"Best of" lists start popping up in November. To ensure that we're sharing the best of the entire year, we've saved our music list for the very last morning of the year.
Will Hermes is a Senior Critic for Rolling Stone, a contributor to NPR's All Things Considered, and the author of Loves Goes To Buildings on Fire.
"Follow Your Arrow" - Kacey Musgraves
"Get High" - Brandy Clark
"Cop Car" - Keith Urban
"Man" - Neko Case
"Open" - Rhye
"Hey Love" - Quadron
"Kool FM" - Four Tet
"Warni Warni" - Omar Souleyman
"Bed Peace" - Jhené Aiko ft. Childish Gambino
"Flashbulb Eyes" - Arcade Fire
"Hannah Hunt" - Vampire Weekend
"Blood on the Leaves" - Kanye West
"I am God" - Kanye West
"You Bring Out the Savage in Me" - Cécile McLorin Salvant
"Lisanga Ya Banganga"- Franco & Rochereau
"Retreat!" - Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings