Amaarae

Opulent disco-pop, R&B hook-up jams, raging hot-mess anthems: These are the songs and albums that defined the year in pop music.

Featuring your picks for the best albums and songs of the year

Featuring Sufjan Stevens, Kali Uchis, SZA, boygenius, Caroline Polachek, André 3000, and more

Featuring Ice Spice, Olivia Rodrigo, Lana Del Rey, Troye Sivan, Amaarae, NewJeans, and more

A rolling list of our favorite albums of the year, updated somewhat frequently.

In celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, Lil B, Black Thought, Amaarae, E-40, DJ Drama, Maxwell, and more go deep on the rap songs they love most.

SZA’s unkillable hit, Bad Bunny’s take on club rap, “Padam Padam,” and all strains of weed-smoking anthems: Here are 20 selections to soundtrack the season.

New releases to look forward to in the coming months, from King Krule, PJ Harvey, Noname, Foo Fighters, Taylor Swift, and more

From PinkPantheress’ lo-fi club cuts to Bladee’s self-deprecating sing-song raps, C. Tangana’s folkloric reimaginations to Tinashe’s featherlight fireworks, these are the songs and albums that pushed pop music forward this year.

The tracks that defined an unsettling year, featuring Japanese Breakfast, Olivia Rodrigo, Caroline Polachek, Megan Thee Stallion, and more

Amaarae, Wet Leg, Sons of Kemet, L’Rain, and more

Artists from Pitchfork’s 25 Next List go long on smashing genre lines, resisting the robots, and retaining their control.