These albums might be strange bedfellows, but that's how we listen. This is the music that shook us up, sucked us in, commanded our respect and kept us dancing this year. Get in there.
Featured
Magda Giannikou and one of her co-conspirators from her Banda Magda.Courtesy of the artisthide caption
Macklemore (left) and Ryan Lewis, whose "Thrift Shop" was the biggest song of 2013, according to Billboard's year-end chart.
John Keatley/Courtesy of the artist
hide caption
itoggle caption
John Keatley/Courtesy of the artist
Laurel Halo, seen here performing at the 2013 Mountain Oasis Electronic Music Summit, released one of our favorite dance tracks of the year.
Adam Kissick for NPR
hide caption