Asking Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder to keep his trap shut would be, according the Phoenix/WFNX audience, a mortal sin. Unfortunately, in the music world, life beyond singing holds great torment for the reluctant superstar. Consider Eddie accepting the Best Hard Rock Performance Award at this year's Grammys: "I don't know what this means. So I guess it doesn't mean anything." Sheesh, Eddie, say "Thank you."

While Pearl Jam's recent Merkin Ball EP (Epic) didn't break any new ground for the band, or for Vedder, his throaty rasp was icing on the cake when it came to covering the Holland-Dozier-Holland classic "Leaving Here" for the Home Alive (Epic) album. In short, it is one of the band's best tracks ever, and Vedder is in rare form -- not the brooding existentialist, just a guy, rocking out to Motown. It's no wonder he's won the award for Best National Male Vocalist in our Poll for three years running.

-- Andrew Strickman