In a year that brought major – and in some cases, majorly awaited – releases by reliable chart-toppers, it would seem an effortless task to pluck out 10 of the best albums of the past 12 months. But ...

As normal came back into view in 2021 — then seemed to slip away again — great songs arrived from places we could predict and places we never thought to look. Here are The Times music staff’s picks ...

In another trying year, many of the best songs—from “Like I Used To” to “Pick Up Your Feelings” to “Hard Drive” to “Good Days”—were about picking yourself up, dusting yourself off, and trying again.

St. Vincent is an art rock masterpiece. Credited in song by her real name Anne (Annie) Clark, the multi-dimensional singer, songwriter, and musician has written some of the most provoking, sentimental ...

It’s brutal out there, and that’s why, more than ever, we needed the consoling and prodding pleasures of popular music to help everything make sense in here. [Stage direction: taps chest, knowingly.] ...

From Adele's heroic return to Rauw Alejandro's thrillingly unpredictable breakthrough to Lil Nas X's pop-rap victory lap, and much more, here are the records that pushed music forward this year ...