NPR's Best Music Of 2020

See the 100 songs & 50 albums that gave us life when we needed it most.

NPR Music’s Best Albums And Songs Of 2020 It’s that time of the year! Each and every December, NPR Music makes lists upon lists of the very best songs and albums released in the past year. It’s a tall order any year as we sort through thousands of releases, but especially this year, when our lives — and those of so many of the artists we love — were continually turned upside-down. Of course, there’s no single way to tell the story of this year in music. As NPR Music’s senior editors put it, 2020’s best music is more like “an urgent cacophony of distinct voices rather than a chorus with a single melody.” Our list of the year’s 50 best albums includes new releases from old favorites, stunning breakthroughs from up-and-comers, calls to challenge the powers that be and blissful auras of calm. And the tracks on our list of the year’s 100 best songs spoke to us in quiet moments, inspired solo dance parties, found words for our anger and distracted us from the news. Discover Your New Favorite Music Want to dig even deeper? The NPR Music team is composed of experts from across genres, from R&B and classical to the loud and weird. Check out our list of staff picks from more than 20 writers, editors and critics for proof. Plus, if you want to stream all 100 of the year’s best songs, we’ve got you covered with a playlist. – Marissa Lorusso and Lyndsey McKenna, NPR Music  You received this message because you're subscribed to Best of NPR emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy