A Fine Time for Looking Back

Isn’t it funny how the movie industry and music take wildly divergent paths this time of year? Hollywood studios crank out blockbusters as fast as they can in hopes of catching some Oscar buzz, or at least some cash from people looking for  escapism over the holidays. But come Thanksgiving and the weeks following, music releases slow to a trickle. And we’re kind of glad for that. It gives us a chance to pause and think about all the new tunes that have hit our ears in the past 12 months. Remember that album you couldn’t stop spinning in January? What about that song that was your summer jam? It’s fun to give those a fresh listen. And it’s also fun to size up the music you’ve heard over the past year and list your favorites for debate or discussion, or just to remember. We invite you to share your Top 10 with us — and the world — in our  Year-End Readers Poll, open now through Dec. 30. But first, check out the slideshow with this column to learn about some recent new releases that might just make your list.