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1 . “How High the Moon”
LES PAUL AND MARY FORD
The husband-and-wife duo recorded this romantic ballad the same year Paul – a Waukesha native – created his groundbreaking solid body guitar design with Gibson.
2. “My Projects”
COO COO CAL
Remember when the Milwaukeean Coo Coo Cal topped the rap charts with this track? It 100% still holds up.
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3. “Beer Barrel Poka”
LIBERACE
Forget what you think you know about polka. The late Liberace’s cover of this 1927 Czech composition, which he used to play in local bars, is an absolute banger.
4. “Coffee”
BY SYLVAN ESSO
Technically they aren’t from Wisconsin, but bandmates Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn met at the Cactus Club, and their bouncy electropop is too good to leave off this list.
5. “Kiss Off”
VIOLENT FEMMES
We all love “Blister in the Sun,” but this lesser-known track and absolute mission statement by Milwaukee’s most famous punk band is just as great.
6. “Skinny Love”
BY BON IVER
Justin Vernon wrote this haunting breakup song while cooped up in a cabin near Eau Claire, recovering from a bout of illness (and also a breakup).
