Music Lists

Music & Culture

Bob Boilen's Top 10 Albums Of 2020

11:47am December 29, 2020

by Bob Boilen

Isolation and the disappearance of live music changed the All Songs Considered host's listening habits drastically in 2020. These albums offered not just calm, but richness and depth to explore.

Linda Diaz, winner of the 2020 Tiny Desk Contest, performed one of NPR Music's favorite Tiny Desk (home) concerts of the year.

Music & Culture

Tiny Desk Staffers Pick Their Favorite Tiny Desk (Home) Concerts

7:01am December 29, 2020

The minds behind NPR Music's Tiny Desk present their favorite home concerts of 2020, from Buscabulla to Billie Eilish.

Alicia Keys performed her Tiny Desk concert on Feb. 2, 2020.

Music & Culture

The Best Tiny Desk Concerts Of 2020

10:52am December 28, 2020

by Stephen Thompson

Watch 20 of the year's greatest Tiny Desk performances, featuring a small sample of the talented artists who delivered intimate sets from NPR Music's D.C. offices.

Kathleen Edwards (by Remi Theriault), Jason Isbell (by Alysse Gafjen), Bonny Light Horseman (by Annie Beedy)

Music & Culture

World Cafe Picks The Best Songs Of 2020

11:05am December 23, 2020

by Raina Douris

Explore a playlist full of 2020 highlights, including songs by big stars (Jason Isbell, Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift) and up-and-comers (Bonny Light Horseman, Arlo Parks, Devon Gilfillian).

The dance of death, an ancient image that inspired Thomas Adès to compose his Totentanz.

Music & Culture

Music And Mayhem: A Diary Of Classical Albums For A Troubled 2020

5:00am December 21, 2020

by Tom Huizenga

NPR Music's classical editor traces the high points of a year spent listening to new albums that offered comfort and confrontation in counterpoint with the relentless world outside the headphones.

Music & Culture

Our 2020 Nashville Music Recap

1:55pm December 17, 2020

In this episode, World Cafe's Nashville correspondent and NPR pop critic Ann Powers brings you some of the artists from the Music City that you might have missed this year.

Jazz Night In America's 2020 In Memoriam program includes Jimmy Heath, Lee Konitz, CÃ ndido Camero, Tony Allen, Annie Ross, Freddy Cole, Gary Peacock, Henry Grimes, Wallace Roney and McCoy Tyner.

Music & Culture

In Memoriam: Jazz Night Radio Remembers 10 Musicians Who Altered The Shape Of Jazz

1:35pm December 17, 2020

We remember luminaries we lost this year in our In Memoriam program: Jimmy Heath; Lee Konitz; Càndido; Tony Allen; Annie Ross; Freddy Cole; Gary Peacock; Henry Grimes; Wallace Roney; and McCoy Tyner.

Joni Mitchell, photographed in 1970. An album of Mitchell's early recordings, Archives Volume 1: The Early Years, was among the best archival releases of 2020.

Music & Culture

The Best Reissues And Box Sets Of 2020

11:04am December 17, 2020

by Tom Moon

There was an avalanche of reissues and vault rediscoveries, across all genres and all eras. Each promises edification, but also flat-out thrilling listening.

Hanson performs a Tiny Desk concert on Sept. 25, 2017 (Christina Ascani/NPR).

Music & Culture

Tiny Desk Playlist: The Holiday Concerts

5:00am December 17, 2020

by Stephen Thompson

From Sharon Jones to Amy Grant, 'tis the season to revisit our best seasonal Tiny Desk performances.

Chicago singer Jamila Woods performed "Eartha" for a KCRW Live Session.

Music & Culture

NPR Music's Best Live Sessions of 2020

2:42pm December 16, 2020

The best Live Sessions of 2020 feature performances from Jamila Woods, Anjimile, Tyler Childers, Soccer Mommy, Arlo Parks and many more.