Those who enjoy the adventurous eclecticism of traditional Top 40 radio should welcome this diverse, 20-track compilation of some of 2004's most memorable hits. Anchored by U2's energetic return to roots, "Vertigo" and Gwe... more »n Stefani's rock-of-the-80's-channeling solo breakthrough "What Are You Waiting For," it goes on to dish up everything from the teeny-pop angst of Lindsey Lohan's "Rumors" to the further adventures of Mr. Dizzle, Snoop Dogg himselfizzle (with an assist from Pharrell), on the typically laidback groove of "Drop It Like It's Hot" and the unlikely, country-urban fusing duet of Nelly and Tim McGraw on "Over and Over." The collection continues that contemporary R&B bent via hits like Omarion's "O," Ashanti's "Only U" and John Legend's "Used to Love U." Yet it also makes room for performances as disparate as Howie Day's emotive, adult-alternative standout "Collide," Hoobastank's slick Cali-pop, the modern rock of Chevelle and Three Days Grace and Lenny Kravitz chunky-rhythmed "Lady." Frickin' A serves up a faithful cover of Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl" that preserves the infectious schlock-charm of the 80's original, while the spunky pop-punk of Canadian Skye Sweetnam's "Tangled Up in Me" and Australian Keith Urban's '04 contempo-country standout "You're My Better Half" close the anthology out on a upbeat, international note. --Jerry McCulley« less
Those who enjoy the adventurous eclecticism of traditional Top 40 radio should welcome this diverse, 20-track compilation of some of 2004's most memorable hits. Anchored by U2's energetic return to roots, "Vertigo" and Gwen Stefani's rock-of-the-80's-channeling solo breakthrough "What Are You Waiting For," it goes on to dish up everything from the teeny-pop angst of Lindsey Lohan's "Rumors" to the further adventures of Mr. Dizzle, Snoop Dogg himselfizzle (with an assist from Pharrell), on the typically laidback groove of "Drop It Like It's Hot" and the unlikely, country-urban fusing duet of Nelly and Tim McGraw on "Over and Over." The collection continues that contemporary R&B bent via hits like Omarion's "O," Ashanti's "Only U" and John Legend's "Used to Love U." Yet it also makes room for performances as disparate as Howie Day's emotive, adult-alternative standout "Collide," Hoobastank's slick Cali-pop, the modern rock of Chevelle and Three Days Grace and Lenny Kravitz chunky-rhythmed "Lady." Frickin' A serves up a faithful cover of Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl" that preserves the infectious schlock-charm of the 80's original, while the spunky pop-punk of Canadian Skye Sweetnam's "Tangled Up in Me" and Australian Keith Urban's '04 contempo-country standout "You're My Better Half" close the anthology out on a upbeat, international note. --Jerry McCulley
"Usually, I go totally crazy over NOW albums, but Now 18 has too many of those songs that you don't care about. There are some classics on here, making the album worth buying. Nows 16 & 17 weren't that great either. It's too bad; there are a lot of good songs that didn't make it on here. Now 19 better have some more classics and less mediocre follow-ups to classics ("Dissapear", "Vitamin R").
1. U2 - Vertigo (3:10) A-
Awesome, classic rock song. U2 is awesome, and this song is no dissapointment for fans and non-fans alike.
2. Gwen Stefani - What You Waiting For? (3:37) A-
Awesome beginning! The actual song is pretty good, but the follow-up to the song, "Rich Girl" is a lot better. It had better be on Now 19. Great song with great lyrics and music.
3. Lyndsay Lohan - Rumors (3:08) B+
Kind of annoying, but a lot better compared to most of the other songs on this album. "Over" is a MUCH BETTER SONG by far and if it isn't on Now 19 I'm going to be angry. "Rumors" is pretty good, even though it's totally overplayed on the radio.
4. Snoop Dogg & Pharell - Drop It Like Its Hot (4:28) A
One of the best songs on the album. Just plain classic. Best Snoop song ever. No way to describe it, its just a weird but good song that will be stuck in your head for years.
5. Destiny's Child feat. Lil Wayne & TI - Soldier (4:03) B
What happened? Destiny's Child used to be much better. "Soldier"'s version on the album "Destiny Fulfilled" is longer and better than the radio version. The chorus makes it a classic, but the raps kind of kill it.
6. Ashanti - Only U (3:06) B
Whoa. The riff that echoes throughout the song is incredibly annoying and is a total opposite to Ashanti's voice. The vocals and lyrics make up for the irritating music.
7. Chingy - Balla Baby (3:33) C
Nope. Doesn't cut it. Being one of two rap songs on the album, one being a classic and one being a mediocre follow-up, this is answer B. Chingy used to produce huge classics like "Right Thurr" and "Holidae In" but his new album is nothing to go crazy for. All this song is here for is to teach the world about the meaning of the word "balla".
8. John Legend - Used To Love U (3:29) B-
Decent, but the "holla, holla, holla, holla!" is extremely annoying. Good, though, but not memorable at all.
9. Nelly & Tim McGraw - Over & Over (4:11) B+
Even after the radio butchered the song by playing it "over and over again", the song is still pretty good. Best mix between a rapper and a country artist, a mash-up kind of like Jay-Z and Linkin Park, only quite different (lol). Good song, but I dislike that Nelly is now an R&B artist.
10. Frankie J & Baby Bash - Obsession (3:42) A
One of the best songs on the album, only because its new, catchy, and not butchered yet by the radio. Actually, it has been overplayed, but it's still good.
11. Omarion - O (4:06) B+
Good song (actually MEMORABLE), but the title and chorus stink. "O"? Without the chorus and different title, this song would be A material. Despite O not making sense, the rest of the chorus is catchy, at least. Also, truthfully, I think Omarion is an Usher wannabe, and he's not close yet.
12. Howie Day - Collide (4:06) B-
This song is somewhat irritating. The "doo, doo, doo" is EXTREMELY ANNOYING AND I WISH IT WASN'T IN THE SONG AT ALL! Otherwise, it's just OK.
13. Hoobastank - Dissapear (3:58) B
This song is good, but nothing compared to "Reason". Again, like #11, the chorus stinks! The verses and guitar riffs are great, but the song is ruined by the chorus.
14. Chevelle - Vitamin R (Leading Us Along) (3:42) B
Decent, but compared to Chevelle's earlier songs, this song isn't much. OK, though.
15. Three Days Grace - Home (3:58) B+
Every Three Days Grace song is good, and "Home" is no dissapointment. It's angry rock, like usual. Good song.
16. Lenny Kravitz - Lady (3:40) C
I hate this song. It's mediocre with not-very-good lyrics and annoying guitar playing. Not like Lenny at all; his previous songs have been so good and "Lady" is not at all up to his standards.
17. Good Charlotte - I Just Wanna Live (2:44) A-
Great song. Good Charlotte NEVER dissapoints. The screechy chorus is on purpose and isn't that bad. Definitely worth a listen. The second song on the album about hating publicity, the first being "Rumors".
18. Frickin' A - Jessie's Girl (2:54) A
AWESOME COVER of a good song. I don't see what people dislike about it, because it has great lyrics and vocals. Great new band with a horrible band name.
19. Skye Sweetnam - Tangled Up In Me (2:41) B-
Not very good. Just mediocre. That's about it. Yeah.
20. Keith Urban - You're My Better Half (3:58) A-
Country isn't that bad! Keith Urban is a great singer who always releases good country songs like this and "Days Go By", on Now 17. While I'm confused why the NOW people keep on including country music on pop/rock/rap albums, whatever! Who cares? This song is great. Catchy chorus, good music, and great singing. Nice way to end the album.
Overall, the album gets a B+. No songs that are a real reason to buy the album (like "Ocean Avenue" on Now 16), but there are some great classics on here. There are some mediocre fillers also included, which prevents the album from getting an A. Not the worst NOW, but not the best either. Buy it, only because of some great songs.
Oh, also: where are these songs? (Hopefully they will be on NOW 19...wink wink).
1. JLo: Get Right
2. Gwen Stefani: Rich Girl (and "Hollaback Girl" on NOW 20)
3. Kelly Clarkson: Since U Been Gone
4. Lyndsay Lohan: Over
5. Bowling For Soup: Almost
6. Ciara feat. Missy Elliot: 1,2 Step
7. Ludacris: Get Back
8. Jay-Z & Linkin Park: Numb/Encore
9. 50 Cent: Candy Shop (or "Disco Inferno")
10. Mariah Carey: It's Like That
11. Will Smith: Switch
12. Rob Thomas: Hurt No More
13. Jet: Look What You've Done
14. Green Day: Blvd. of Broken Dreams
15. Jessie McCartney: Beautiful Soul
16. Alicia Keys: Karma
17. Natalie: Goin' Crazy
18. Britney Spears: Do Somethin'
19. Amerie: 1 Thing
20. TI: Bring 'Em Out
Nope, this tracklist will never happen because NOW never has that many good songs."
My Prediction List for Now 19
Nowfan35 | 04/17/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This Review is Written By: Person (Since You Can't Write Two Reviews)
Pop
"Rich Girl" Gwen Stefani/Eve
"Incomplete" Backstreet Boys
"Get Right" Jennifer Lopez
"Dirty Laundry" Lisa Marie Presley
Hip-Hop/Rap/R&B/All That Kind Of Stuff
"Candy Shop" 50 Cent
"Goin' Crazy" Natalie
"Lonely" Akon
"Girl" Destiny's Child
"Don't Phunk With My Heart" Black Eyed Peas
"Baby I'm Back" Baby Bash/Akon
"Okay" Nivea/Lil' Jon
"Girlfight" Brooke Valentine
"Oh" Ciara/Ludacris
Rock
"Let Me Go" 3 Doors Down
"Almost" Bowling For Soup
"You And Me" Lifehouse
"The Geeks Get The Girls" American Hi-Fi
"Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" U2
"We Believe" Good Charlotte
Country
"Making Memories Of Us" Keith Urban"
My Least Fav Now
Nowfan35 | 03/16/2005
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I only liked about 8 songs on the CD.
So, I give it 2 stars.
Buy it if it's less than $10 like at a used CD store or something."
Now This Is What I Call The Worst One Yet
Aaron | Ohio, USA | 03/15/2005
(1 out of 5 stars)
"Just when you think they could get no worse...guess what...they do. This one is horrible. Many of these songs were not even significant hits and even that could be forgivable if they were good songs, but they are not. Of course, it is not all the "Now" people's fault. Music on the radio is pretty bed right now. However, you could search in the dumpster and find better songs than some of these.
1. U2- Vertigo: C+/ Hit the top 40, but why the leadoff track?
2. Gwen Stefani- What You Waiting For?: B/ Good song, but wasn't a big hit.
3. Lindsay Lohan- Rumors: C/ This wasn't a hit.
4. Snoop Dogg- Drop It Like Its Hot: B+/ One of the few good tracks.
5. Destiny's Child- Soldier: B-/ Gets annoying.
6. Ashanti- Only U: F/ Yuck.
7. Chingy- Balla Baby: F/ See above.
8. John Legend- Used To Love U: C-/ So-so.
9. Nelly w/ Tim McGraw- Over & Over: B-/ Overplayed
10. Frankie J- Obsession: C-/ So-so.
11. Omarion- O: F/ What the heck is this tripe?
12. Howie Day- Collide: C-
13. Hoobastank- Disappear: B-
14. Chevelle- Vitamin R: D
15. Three Days Grace- Home: C
16. Lenny Kravitz- Lady: C-
17. Good Charlotte- I Just Wanna Live: B-
18. Frickin' A- Jessie's Girl: D-
19. Skye Sweetnam- Tangled Up In Me: D-
20. Keith Urban- You're My Better Half: D+
"
Horrible Song Selection!
Cody Smith | 03/15/2005
(2 out of 5 stars)
"This is the worst NOW album by far! There is only 2 rap songs! That is crazy! Half of the album is bad. I have no idea what the NOW creators were thinking. Here is my review for the songs:
1.U2-Vertigo:C Okay song and deserving one
2.Gwen Stafani-What Are U Waiting For?:D This is bad. Kinda old.
3.linsay Lohan-Rumors:F This is not a hip-hop song if thats what the creators are thinking. I hate her SO much
4.Snoop Dogg feat Pharrell-Drop it like its Hot:B- Most deserving song here. This song dosen't have REAL music
5.Destineys Child-Soilder: B Okay but this is not the complete version. Deserving song
6.Ashanti-Only U:C- This does not deserve 2 be on here. Below average
7.Chingy-Balla Baby:B They put every Chingy song every NOW album after NOW 14. Okay song
8.John Legend:Used 2 Love U:A Good song but why is it on here? They should have Ordinary People
9.Nelly feat Tim Mcgraw:Over and Over:A+ Awesome song. Deserving song
10.Frankie J feat Baby Bash:A+ Too new, but good song
11.Omarion-O:A+ They made the song shorter again! Good song but not deserving.
The rest of the songs don't appeal 2 me so forget them. Worst NOW album. Not Recommended"
Track Listings (20) - Disc #1
