Cultural critic Wesley Morris says George Michael's music video for the song "Faith" was boundary-pushing. "You are allowed to look at this body in a way that you weren't allowed to look at Elvis' when he danced," Morris says. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Flowers are laid beneath a mural of David Bowie in London in January. Carl Court/Getty Images hide caption
NPR Music critic Ann Powers says David Bowie's Blackstar "carries us into the next realm but at the same time violently engages with the struggle to live and to die." YouTube hide caption
Mitski's song "Your Best American Girl" is one of Stephen Thompson's favorites of 2016. Ebru Yildiz/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Clockwise from top: Radiohead, Sturgill Simpson, Angel Olsen, Chance The Rapper, cover art for Big Thief, cover art for Anderson .Paak Courtesy of the artists hide caption
Wilco's Schmilco was among Robin Hilton's picks for the best albums of 2016. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Car Seat Headrest's Teens Of Denial is Bob Boilen's album of the year. Courtesy of the artist. hide caption
Bon Iver's 22, A Million is Stephen Thompson's favorite album of 2016. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Top row, left to right: Solange, David Bowie, Leonard Cohen; Middle row, left to right: Mitski, Bon Iver, Frank Ocean; Bottom row, left to right: Anohni, Car Seat Headrest, Beyoncé. Courtesy of the artists hide caption
The Flaming Lips in a still from the group's new video for 'Space Oddity' Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Michael Stipe performs "The Man Who Sold The World" on The Tonight Show Courtesy of the artist hide caption