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Top 10 for Mar

Olafur Arnalds - some kind of peace makes NPR: Best Music Of 2020

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This week we shared NPR Music's best songs and albums of 2020, lists voted on, politely argued over and presented by our staff, station partners and contributors. Today we're featuring the good stuff from the private reserves. Below you'll find lists of top 10 albums and songs from the members of NPR Music's staff.

Bob Boilen HOST, ALL SONGS CONSIDERED writes

Quietude. More than half of the music I connected with and loved in 2020 fit that description. In past years, many of my nights were spent at clubs, seeing live music - loud, brash, fun, uplifting and thrilling. That all stopped in mid-March, right about the time I'd usually be in the midst of thousands of fans seeing hundreds of musicians at SXSW. Being alone, away from friends, colleagues and clubs, I connected deeply with music that drew me in with subtly, yearning and atmosphere. Thank you to all those musicians who poured their hearts into their instruments in 2020.

For 'Top 10 Albums Of 2020, Bob chooses Ólafur Arnalds, some kind of peace

and for 'Top 10 Songs Of 2020' Bob chooses  Ólafur Arnalds, "Back to the Sky" (feat. JFDR)

SEE THE NPR PAGE