The best albums of 2020 include (clockwise from top left): The Jayhawks, Lady Gaga, Royce da 5’9”, Poppy, MisterWives, The Weeknd, Donna Missal, Caleb Landry Jones, Songhoy Blues and Homeboy Sandman. Welcome back to RIFF’s top album countdown! If you’re here just to complain about the order or lack…

Songhoy Blues, Courtesy. At one point a decade ago, the members of Malian rock band Songhoy Blues weren’t allowed to play shows. The ban had nothing to do with pandemic shelter-in-place orders and everything with an Islamist group that had taken over northern parts of the country and imposed sharia law,…

Clockwise from top left: Resistance Revival Chorus, Public Enemy, Ruth B, theMIND, Amber Mark, Songhoy Blues, Greyboy Allstars and The Asteroid No. 4.Every week, there’s more new music waiting to be discovered. But this week approaches amid more protests and marches nationwide. Perhaps you are getting marching, or donating,…