This is the 3rd - and last - part of the series of JUNO coverage before the show. Keep in mind that i will be doing a live entry keeping ya up to date on the ceremonies. Yea, this should be good! This one covers the last few nominees and categories. This list will be different from the last 2, as i won't be rambling on and on. Just a simple look at the nominees in the categories...and, my pick.

Get it? Got it? GOOD!

Country Recording Of The Year:

• Aaron Pritchett: Thankful


• Crystal Shawanda: Dawn Of A New Day


• Doc Walker: Beautiful Life


• George Canyon: What I Do


• Tara Oram: Chasing The Sun

Pick: Tara Oram

Rap Recording Of The Year:

• DL Incognito: A Captured Moment In Time


• D-Sisive: The Book


• Famous: I Rap Now


• Kardinal Offishall: Not 4 Sale


• Point Blank: Point Blank

Pick: Kardinal Offishall

Video Of The Year:

• Feist: Honey Honey


• Gnarls Barkley: Going On


• Saint Alvia: Blond Kryptonite


• Sam Roberts: Detroit '67


• Sam Roberts: Them Kids

Pick: Sam Roberts - either one of his video singles could take it...but, i'm guessing for Detroit '67

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Yea, i promised part 2 yesterday....I KNOW! lol. But, i got so busy, i totally spaced out about it. And, it also doesn't help when you're smokin' pot lol. Since the JUNO's air live in 2 and a half hours @ 6pm MT/5pm PT, i should finish up this list of my predictions.

Oh yea...before i forget! Divine Brown won an untelevised award. Congrats to her for winning in the R&B/Soul Album of the Year category! For those of you that won awards lastnight, and ya just happen to check my blog....Congrats! I'll have a full list of winners tonight! Chances are that if i'm not helping out with the concert tonight....i'll be doing a live blog. First time in a few years i've done a live blog. There's gonna be tons of edits! :)

Anyways - on with the list!

Artist Of The Year:

• Bryan Adams


• City And Colour


• K.D. Lang


• Sam Roberts


• Serena Ryder

Now, this one is tough! They're all worthy of this title. Granted, i'm not so much into k.d. But, that doesn't mean she's not a good song writer and artist. Her sound seems to change a little with every one of her release's though, and she's "grown" a lot over the years. I still remember "Constant Craving"...and, prob'ly one of the few songs i love by her. I haven't had the chance to hear any of her stuff since....a long time ago....so, i can't say much good Or bad about her.

City And Colour. The guy behind this (Dallas Green) came out of Alexisonfire. To come full circle and release an acoustic album is a feat in it's own. It shows his range and what he's capable of. He's a serious contender.

Do i have to say anything about Bryan Adams? He's gone....soft....but, he still kicks ass! I fell in love with him when i heard his Reckless tape (does anyone remember that technology?)....so, yea, it spawned from there. Granted, Room Service probably didn't live up to expectations of others - it did for me. 11 however put him back in the forefront. One of his more "put together" albums.

Sam Roberts...if you want some real Canadian rock - look no further than this band! I dunno what to say really about these guys. It's rock music. Canadian Rock...one of the more pure forms. I got hooked when i first heard "Brother Down"...and, almost 4 years later...it's still an awesome song. Their release's since then have been phenomenal!

Pick: Well....Sam Roberts has a heavy hitting record. They've been in this category twice now...this is the third time. Not only that, but they were also nominated for new artist of the year in 2003, along with an album of the year nomination. Of the 7 prior times they've been nominated, they've won 4 of them. Can they go for 5 of 8? 2 artists can come up and take this from them. Most notably Bryan Adams and City And Colour. Bryan Adams is the one with the streak to touch. Same with K.D Lang. I don't expect Serena to take this, because her album wasn't really that strong (Not to say it was bad...don't put words in my mouth!) I'm going for...City And Colour

Group Of The Year:

• Great Big Sea


• Nickelback


• Simple Plan


• The Trews


• Tokyo Police Club

I honestly wish that we had some crappy bands in these here categories! lol. Just because it's getting really tough to pick between these! I guess we'll start with Great Big Sea, eh? They've had an awesome career. 15+ years...and still going strong. And, i can honestly say that i didn't start getting into these guys until i re-heard "Sea Of No Cares" again last year. I think the main reason i got into these guys to start with is my Celtic music background...and, "Newfie" celtic isn't that much different. But, these guys are Canada's answer to Ireland's Corrs...hell, even U2 for that matter. And, their latest release is just another example of how they're gonna be around Canada for a long time to come, and have a really healthy status. They just broke into the U.S. scene of things in 2004 or 2005. Hard to believe.

I've focused on Simple Plan and Nickelback already. So, we know where i stand on them. Let's focus on Tokyo Police Club. I never heard of these guys til the end of last year. But the acoustic and indie side of things drew me to them. I wish i had the chance to listen to more of them...and, to get them on the podcast. But, that's a topic i ain't gonna touch yet! lol.

Pick: It's hard to go against them....so, i'm gonna go for Great Big Sea. Nickelback and Simple Plan...either of them can squeak in there. But, let's hope that GBS will pull it off...again!

New Artist Of The Year:

• Crystal Schwanda


• Jessie Ferrell


• Kreesha Turner


• Lights


• Nikki Yanofsky

yea - this is new alright. I've only had the chance to listen to 1 of these chicks. Any idea on who it is? Jesse Ferrell. So, don't ask me why i'm gonna comment on this one. I'd say something about Lights as well, but...with me only hearing 1 of her song's - that's hard for me to "pick apart". However, it's nice to see Jessie on this list! She's absolutely brilliant - both as a songwriter and a singer. She's got the voice of an angel....and, the beauty to match. Seems like Canada is producing alot of Female fronted country...which is always nice to see, because i'm a huge sucker for chick music. Blame everything from Joydrop to Terri Clark...and, Faith Hill to Paramore.

With Jessie's debut album...she sets herself far apart from the other Canadian country act that debuted last year as well - Tara Oram. Weird to see her not on this list, because she belongs here too. Anybody that is into Country music....or, just into discovering new music, and want to taste the world...check out Jessie! There wasn't a downside to her Album...and, just like Adam Gregory's new one...i'm HOOKED!

Pick: We all know who i've gotta go for here lol. But, that's not to say that Lights won't jump in there. Maybe we'll see a chick fight! :O But, i'm gonna check out all these other artists :D

New Group Of The Year:

• Beast


• Cancer Bats


• Crystal Castles


• Plants & Animals


• The Stills

Jesus guys! lol. Ya know i love ya for the new artist and group thing....but, if ya expect to have a say in these picks....i need to HEAR them and get hooked on them. I've heard of the Stills and The Cancer Bats. The stills are amazing. Cancer Bats....meh, not for me. I don't listen to much metal...but, they're good if ya like your ears to bleed. I've heard good things about Beast - and, that's gonna be the next CD i pick up in iTunes.

Pick: as much as it pains me to say this - i don't have a real pick for this category. But....ya only bet against The Stills if you're on crack lol. However, Beast could sneak in there (I'm going on the good things i've heard)

Songwriter Of The Year:

• Alanis Morissette (for 'Not As We', 'Underneath' and 'In Praise Of The Vulnerable Man')


• City And Colour (Dallas Green) (for: 'Sleeping Sickness')


• Gordie Sampson (Co-Songwriter: Whitney Duncan/John Shanks, Hillary Lindsey/Steve McEwan, Michael Logan) (for: 'When I Said I Would', 'Just A Dream', 'Davey Jones')


• Hedley (For: 'Old School', 'For The Nights I Can't Remember', 'Never Too Late')


• The Midway State (Nathan Ferraro) (For 'Never Again', 'Change For You')

Pick: it's hard to go against Alanis...or, Hedley for that matter. But C&C and The Midway State are both hard contenders for this award as well. I got introduced to Midway after i heard their CD "Holes". Absolutely breath-taking. And Hedley...well, nothing but good things to say for a lead singer that tried out for Canadian Idol...made it a little bit before getting the boot...and, ultimately said "Screw this, i'm gonna make it"...and, formed a band known as Hedley. They're a nice...alternative. haha...that so fits them, too!

I'm going for The Midway State in this one.

Ok - part 3 will be coming up in just a second here...i promise! lol. I wanna post this one before 6pm. And, part 3 will only include the nominees and my picks. Short. Simple. To the point. :)

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Tomorrow's the day, Canada! That's right - March 29 is the day to beat all days in Canadian music, with the JUNO awards being aired LIVE on CTV! So, what better way for me, a hardcore fan of music AND Canada - i'm going to pick my picks for this year's ceremonies.

Disclaimer: I've never done this before lol. So, I'll be shocked if i get any right....and, i'm not doing this cause i know "inside" information - let's hope the JUNO's aren't fixed. But, i've been listening to Canadian music, and the talent that we have this year, and i have to say - it's gonna be tough! And...i'm ONLY doing the predicitons for the live ceremony. Not the awards that are given out today or tomorrow before the show. Where the hell's the fun in that? Nonetheless, on to the picks!

Single Of The Year:

• Celine Dion: Taking Chances


• Divine Brown: Lay It On The Line


• Kardinal Offishall: Dangerous


• Michael Buble: Lost


• Nickelback: Gotta Be Somebody

hmm....that's a good guess! They're ALL Awesome! Well...i don't really listen to Celine :) But, she is an outstanding singer, and she's got an awesome voice. Nevermind that all her singles have been catchy...taking chances shouldn't really be the name of the song. Kardinal's latest song is awesome too. It's like....AKON! Geeze...is it just me, or does Akon seem to be in and producing more. Not that it's a bad thing, because he adds an awesome element to the song. They Both do. The vocals are in harmony together...and, it's not "too" rap. Michael Buble. Need i say more? I got hooked after i seen him do "Home" live one day on a show. And, his album's are absolutely for fans of Sinatra. Or, Krall for that matter. Shame she's not in this category....but, that's cause she missed the deadline. And...what do ya honestly have to say about Nickelback? These guys literally put Alberta at the forefront of Rock music. Toronto and Vancouver have Hip-Hop and Rap...Alberta and Winnipeg are ROCK!!! Sure, they've added a more "radio friendly" sound to it....it's still awesome.

Pick: If i could pick what i was gonna do....i'd nominate....Kardinal. Weird for me to go in a hip-hop direction! lol. I love Nickelback...so, they could take it. I could go on and on....but, i think Celine Dion will pull this one off, again.

International Album Of The Year:

• AC/DC: Black Ice


• Coldplay: Viva La Vida


• Guns N' Roses: Chinese Democracy


• Jack Johnson: Sleep Through The Static


• Metallica: Death Magnetic

haha....i'm actually listening to Metallica right now. How ironic! I either put it on before i started writing....or, i turned it on after i noticed the CD on the list? oO

Anyways....They're all awesome too. Jack Johnson is good for highs....mellow music, always the best! (whoops) lol. But, i don't have the CD right now...so, i couldn't tell ya. AC/DC....one of the Best albums of the year. I thought after a few years, they'd have been stale. But, Black Ice made a believer out of Everyone if they ever had any doubt! Metallica as well. They hadn't done a new CD since "St. Anger"...and, to come out of hiding like that...that's how ya do it!

I'm not even gonna mention GNR. Well, actually....maybe i should. Axl, come the hell on man! I know the original band isn't all there....but, to have us fans wait for 15 bloody years for a crap-tacular loaded CD...is just stupid. Talk about the overpricing pot in the fuckin' kettle. And, to think....we have 2 more of these same things to hear again. Sure, i commend ya on your ability to go...."Astray"...for a bit, and blend a new sound in. But, some of the songs, it was if ya didn't even try. I can picture Axl walkin' in the room and saying "Hey! Let's find a way to half ass this song...and, we'll go get more booze!". That's what it sounds like. Sorry man....but, some of the songs were good....but, some of them just didn't mix well. Hopefully the next 2 albums of the same thing get boring and tiresome. Hopefully ya won't be like how you portrayed yourself on the CD.

Pick: i'm between 2. AC/DC and Metallica. Despite all the file-sharing shit and lawsuits that happened....nothing like suing your fans. I thought when they released "St Anger"....that was a half-assed album. It was good...but, not GREAT. Death Magnetic on the other hand is Kickin'! It's Pounding! It's....ROCKING!!! So...Metallica all the way on this one.

Album Of The Year:

• Hedley: Famous Last Words


• The Lost Fingers: Lost In The 80's


• Nickelback: Dark Horse


• Simple Plan: Simple Plan


• Sylvain Cossette: 70's, Volume 2.

Oh wow. Well...3 of them have spectaular CDs. I haven't heard the Lost Fingers. Sylvain Cossette is another one i haven't heard of. Damn, me...actually admitting that i haven't heard of them! lol. There's no pop in here...which is a shame. No country either? Geeze...what the hell?!?! If i can bring back country artists on the podcast, i'm sure they could do something about that. On that note. Nickelback has a well put-together album. They went in the same direction that All The Wrong Reasons did. So, soundwise...it doesn't sound much different. A LOT of radio friendly songs. The lyrical style has sort of changed though. All you have to do is take into account "S.E.X." and "Something In Your Mouth" to know that. However...."If Today Was Your Last Day" shows how passionate these boys are.

Simple Plan. Whoa. That's all i can say is....wow. These guys added a new element to them since their last CD. It's nice to have an "Edge" now. It kind of reminds me of what AFI did when they released "Decemberunderground"....came back with a kind of...pop meets rock meets punk meets power pop and "Emo". They shoulda released "Generation" as their first single. Cause, it's just that damn catchy. But...when ya find "deeper meaning" in how they release songs, it makes sense. The whole album is impactful and deep lyrically. And, to further my case on that..."Save You". They had a campaign up here to promote the video that showed the proceeds of this single from iTunes to donate it to them. I can't remember what it was again though.

Pick: SIMPLE PLAN! SIMPLE PLAN! These guys are amazing, and they deserve it. To write how they wrote the songs, and made the album....They found their...niche. They all have their place in this category, so, either of them can pull this off.

I'll do part 2 of this later....as there's a few categories to go! But...stay tuned! :)

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