Bob Boilen

We all had to kill some darlings to finalize NPR Music's list of the Top 50 Albums and Top 100 Songs. Here are the ones that really should have made the cut.

The band takes its quirks of production, rhythm and rhyme and brilliantly arranges them to work behind the Tiny Desk.

The All Songs gang looks back at this year's anthems and unmissable milestones, from Kendrick Lamar's Pulitzer to Childish Gambino's mind-blowing video for "This Is America," Rosalía, Mitski and more.

Tweedy has written a book that's incredibly open-hearted and honest, filled with stories of insecurities, drug dependencies and thoughtful reflections.

Bill Baird's music and visuals are filled with a world of hypnotic patterns and abstract scenes.

The trio of Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus and Phoebe Bridgers share the songs they love most and talk about the ways they inspire each other in their new band, boygenius.

Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus and Phoebe Bridgers are all Tiny Desk alum, but here they play together at NPR for the first time as boygenius, one of this year's best surprises.

Producer Giles Martin shares the remarkable stories, early demos, outtakes and stunning new mixes from the just-released deluxe version of the album.

The story of Bernie and the Believers is the story of Bernie Dalton's diagnosis of Lou Gehrig's disease and compassionate friends making his dream come true and his songs come to life.

The band's songs, stripped here to their essence, are particularly peaceful and calm — and sometimes chilling.

As voters head to the polls today, we hear from artists whose music speaks to our current political and cultural moment.

Andrew Bird sings, "it's an uncivil war bloodless for now / and the poets they explode like bombs." Watch Andrew Bird peer into our distracted culture precisely when it needs our attention.

Hear an early, behind-the-scenes recording of The Beatles working on "Glass Onion," the third track from what would become the band's 1968, self-titled "White Album."

This week on the show, we hear from artists who find ways to celebrate life no matter how broken it may be.

Tōth is the musical project of Rubblebucket's Alex Toth. It's a project that inspires and acts as therapy from his battle with alcoholism.

A single voice can send a powerful message - and that's just what Jim James did at the Tiny Desk, with just his voice and an acoustic guitar.

The charismatic singer and saxophonist brought a group of longtime friends to play a warm, thoughtful and chill set at the Tiny Desk.

This week's essential mix includes songs of letting go, of healing, moving on and finding a deeper appreciation for the wonder of life.

Zach Condon, the mastermind behind Beirut, will release his fifth studio album, Gallipoli, on Feb. 1. In this conversation, he shares the title track and details how the project came together.

On this week's show, we reflect on life and death over popcorn, catch a blissful confession from SOAK, a plaintive apology sung by Miya Folick, and Sharon Van Etten's mid-career pivot to driving pop.