Peace out, Blender

Bad/Sad news: A popular music publication is folding...and that magazine is Blender. Born in the beginning of the decade, Blender was really the only mainstream music magazine worth browsing through because of its witty writing, hip recommendations (The Blender Bible, Guide, and Top lists of whatever), and coverage of the aritsts and musicians I love...and were willing to put the biggest pop stars on their covers (Kelly! Katy! Leona!)

I had a feeling that the end was coming, since the last few issues of the magazine had lost its original binding and quantity (their latest and final print issue contains a paltry 72 pages). And to think, I was about to subscribe to Blender after my rather disappointing subscription affair with Rolling Stone ran its long, long course.

Mainstream music mag heir apparent, where are you??!?

Happy Birthday to Us: Lady GaGa et Moi

Left: Lady GaGa; Right: Lady GaGa concert bud Megan and I, pre-Yellowcard concert last April.

LMAO. Twenty-three years ago today, Stefani Germanotta a.k.a. Lady GaGa was born, along with a certain Friss Zene blog writer by the name of Ray V. ;)

Privileged to share the exact birthday with the freshest face of electro-dance pop, I dedicate this post to the quirky OTT blonde fashionista who has brought us hits with liners like "Puh-puh-puh poker face, puh-puh f*ck her face" and this little ditty...just...'cuz!

Grammys 2009 Hi-lites

The Grammy Awards was full of a whole lotta drama when it was announced moments prior to the telecast that Chris Brown pulled out of the show for allegedly being accused of making a felony domestic battery against a female victim, who many sources are confirming to be Chris's significant other Rihanna, who was also scheduled to perform. The two were nominated for multiple awards, yet neither showed up. In Rihanna's place, Justin Timberlake & Al Green gave an impromptu performance. Rihanna was to also perform "Live Your Life" with T.I. but it was J.T. who accompanied the rapper with his vocal performance on their next single "Dead And Gone":

Another dramatic moment of the evening belonged to American Idol 2003 alum Jennifer Hudson who finally won a Grammy award for best R&B album and gave an emotional performance which alluded to the tragic murders of her family members this past year.

Of the four British ladies nominated for multiple awards this year -- Duffy, Estelle, Adele, and Leona Lewis -- it was only Leona, the mainstream breakthrough artist of the past year, who left empty-handed. Adele won the "Best New Artist" and "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance" for her song "Chasing Pavements", Duffy won "Best Pop Vocal Album" (Rockferry), and Estelle won for her collaboration with Kanye West on "American Boy".

For the rock awards, Coldplay racked up three wins for Best Rock Album (Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends), Song of the Year for "Viva La Vida", and Best Pop Vocal Group Performance. Radiohead's In Rainbows won Best Alternative Album while John Mayer has proven to have the best singing chops in two categories: Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Say" and Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for "Gravity", both from his '06 album Continuum.

Friss Zene fave Katy Perry performed "I Kissed A Girl" and it garnered very mixed reviews.

Oh well. At least she successfully channeled the spirit of Carmen Miranda as a lovely vision in fruit.

Phantom Planet's 'Raise The Dead' in stores today

Phantom Planet will be releasing their latest studio album, their first on Fueled By Ramen/Decaydance after many years at Epic and Geffen, titled Raise The Dead today.

PURCHASE THE ALBUM HERE

After about four years, the band experimented with their new distinct sound, and deviated from past works such as The Guest which featured their hugely popular hit, "California".

The Southern Caliornia based band is currently out on the Honda Civic Tour and will be releasing their first single, "Do The Panic" soon.

2008 Grammy Awards - The Predictions!

The 50th annual Grammy Awards are tonight! To get in on the festivities, here's a list of nominees (general, pop, rock, alt) of who I want to, or predict will, win in bold.

Record of the Year
"Irreplaceable" - Beyonce
"The Pretender" - Foo Fighters
"Umbrella" - Rihanna feat. Jay-Z
"What Goes Around Comes Around" - Justin Timberlake
"Rehab" - Amy Winehouse

Rihanna has great chances in this category with her well-produced and inescapable worldwide hit that defined the industry in 2007.

Album of the Year
Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace - Foo Fighters
These Days - Vince Gill
River: The Joni Letters - Herbie Hancock
Graduation - Kanye West
Back to Black - Amy Winehouse

Admittingly, I have not listened to all these albums in their entirety, but Kanye's Graduation is full of hits and sold over 2 million albums in the US since dropping the album against 50 Cent's effort in September.

Song of the Year(a.k.a. "The Songwriters' Award")
"Before He Cheats" - Carrie Underwood
"Hey There Delilah" - Plain White T's
"Like A Star" - Corinne Bailey Rae
"Rehab" - Amy Winehouse
"Umbrella" - Rihanna

PWT frontman Tom Higgenson deserves the nod for a song Maroon 5's Adam Levine confessed to wishing he wrote the song himself.

Best New Artist
Feist
Ledisi
Paramore
Taylor Swift
Amy Winehouse

Paramore is arguably one of the best new bands of the year. Alt-rock has slowly made its pressence known in the mainstream and a win here would be welcomed.

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
"Candyman" - Christina Aguilera
"1234" - Feist
"Big Girls Don't Cry" - Fergie
"Say It Right" - Nelly Furtado
"Rehab" - Amy Winehouse

Pop being the operative word, Fergie's mid-tempo hit pleasantly surprised many who wondered if the female Black Eyed pea could actually sing. Oh, and the answer is yes, she can.

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
"Everything" - Michael Bublé
"Belief" - John Mayer
"Dance Tonight" - Paul McCartney
"Amazing" - Seal
"What Goes Around Comes Around" - Justin Timberlake

It's a toss-up between Bublé and Mayer for the win. I commend John for his anti-war message in "Belief" but in terms of overall appeal, "Everything" sells it.

Best Pop Vocal by a Duo/Group
"(You Want To) Make A Memory" - Bon Jovi
"Home" - Daughtry
"Makes Me Wonder" - Maroon 5
"Hey There Delilah" - Plain White T's
"Window in the Skies" - U2

A very competitive category, Daughtry's song had a massive popularity last year during the spring and early summer. Vocal-wise, this trumps Plain White T's and Maroon 5.

Best Pop Collabo
"Steppin' Out" - Tony Bennett & Christina Aguilera
"Beautiful Liar" - Beyonce & Shakira
"Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" - Robert Plant & Alison Krause
"The Sweet Escape" - Gwen Stefani & Akonm
"Give It To Me" - Timbaland feat. Nelly Furtado & Justin Timberlake

It's the year of superproducer Timbaland. Let's give it to him.

Best Pop Vocal Album
Lost Highway - Bon Jovi
The Reminder - Feist
It Won't Be Soon Before Long - Maroon 5
Memory Almost Full - Paul McCartney
Back To Black - Amy Winehouse

Maroon 5's 2007 album has a string of up-tempo jams but will most likely lose to that critically-praised "Rehab" singer.

Other Winner Predictions
Best Rock Peformance (Group): "It's Not Over - Daughtry
Best Hard Rock Performance: "The Pretender" - Foo Fighters
Best Rock Song: It's Not Over - Daughtry
Best Rock Album: Daughtry - Daughtry
Best Alternative Music Album: Alright, Still - Lily Allen
Best Female R&B Vocal: "No One" - Alicia Keys
Best Male R&B Vocal: "Because of You" - Ne-Yo
Best R&B Vocal (Group): "Hate That I Love You" - Rihanna feat. Ne-Yo
Best R&B Song: "No One" - Alicia Keys
Best Dance Recording: "Don't Stop The Music" - Rihanna
Best (Short Form) Music Video: "1234" - Feist

Alicia Keys, the Foo Fighters, Beyonce, Fergie, Feist, Mary J. Blige, John Mayer, Rihanna, Carrie Underwood, Amy Winehouse and Kanye West are expected to perform. Be sure to catch the show and the performances tonight on CBS!