The Noise: The VMAs Sucked...

I mean, aside from this GIF of Nicki. See the best dressed lady of the night as well as the best performance after the jump. 

The Noise: R.I.P. Etta James

Legendary blues and R&B singer Etta James died this morning from leukemia complications. Her struggle with addiction is well documented, but she will be remembered for her soaring, wrenching vocals. Stream her enduring classic "At Last" below.

The Noise: Mark Ronson grooves with Erykah Badu and others on 'A La Modeliste'

Mark Ronson has hooked up with one of the premier soul singers of our time, Ms. Erykah Badu, as well as Yasiin Bey, Trombone Shorty, members of the Dap-Kings, and legendary New Orleans drummer Zigaboo Modeliste. Also, Mos Def is involved somehow. Check out the super funky track. A real N'awlins treat!

The Noise: The Return of D'Angelo?

One of the best R&B singer-songwriters of the 1990s and early 2000s, D'Aneglo, has been away from the music scene for far too long, but fortunately there seems to be a new album in the works. Check out the demo for his cover of Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun." It's certainly jazzier than the original.

D'Angelo " Black Hole Sun " (Demo) by FUNK★U

The Noise: The Best 25 Songs of 2011

Well, clearly Beyoncé made the cut. See if your favorites made the cut, in a list that features everything from sassy female MCs to indie crooners, after the jump!

The Noise: Rihanna thinks 'You Da One'

The whole lyrics and the screen thing is getting tired, and to some extent so is Rihanna's sexually aggressive gyrating. But this has to be one of the most romantic tracks of her career, an exuberant love song, which is still very sexy. She also gets major style points for her extreme white cat eye sunglasses, her exquisite two-tone manicure and her interpretation of Malcolm McDowell's A Clockwork Orange look. It's just too bad that she may have ripped off another photographer.

R.I.P. Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse was found dead at her London apartment. She was only 27. The young soul singer clearly had her demons. Her struggles with drugs and alcohol have been well documented (even by herself), but it is still tragic to hear that one of the most talented singer-songwriters of recent years has passed at such a young age. Her great talent will be missed, but fortunately her perfect soul/pop songs will live on. Her aching voice will live on.

The Noise: Beyoncé grows-up on '4'

Beyoncé has never been good with album titles. I mean B'Day? I Am/Sasha Fierce? But she has always been exceptional at turning out the perfect soul/pop tune. Just think of all the classics she already has under her belt. The rapturous disco-horned "Crazy in Love," the ultimate up-beat fuck you anthem that is "Irreplaceable," the contagiously jumpy "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," among other smash hits, and the slew of girl power anthems she master minded for Destiny's Child. These hits have more than asserted her as the definitive capital D diva of her generation.