Britney Spears occupies a weird, unique space in the pop spectrum. She’s been compared to past greats like Madonna and Kylie Minogue, but she lacks the latter’s self-aware creativity and mentioning her in the same breath as the former is, frankly, insulting. A common complaint with Spears is that she doesn’t write her own songs, which, the argument goes, somehow equates to a lack of talent, but the same can be said of Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra… the list goes on. She isn’t blessed with the preternaturally skilled vocals of a Mariah Carey or a Tina Turner, but her music has never been about her voice so much as her personality. And her personality is just what has carried her this far, when contemporaries like Mandy Moore and Christina Aguilera are becoming Starbucks whores and public laughingstocks, respectively. Spears is the ultimate pop chameleon, transforming from sly school girl with enough sexual innuendo to inspire thousands of illegal fantasies to a robotic dance-floor dominatrix, confident enough to overcome tabloid dramas that have ruined lesser stars. In many ways, Spears needed that separation from her past self to become the four-on-the-floor mistress she is on Femme Fatale. Calling Britney a pop singer is doing the term a disservice; she is much more of a pop bellwether, subject to the whims of the Top 40 crowd and more than happy to adapt to environments that have cruelly undone lesser icons. There’s a reason Aguilera’s last album sold barely north of 110,000 copies and Spears’ single “Hold It Against Me” has the most aggressive beat on mainstream radio today. Spears shows a willingness to reinvent herself that belies her fragile personal life and, most importantly, keeps her on the cutting edge of pop music.

Not only is it a fun and thrilling adventure but “Limitless” also leaves the audience asking themselves if they’d do the same thing if given access to a drug that could create an enhanced version of yourself. After all, in a time where scientific breakthroughs are quickly changing the world we live in, the prospect of a powerful smart drug may not be too far away.

On a day where anyone can be Irish, it’s easy to forget who is and isn’t a native of the Emerald Isle. Oh sure, there’s the dead give-a-ways like Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Maureen O’Hara and Collin Farrell. But then there are the few, the proud, the Irish folk that fly under the radar simply because their name isn`t O`something…

While the Oscars are certainly about the awards, we all know that the fashion on the red carpet is almost as much of a reason to tune in. This year there were several new trends to spot (ponytails, red, very little jewelry) and new crowns to be given out to the best and worst dressed in the land…all in good fun.

Awards season is in full swing and while part of Tinsel Town is popping the bubbly in celebration of nods, the other half is calling foul and keeping a tally of all the snubs. Nominations and disses go hand in hand throughout the Hollywood history books and here are five that take the cake!

This year, why not do something nice on V-day not just for your Valentine – but for any one you care for in general. Show love to your brother, sister, mom, pop, niece, nephew, best friend, gal-pals and yes, even your funny little Valentine. That’s what today is all about, right? Letting people in your life know that you love and care for them (…and eating chocolate too). Despite waiting until the final hour, fear not, sometimes the best gifts are the simple and spontaneous kind. Whether you’re single or have already been hit by cupid’s arrow – here’s a list of great last minute gifts for anyone on your list.

An eternal question in the indie industry – keep doggedly pursuing your artistic vision, maybe one defined by jagged bursts of post-punk and a singer whose just as likely to veer into screeching wails as he is a soulful hum, or get your shit together and make something perhaps more palatable for your average rock listener? It’s not too hard to see on what side Mine Is Yours falls – producer Jacquire King, whose behind-the-boards work catapulted Kings of Leon from Southern rock also-rans to multi-platinum lords of radio, is on hand, and singer Nathan Willett is content to focus on “love and relationships” in his lyrical matter…

Who doesn’t love entering a new year with a new outlook on life? If one of your resolutions in 2011 is to transform into a fashionista, you’re in luck. This will be a great year for fashion novices! Some of the biggest trends that we’ve seen on the runway for Spring 2011 are also some of the easiest to wear. It’s time to bring in the new year with new trends!