On a special mid-year episode of New Music Friday, host Stephen Thompson and a lineup of NPR Music writers and critics reflect on their favorite albums of the year so far. Albums featured in this episode:(01:14) Album No.

Madonna fills the highest two spaces on the iTunes Top Albums chart in America as multiple versions of Confessions II debut at Nos. 1 and 2.

The best albums of all time include classics like Abbey Road and Blood on the Tracks alongside newer ones like To Pimp a Butterfly and Blonde.

As the year reaches its mid-point, we have answers to a question more pressing than what to wear to the cookout or how early should we arrive at the fireworks show: What should I listen to?

You seem pretty rad, for a year so potentially in malaise. At least, that’s the way we feel every time we turn off the news and turn on the music that takes us away from all that. The best

Jan. 12 marks the 50th anniversary of the historic release of Led Zeppelin’s self-titled debut album, also known as “Led Zeppelin I.” Now ranked among the greatest rock records ever made, “Led Zeppelin” actually wasn’t initially received well by critics.

Read all about those and more albums below.

Westside Cowboy, Cola, Daughn Gibson, Ovven, and more made some of the best indie albums you might have missed.

The Spirit of Rory: Live From Cork becomes his 31st leader.

Indie Basement is a weekly column on BrooklynVegan focusing on classic indie and alternative artists, “college rock,” and new and current acts who follow a similar path. There are reviews of new albums, reissues, box sets, books and sometimes movies ...