Big Red Machine, born of the friendship of Bon Iver's Justin Vernon and The National's Aaron Dessner, is less a band than a large-scale collaboration involving dozens of musicians. Graham Tolbert /Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Clockwise from upper left: Shy Boys, The Decemberists, Hauschka, Bermuda Triangle Courtesy of the artists hide caption

Bon Iver's Justin Vernon has teamed up with Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National to form a new band (Big Red Machine) and an artists' collective called PEOPLE. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Sylvan Esso's What Now is Stephen Thompson's favorite album of 2017. Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

A selection of NPR Music's best 50 albums of 2017. (Clockwise from upper left) Far from Over by Vijay Iyer, Plunge by Fever Ray, Everybody Works by Jay Som, Aromanticism by Moses Sumney, Luv Is Rage 2 by Lil Uzi Vert and 4:44 by Jay-Z. Courtesy of the artists hide caption

The National Bob Boilen/NPR hide caption

The National's new album, Sleep Well Beast, comes out Sept. 8. Keith Klenowski/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Part of the cover art for Planetarium, the concept album by Nico Muhly, Sufjan Stevens, James McAlister and Bryce Dessner. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

The National's new album, Sleep Well Beast, comes out Sept. 8. Graham Macindoe/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Nico Muhly, Sufjan Stevens and Bryce Dessner talking with NPR Music's Bob Boilen Annabel Edwards/NPR hide caption

Clockwise from upper left: The National, Kalbells, Harry Styles, Fleet Foxes Courtesy of the artists hide caption

The National's new album, Sleep Well Beast, comes out Sept. 8. Graham Macindoe/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Clockwise from upper left: Arcade Fire by Guy Aroch, Tegan And Sara, Shovels & Rope by Leslie Ryann Mckellar, HAIM by Tom Beard Courtesy of the artists hide caption

Andrew Bird and The National's Matt Berninger perform together in Bird's living room. Courtesy of the artists hide caption

Bon Iver performs in Saal 1 at the Funkhaus in Berlin during an unnamed festival dedicated to collaboration and creation of new music. Michelberger Hotel hide caption

The cover art of At Swim by Lisa Hannigan. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Clockwise from upper left: Minor Victories, members of Free Cake For Every Creature, Yak, William Tyler Courtesy of the artists hide caption