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Music News: Rolling Stone names Beyonce's 'Lemonade' best album of 2016

Beyonce in the 'Lemonade' visual album
Beyonce in the 'Lemonade' visual albumCourtesy of the artist/Screenshot by NPR

by Jay Gabler

November 29, 2016

Thanksgiving is over, so bring on the best-of lists! Rolling Stone became one of the first major music publications to release its best-album list for 2016, and at the top is Beyoncé’s Lemonade, "a confessional, genre-devouring suite that feels larger than life yet still heartbreakingly intimate, because it doubles as her portrait of a nation in flames."

Pitchfork isn't quite ready to pronounce judgement on the year's albums, but it did release a best-videos list, and — shocker, or totally not shocking at all? — OK Go are nowhere to be found. Number one: you got it, Lemonade, the visual album. "Teeming with visions of black feminist fortitude, remixed American history, and ancient sources of strength, Beyoncé’s latest world-halting opus is dense enough to warrant an entire college course devoted to unpacking its multitudes," writes Ryan Dombal.

At The Current, we're making our year-end lists too. Starting next week, watch for lists of our staff's favorite music released this year, and vote online to help us pick the year's Top 89 songs.

Ocean comes alive

Another album sure to appear on many year-end list is Frank Ocean’s Blonde. Now, Ocean has confirmed his first live performance in three years. On July 14, Ocean will headline the Lovebox Festival in London. (Consequence of Sound)

Kanye remains hospitalized

Kanye West remains hospitalized, reportedly because he "is still not stable," according to TMZ. West checked in to a Los Angeles hospital last weekend, canceling the remainder of his Saint Pablo tour due to what was later described as "temporary psychosis due to sleep deprivation and dehydration." (Pitchfork)

Yasiin Bey announces final album

Yasiin Bey — formerly known as Mos Def — has announced what he says will be his final album before retiring from the music biz. Bey and his collaborator Ferrari Shepard will release a self-titled album under the name of their duo, Dec 99th, on — that's right, Dec. 9. (Billboard)

Neil Young shares views on Standing Rock, Trump

Neil Young has made a statement in support of protesters at Standing Rock, calling on President Barack Obama to "step in and end the violence against the peaceful water protectors at Standing Rock immediately." Young also says the surprise election of Donald Trump presents an opportunity for activists. "The great issues of our time are now brightly illuminated and people are becoming more aware of them than ever," Young writes.

For that rock fan who has everything

A Dec. 10 auction at Sotheby's will include some major chunks of rock history. Among them: the piano John Lennon used at home to write Beatles classics including "A Day in the Life" and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"; Bob Dylan’s final manuscript for "Blowin' in the Wind"; and the first draft of the Eagles’ "Hotel California," with lyrics handwritten by both Don Henley and Glenn Frey. (Rolling Stone)

For the vinyl collector, how about the late Dennis Hopper’s record collection? The 110-piece collection "includes records by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Fleetwood Mac, Leonard Cohen, Miles Davis, and more, as well as 'handwritten notes to the actor from various artists and several unreleased records,'" reports Pitchfork. The price: $150,000.

Or, maybe your holiday shopping list includes a fan of dance music who has a blank wall to fill. Here's a gift they'll love: the portrait of Daft Punk that's seen in the music video for "Starboy," their collaboration with the Weeknd. The first run of 500 prints are already sold out, but Billboard notes that they'll likely start popping up on eBay.