Here’s a Best of 2019 list featuring favorites from this year’s new releases – along with some albums that were just new to me.

Remembering those times when Steely Dan, Tommy Tutone, the B-52’s and others dialed up some phone number-focused rock songs.

Sturdy rock and roll that pays tribute to its influences without sounding trite.

Blondie still sounds like Blondie, a space-age mixture of icy dance beats and fiery post-punk attitude. Finally, it seems, the rest of popular music has come around again to Debbie Harry’s way of doing things. You May Also Like: Chic featuring Nile Rodgers, “I’ll Be There” (2015): One Track MindRead More

The irony, of course, was that Hilly Kristal originally wanted to open a roots-rocking Bowery bar — thus, the name: CBGB, which stood for “country, bluegrass and blues.” Lucky for us, that’s not how it turned out. You May Also Like: Chris Frantz – ‘Remain in Love: Talking Heads, TomRead More