Music & Culture

2020 was so stuffed with urgent voices it could be hard to discern the melody from the noise. Here's our guide to the greatest albums that emerged from a year of cacophony.

Our guide to the greatest albums (Nos. 40-31) that emerged from a year's worth of cacophony.

Our guide to the greatest albums (Nos. 30-21) that emerged from a year's worth of cacophony.

Our guide to the greatest albums (Nos. 20-11) that emerged from a year's worth of cacophony.

The 10 greatest albums that emerged from a year's worth of cacophony.

Jake Stitt often sits outside his Tennessee home with a sign reading: Honk if you're happy. He has cerebral palsy, and a wheelchair accessible van was needed. A GoFundMe effort didn't cover the costs.

Watch the Grammy-nominated artist perform three songs from his album The Gospel According To PJ.

Listen to seasonal performances by Loudon Wainwright III, Holly Cole, The Roches and more, all recorded live on the Mountain Stage.

NPR Music speaks with the LA rapper, who struck a plea deal earlier this month resulting in his release from prison after a four-year legal battle.

On the darkest night of the year, the Paul Winter Consort celebrate the winter solstice at New York's Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

From her home in Germany, the provocative American soprano delivers songs of introspection and freedom from Franz Schubert's mountaintop epiphany to Billy Taylor's wish for equality and justice.

The Puerto Rican rapper only performs in Spanish — a sign of the growing power of Hispanic music. It's the first time an artist who never sings in English tops the year-end list.