Stereophonics on 'Corden'

Watch Stereophonics perform "Caught by the Wind" on The Late Late Show with James Corden.

Steve Earle & Lucinda Williams on 'Meyers'

Watch Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams perform "You're Still Standing There" on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

Ty Segall on 'Conan'

Watch Ty Segall perform "Fanny Dog" on Conan.

St. Vincent on 'Fallon'

Watch St. Vincent perform "Slow Disco" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

The National on 'Ellen'

Watch The National perform "The Day I Die" on Ellen.

2017 The Albums: League of Their Own

This award started long before the site was even a thought, in one publication, radio show or another. Since 2000, I have handed out a "League of Their Own" Award to an album that is made by an artist who is the most forward thinking, open minded, revolutionary musician out there today. Their accomplishments in the past 12 months have either resurrected a sound, broke down walls and created new frontiers or have totally reinvented a genre all together. The choices for "League of Their Own" have become more than just the best album of the year but the most important record to be released at that time. 

See Our Picks for 2017's Honorable Album Mentions

In the past winners have included: 

2000 - Radiohead - Kid A 
2001 - The Strokes - Is This It? 
2002 - NERD - In Search of... 
2003 - The White Stripes - Elephant 
2004 - The Killers - Hot Fuss 
2005 - The Mars Volta - Francis the Mute 
2006 - TV On The Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain 
2007 - Kanye West - Graduation 
2008 - Santogold / Santigold
2009 - Mastodon - Crack the Skye 
2010 - Gorillaz - Plastic Beach 
2011 - Bjork - Biophilia 
2012 - Flying Lotus - Until The Quiet Comes 
2013 -  Arcade Fire - Reflektor
2014 - Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels 2  
2015 - Kamasi Washington - The Epic 
2016 - David Bowie - Blackstar 

...and now to add to this growing list is someone who has taken the music world by storm for the last five years and proves to be the most important living musician today and the voice of a generation. His music is more than just hip-hop, it is a verbal documentary about life in hard times, life as a black man, life as a young person under 30, and someone searching for more than just a higher power but understanding. Ladies and Gentlemen, the 2017 League of Their Own winner is...

Kendrick Lamar - DAMN. 

"I'm willin' to die for this shit
I done cried for this shit, might take a life for this shit
Put the Bible down and go eye for an eye for this shit," Lamar sings as he opens the single "ELEMENT." and four songs into DAMN., he makes the declaration that this isn't a job, this isn't for fame, this isn't for money, this is his life and these are the themes that made this record so spellbinding.  

St. Vincent is 2017's Officially A Icon 

DAMN. is Kendrick Lamar solidifying himself as the best rapper alive and a top five emcee. As he uses the words thrown against him, the headlines that are flashed around the news, DAMN. is a record that is just as much in the ethos of punk rock as it is in hip-hop. If Johnny Rotten fronted The Clash it would have that attitude and political / social rawness and awareness. Yet, Lamar, who is a fan of jazz, Afropunk, rock, and clearly 90s rap and R&B, he mixes his influences together with a record that is not just the best to come out in 2017 but an album that has the Compton rapper touching the arch of music history. 

Listen to Our Essential Kendrick Lamar Playlist on Spotify

With appearances by Rihanna, Kid Capri, U2, and Zacari, Lamar left his comfort zone but oddly remained in it while telling his story and observations. If anything, the closing track, "DUCKWORTH." is the proof in the pudding that whatever this young artist was born to do was destiny.  

Stay Tuned Next Week For Our Top 10 Albums of the Year! 

Rising Artist: Joyner Lucas

This last week has been a whirlwind for Massachusetts emcee Joyner Lucas thanks to the release of his single and video "I'm Not Racist," which went viral soon after it was put on YouTube. The Worcester rapper released not just the video of the year but the soundtrack to 2017. In the wake of what has gone on in America since Trump's rise, Lucas has the race conversation many are too afraid to have with one another in the single. The six-minute epic is just the tip of the iceberg for what he can do and spit. Going in the underground since 2015, Lucas released his second album earlier this year, (508) 507-2209, and while it was a success with tastemakers, it is now resurrected thanks to he newfound success in the mainstream. While "I'm Not Racist" is a one-off single, his two albums prior show his career has been brewing to this moment and now he is ready to take the world by storm.

Underrated Classic: Morrissey 'Ringleader of the Tormentors'

In the mid-2000s, Morrissey went through a sort of career revival with the release of You are the Quarry in 2004. Two years later, he followed up on his success with Ringleader of the Tormentors. An indie rock opera of sorts as Moz enlisted longtime David Bowie producer Tony Visconti to work with him in Rome, Italy, on the album. The record would become the most personal, lyrically, for the former Smiths singer and the grandest in terms of production thanks to Visconti's vision. When the album arrived in the spring of 2006, it was well received by critics and fans and was propelled by the singles, "You Have Killed Me," "In The Future When All's Well," and "I Just Want to see the Boy Happy."  In the 11 years since, it has fallen off the radar among listeners. As the singer now tours in support of his new record, Low in High School, fans can look back at this as a turning point for the British musician. With a record full of lush philharmonic strings, clear cut themes and stories but also, such a different sound for someone who has been so miserable for a majority of his life.

Movie of the Month: 'The Intouchables'

In December, many people look for feel-good films to put them in the holiday spirit and while The Intouchables isn't a Christmas movie, it is one hell of an inspiring piece of motion picture. The 2011 French film tells the story of a wealthy quadriplegic who needs a caretaker and after interviewing many, he and his assistant come across a man name Driss, a criminal who needs to show the government he is looking for work as part of a parole deal he had. As Driss continues to show no interest in the job, the man who wants to hire him shows more interest in him. After a series of call backs, Driss lands the job and reluctantly takes the position and strikes up a friendship and brotherhood with his wealthy boss, Philleppe. As Philleppe and Driss form a bond, the aides past comes back to haunt him and his boss does whatever he can to help. The plot of the film is inspired by the true story of Philippe Pozzo di Borgo and his French-Algerian caregiver Abdel Sellou, who are featured at the end of the film. The Intouchables is the type of film that will make you laugh, cry, and punch the air with excitement after viewing.

U2 on 'SNL'

Watch U2 perform "American Soul" and "Get Out of Your Own Way" on Saturday Night Live.