn"
    • Grant Nelson & Mark Knight "Do It Y’all (Extended Mix)"
    • Confidence Man "SO WHA"
The Chemical Brothers - For That Beautiful Feeling

SiLVA DJ

Albums

  • Jamie xx In Waves
  • Charli xcx Brat
  • Elkka Prism of Pleasure
  • Soweto Gospel Choir x Groove Terminator History of House
  • Gesaffelstein Gamma
  • Nilufer Yanya My Method Actor
  • HAYLA Dusk
  • Justice Hyperdrama
  • Peggy Gou I Hear You
  • Kali Uchis Kali Uchis

Songs

  • Jaime xx "Waited All Night (Feat. Romy & Oliver Sim)"
  • Charli XCX "Everything Is Romantic (Feat. Caroline Polacheck)"
  • Justice "Explorer (Starring Connan Mockasin)"
  • Optometry "Comets"
  • Pilo "Girls Rule The World"
  • Elkka "I Just Want To Love You"
  • TOKiMONSTA "On Sum (Feat. Anderson Paak & Rae Khalil)"
  • Fred again.. "places to be (Feat. Anderson Paak & CHIKA)"
  • Peggy Gou "1+1=11"
  • Gesaffelstein "Hysteria"
Say She She - Silver

Valida DJ

Albums

  • Elyanna WOLEDTO
  • Nemahsis Verbatim
  • Mustafa Dunya
  • Aili Nandakke?
  • Kit Sebastian New Internationale
  • Def Sound From South Central 2 the World
  • Shigeto Cherry Blossom Baby
  • KAYTRANADA TIMELESS
  • Various Artists Naya Beat Volume 2: South Asia Dance and Electronic Music 1988-1994
  • Daniel Blake Shapes
  • Kate Bollinger Songs From A Thousand Frames Of Mind
  • Various Artists DJ Notoya Presents: Funk Tide - Tokyo Jazz​-​Funk From Electric Bird 1978​-​87

Songs

    • Elyanna "Olive Branch (Ghosn Zeytoun)"
    • Saint Levant "5am in Paris"
    • L'Imperatrice "Amour ex Machina"
    • Nadine El Roubi "Calm Down"
    • The Blessed Madonna "Happier"
    • Khruangbin "Pon Pón"
    • Zeyne "Bali"
    • Jamie xx "Baddy On The Floor (Feat. Honey Dijon)"
    • Fred again.. "places to be (Feat. Anderson Paak & CHIKA)"
    • SBTRKT Back On"
Corinne Bailey Rae - Black Rainbows

Ariana Morgenstern Executive Producer, Today’s Top Tune Curator

Albums

  • Leon Bridges Leon
  • Faye Webster Underdressed at the Symphony
  • Michael Kiwanuka Small Changes
  • Billie Eilish HIT ME HARD AND SOFT
  • Bon Iver SABLE,
  • Mermaid Chunky slif slaf slof
  • Khruangbin A LA SALA
  • St. Vincent All Born Screaming
  • Charley Crockett $10 Cowboy
  • Carin León Colmillo de Leche

Songs

  • Luna Li "Confusion Song"
  • Lee Bob "Free"
  • NxWorries "FromHere (Feat. Snoop Dogg & October London)"
  • Jordan Rakei "Trust"
  • Mermaid Chunky "Chaperone"
  • IDA KUDO "Okina Nami"
  • Quivers "Oyster Cuts"
  • Orquesta Akokán "Con Licencia"
  • John Cale "How We See The Light"
  • Jeremie Albino "Our Time In The Sun"
  • duendita "born with power"
  • Sylvester "Body Strong (Live at the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House, 1979"
Chocolate Hills - Yarns from the Chocolate Triangle

Myke Dodge Weiskopf Senior Producer

Albums

  • Chris Cohen Paint A Room
  • Emma Donovan Til My Song Is Done
  • Everything Everything Mountainhead
  • Fievel Is Glauque Rong Weicknes
  • garth erasmus Threnody for the KhoiSan
  • Jimetta Rose & The Voices of Creation Things Are Getting Better
  • Magdalena Bay Imaginal Disk
  • Nala Sinephro Endlessness
  • Lady Blackbird Slang Spirituals

Songs

    • Andrew Pekler "Love Among the Crickets"
    • androo "Major T​-​Bay Loves Dub (Far, O'Dub, Ahmix)"
    • Bullion "Rare (Feat. Carly Rae Jepsen)"
    • Everything Everything "Cold Reactor"
    • Fievel Is Glauque "As Above So Below"
    • Jimetta Rose & The Voices of Creation "Portals"
    • John Beltran "Just Beyond The Sun"
    • Magdalena Bay "Death & Romance"
    • Piers Kirwan "Garden of Life"
Little Dragon - Slugs Of Love

Anna Chang Producer, Morning Becomes Eclectic

Albums

  • Justice Hyperdrama
  • Clairo Charm
  • Fousheé Pointy Heights
  • Fcukers Baggy$$
  • IDLES TANGK
  • Rosie Lowe Lover, Other
  • WILLOW empathogen
  • Reyna Tropical Malegría
  • Billie Eilish HIT ME HARD AND SOFT
  • Peggy Gou I Hear You
  • Shannon & The Clams The Moon Is In The Wrong Place

Songs

  • The Blessed Madonna, Joy Anonymous & Danielle Ponder "Carry Me Higher (Elite Mix, 10 inch version)"
  • Tems "Love Me JeJe"
  • Honeyglaze "Don't"
  • Fontaines D.C "Starburster"
  • Clairo "JSexy to Someone”
  • Tom Misch "Insecure"
  • Ezra Collective "God Gave Me Feet For Dancing"
  • Yukimi "Break me Down"
  • Asake "MMS"
  • Jerry Paper "Scenic Route"
Sprain - The Lamb as Effigy

Andrea Domanick Digital Editorial Manager

Albums

  • Justice Hyperdrama
  • Mermaid Chunky slif slaf slof
  • Cumgirl8 The 8th Cumming
  • Fcukers Baggy$$
  • Dave Harrington Skull Dream
  • Dummy Free Energy
  • The Fat White Family Forgiveness Is Yours
  • Moin You Never End
  • Cindy Lee Diamond Jubilee
  • Jessica Pratt Here in the Pitch
  • Mo Dotti opaque

Songs

  • Jayson Green & The Jerk "Local Jerk"
  • Justice "Generator"
  • Gesaffelstein "Hard Dreams"
  • Fontaines D.C. "Starburster"
  • Mermaid Chunky "Chaperone"
  • Sleater-Kinney "Untidy Creature"
  • Chappell Roan "Good Luck, Babe!"
  • Ezra Collective "God Gave Me Feet For Dancing"
  • Darkside "Graucha Max"
Brontez Purnell - No Jack Swing

Marion Hodges Digital Producer

Albums

  • Justice Hyperdrama
  • Nilüfer Yanya My Method Actor
  • Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross Challengers (Original Score)
  • Brijean Macro
  • Shabaka Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace
  • Charli XCX brat
  • Aili Nandakke?
  • Clairo Charm
  • The Cure Songs Of A Lost World
  • Yard Act Where's My Utopia?

Songs

  • Nilüfer Yanya "Call It Love"
  • Justice "One Night/All Night (Starring Tame Impala)"
  • Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross "Yeah x10"
  • BODEGA "Tarkovski"
  • Val Fleury "Technically"
  • Kendrick Lamar "Not Like Us"
  • Tolliver "Favorite Toy"
  • Samantha Crain "Dragonfly"
  • eat-girls "Unison"
  • urika’s bedroom "Video Music"