Listening to our picks of 2014?
Marco Werman's Top Five Picks:
1. "Vengo" by Ana Tijoux
2. "Dawn" by Emma Donovan & The Putbacks
3. "Landini" by Aurelio
4. "Les Ambassadeurs Du Motel De Bamako" by Les Ambassadeurs
5. "Jaiyede Afro" by Orlando Julius & The Heliocentrics
April Peavey's Top Five Picks:
1. "Motel Baja" by Nortec Collective Presents Bostich + Fussible
2. "Dawn" by Emma Donovan & The Putbacks
3. "Bless Up" by Ernest Ranglin & Avila
4. "Toumani & Sidiki" by Toumani Diabaté & Sidiki Diabaté
5. "Benyoro" by Benyoro
"Vengo" by Ana Tijoux
Winner of a 2014 Latin Grammy, this French-Chilean rapper is great from start to finish.
"Dawn" by Emma Donovan & The Putbacks
This is Australia's answer to Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. Emma Donovan is an indigenous singer backed by a rhythm combo from Melbourne.
"Landini" by Aurelio
Garifuna music rests on the shoulders of this singer-songwriter from Playplaya, Honduras.
"Les Ambassadeurs Du Motel De Bamako" by Les Ambassadeurs
A stunning double CD of vintage recordings made between 1975 and 1977 in Bamako, Mali.
"Jaiyede Afro" by Orlando Julius & The Heliocentrics
The latest in Afropop from Nigerian saxophonist, singer and songwriter Orlando Julius. Here he teams up with The Heliocentrics from London.
"Motel Baja" by Nortec Collective Presents Bostich + Fussible
Bostich (Ramón Amezcua) and Fussible (Pepe Mogt) are a duo from Mexico and co-founders of Nortec Collective. A great fusion of Norteño and electronic music.
"Bless Up" by Ernest Ranglin & Avila
Surely one of the greats in Jamaican music. If the song "Follow On" doesn't bring a smile to your face, then I don't know what will.
"Toumani & Sidiki" by Toumani Diabaté & Sidiki Diabaté
This is a beautiful father and son collaboration by two masters of the kora from Mali.
"Benyoro" by Benyoro
Debut album from this New York-based group. Members of the band hail from both Mali and the United States.
More from The World's Year in Review:
The article you just read is free because dedicated readers and listeners like you chose to support our nonprofit newsroom. Our team works tirelessly to ensure you hear the latest in international, human-centered reporting every weekday. But our work would not be possible without you. We need your help.
Make a gift today to help us reach our $25,000 goal and keep The World going strong. Every gift will get us one step closer.