The pandemic, along with unprecedented political and social upheaval, created a year in which listeners sought to be transported. Enter these 10 albums. At the top of the list: X's Alphabetland.

The deaths of Walker and Shaver this month prompted critic Charles Aaron to consider the impact of their work on the wider sound of American music.

On his new album, The Ascension, Stevens beautifully considers love, doom and the modern condition of our riven commons.

A recent graduate of Juilliard, pianist Micah Thomas has made some serious waves this season with his debut album, Tide, and several prominent sideman gigs.

The film project, released Friday on Disney's new streaming service, finds the star seeking out a shared history of Black excellence.

After collaborating with David Bowie in 2014, the multiple Grammy-winning composer found her artistic process had been recombobulated a bit — much like our ever-more digital world.

Long known as firebrands ready to take on abusers, country music and the president, the trio now known as The Chicks is finding – on its first album in 14 years – beauty in loss and lonesomeness.

Taylor brings hi-hat funk to his new trio's album. It's a slightly odd line-up, with no bass instrument — which opens up possibilities for different ways to kick the rhythm along.

Arthur Jafa, the celebrated artist, translates a new song from West into his own film-visual language, both elevating and transcending it.