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Not every year-end Top 10 list has to be a strict list of the 10 best albums, nor does it have to be a scientific ranking of music by merit. Two years ago, The Current's Mark Wheat began assembling a year-end best list in the form of a 10-song soundtrack, in the hopes that it would reflect the way he experienced the year. He says that 2009 marks the first time it's really worked.

Jazz icon Louis Armstrong didn't just leave behind a treasure trove of musical recordings; he also documented hundreds of his private conversations on tape. Those recordings served as the basis for Terry Teachout's new biography of the legendary musician, Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong.

Hipsters and aging nostalgists are driving the resurgence of vinyl, but the hip-hop community has been curiously quiet. Which is odd, given how closely the genre has been linked to vinyl culture over the years. Here are a few great hip-hop records that did come out on wax this year, and a few more that we wish would have.

All Songs Considered's list of the 50 most important recordings of the decade continues, from Norah Jones to Jason Moran.

As has become customary in the past few years, NPR Music producer Lars Gotrich's near-OCD list-making habit revealed a certain strain of outer sound that pervaded his headphones in 2009.

From Osvaldo Golijov's cross-cultural musical fiesta to the chestnut-colored voice of Rolando Villazon, NPR Music's Tom Huizenga and All Things Considered host Guy Raz spin a few of the most notable classical recordings of the past ten years.

Americans have been observing Labor Day since 1894, through cycles of economic good times and bad times. Here are five songs by great blues and soul artists on the subject of work — and, whenever possible, the avoidance thereof.

Every year, Valentine's Day brings the same old sappy cards, chocolates, and heart-shaped jewelry — stuff that's nowhere near as special as retailers would have you believe. Why not impress your sweetheart with some music inspired by love instead?

The Peter Malick Group with Norah Jones; The beautiful dreams of Doug Hoekstra; Hindustani slide guitarist Debashish Battacharya with Bob Brozman; African electronica from Mamani Keitaand more.

New music from Bruce Springsteen; Live from the Fillmore: Lucinda Williams; Joseph Arthur gambles on Tara Angell; The Irish folk group Altan; A Broadway musical from Monty Python and more.