Jan. 11. 1980 Gusto record review: Best albums of 1979
Not much enthusiasm in this edition of my annual list of best albums. Jan. 11, 1980 1979 was a year of rockslides, commercially and artistically Rock closed out the ‘70s in a cloud of pessimism and uncertainty. 1979 was a bad year in the music business. Record sales declined for the first time in a quarter century. The superstars of previous seasons didn’t shine as brightly. Disco fever suddenly cooled. The succeeding washes of the New Wave became weaker and weaker. And the brash young pop bands that were supposed to succeed the New Wave only succeeded in sounding like dim reflections of the Knack, whose inspired but obnoxious “My Sharona” throbbed at Number One all summer. My 30-best list for 1979 attempts to balance popular success, creative triumph and, of course, personal preference. The first 10 are the boldest artistical...