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Tributes to boxer Jack Johnson from Miles Davis and Wynton Marsalis; An intimate home recording from Cantinero; A look at opposite day with Andrew Bird; The Who sung a Capella by Petra Haden and more.

Boleros are a form of love song that originated in Cuba in the 19th century, and the lyrics reflect themes of bittersweet, unrequited, betrayed, or eternal love. Not all of these songs are strictly boleros, but they all maintain the tradition — and, more importantly, the feeling.

There's controversy at this year's Academy Awards, and it has nothing to do with the recent writer's strike. Andy Trudeau returns for his annual breakdown of the Oscar nominations for Best Original Score — and some puzzling rule changes.

In any ongoing quest for mind-blowing music, each year brings an assortment of new left-field discoveries. KEXP's Kevin Cole offers up a selection of 13 excellent under-the-radar CDs, any of which could end up being your favorite of the year.

Valentine's Day is great for lovers, but what about those who have loved and lost? Don't they deserve a Valentine's gift, too? Absolutely. Here are five deliciously heartbreaking songs of love lost by some of the greatest jazz singers of all time. You might be lonely, but you're not alone.

All Things Considered Reviewer Tom Moon offers his picks for the year's best albums. For Mooon 2007 was about nice chord sequences, tunes that modulate into different keys, and honest-to-goodness "bridge" sections where big sunshine comes through the clouds. He says it's been a while since we've had such interesting progressions.

With more than 80 different recordings available, just about every pianist of note has interpreted Beethoven's famous piano sonata. Yet pianists continue to return to the piece in order to make it their own.

Banning Eyre, senior editor of Afropop.org, shines the spotlight on Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean with his picks for the year's best albums. Among his selections: Watina, an effort by singer Andy Palacio to preserve the culture of the Garifuna people of Central America.

These five songs are for those wishing to wallow in Valentine's Day's sheer, soul-wrecking brutality. Each has been carefully selected to provide a vivid soundtrack for those moments when alcohol isn't even necessary, so drunk is the listener on his or her own misery.

Our picks for the best CDs of 2003.