Search - Various Artists :: Now 55

Skip NOW 13 - Get NOW 55!

Pat Kelly | Here, There & Everywhere | 07/14/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Once again, as in 9 of the last ten NOW releases, the UK 2-CD version has trumped the 1-CD US version on the hottest hits.Hot because they're newer, bigger and better.Here's the line-up:1. R Kelly - Ignition - Remix (a US & UK #1)
2. 50 Cent - In Da Club (The biggest US hit of the year)
3. Justin Timberlake - Cry Me A River
4. Wayne Wonder - No Letting Go
5. Javine - Real Things (this & the next two songs are by Idol-type acts, but not bad)
6. Kym Marsh - Come On Over
7. Girls Aloud - No Good Advice
8. t.A.T.u. - Not Gonna Get Us
9. S Club 8 - Fool No More
10. Fast Food Rockers - The Fast Food Song (your kids will be singing this to distraction on your next road trip: "McDonalds, McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut". You've been warned!)
11. XTM & DJ Chucky Pts. Annia - Fly On The Wings Of Love
12. Lisa Scott-Lee - Lately
13. One True Voice - Shakespeare's (Way With) Words
14. Bhangra Knights feat. Husan - Husan (from the Bhangri band that brought you Beware Of The Boys)
15. Tomcraft - Loneliness
16. Tiga feat. Jake Shears - Hot In Herre
17. Lisa Maffia - All Over
18. Benny Benassi pts. The Biz - Satisfaction (not a Stones remake. The video involves young women & power tools. Oh my.)
19. Deepest Blue - Deepest Blue
20. DJ Sammy - Sunlight
21. Plummet - Damaged
22. Paul Van Dyk feat. Hemstock & Jennings - Nothing But You
23. Scooter - The Night

Disc: 2
1. Robbie Williams - Come Undone
2. Busted - You Said No (latest UK boy band pop sensation. In other words, awful.)
****I want you to pay particular attention to the next four songs. If you run into a better fourpack of pop tunes this year you have extraordinarily lucky ears:*****3. Daniel Bedingfield - I Can't Read You
- The New Zealander who makes demos in his basement that sound world class has excelled himself on this track. Without attempting to sound American, he's made his most US-commercial sound yet.
4. Amy Studt - Misfit
- It's not fair, but she's getting compared to Avril Lavigne. The big diff is Amy really does writer her own material, and it's better than Avril. This song should break Amy in the States.
\5. The Thrills - Big Sur
Here's an early nominee for Best New Act of the Year. A quintet from Dublin but who sound like they were born and raised in the Southern California of the early 70's. Everything you always loved about SoCal bands from The Beach Boys to the Eagles to the Doobies, synthesized in to something fresh, new and young. May be my favorite track of the year.

6. Coldplay - God Put A Smile On Your Face
If there's anyone left out there that hasn't been convinced that Coldplay isn't the best new act in rock in years, let this be your final proof.
And now back to your regular pop music:
7. Appleton - Everything Eventually
8. David Sneddon - Don't Let Go
9. Ronan Keating - The Long Goodbye
10. Darius - Incredible (What I Meant To Say)
11. Feeder - Just The Way I'm Feeling
12. Sinead Quinn - What You Need Is...
13. Melanie C - On The Horizon
14. Emma - Free Me (These last two keep intact the NOW track record of including every Spice Girl solo song.)
15. S Club - Say Goodbye
16. Sugababes - Shape (Interesting reinterpolation of Sting's "Shape of My Heart")
17. Jay-Z - Excuse Me Miss
18. Mariah Carey feat. Cam'Ron - (Boy) I Need You
19. Ja Rule feat. Ashanti - Mesmerize"

I wish all of the NOW Compilations were like this

Pat Kelly | 12/23/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Usually these NOW compilations feature a few great hits and tons of trivial songs. Now 55 is the latest exception. Both CD1 and CD2 have great songs. Only a few are songs that don't matter.
CDONE
1. RKelly-Ignition Remix(B+) Great tune, cool lyrics.
2. 50Cent-In Da Club (B) Good rap song about "da club". 50 Cent is a good rapper. (let's hope for PIMP on now56)
3. Justin Timberlake-Cry Me A River (C) I don't like Justin in the first place. This is probably his best song. It's not a compliment.
4. Wayne Wonder-No Letting Go (A-) A song that isn't overplayed on the radio, and it's a great song.
5. Javine-Real Things (C) Whatever.
6. Kym Marsh-Come On Over (C) Whatever...again.
7. Girls Aloud-No Good Advice (B) Girl band that actually doesn't stink. They don't need advice; their song is already good.
8. tATu-Not Gonna Get Us (B-) Try to imagine the lyrics meaning something else and it's a good song.
9. SClub8-Fool No More (B-) These young kids are replacing the originals? Whoa. This disco song proves that they aren't just another Spice Extravaganza.
10. Fast Food Rockers-Fast Food Song (B) Catchy lyrics and good tune. Do not listen to this song over 18 times. You'll hate it after then.
11. XTM: Wings of Love (B) It might be a love song but the music helps it get past its cheesiness.
12. Lisa Scott-Lee: Lately (B+) Another love song, this Steps-soloist has a great voice and I hope she comes out with some more songs soon.
13. One True Voice: Shakespeare's Way With Words (C+) Good voices of this band mostly known by NOW veterans.
14. Bhangra Nights & Husan: Husan (A-) The words go from English to whatever but it's still a great pumper.
15. Tomcraft: Loneliness (B+) Nice vocals and electrifying music.
16. Tiga & Jason Shears: Hot in Herre (D) Tiga might have done fine with Sunglasses at Night but this is terribly embarrassing. Tiga should be burying his head in his pillow in shame. His take of the song turned out to be fertilizer. Now I'm pushing the blade on the guy in shades (heehheheh)
17. Lisa Maffia: All Over (B+) Drop this in the club and it's all over. Just because you have a last name like that doesn't mean you have to exploit it like this. Nice "soldier lyrics" So-Solid-Crew girl.
18. Benny Benassi: Satisfaction (C) The music sounds like a record gone wrong. I think you need to "get better".
19. Deepest Blue (B) Good song and vocals.
20. DJ Sammy: Sunlight (B-) We've heard better from DJ Sammy but this is his first song on a NOW UK CD that he wrote, so good job.
21. Plummet: Damaged (B+) Wonderful vocals. This band can go far if they write some more songs like this one. Alien music, huh...
22. Paul Van Dyk: Nothing But You (B) Soothing song. Tons of aaahhhhs and stuff. On a british phone commercial, I think.
23. Scooter: The Night (B) This band keeps these recent NOW CDS in my top list. "The Night" is just another great hit.
CDTWO:
1. Robbie Williams: Come Undone (B) This is a very different song from "feel", his last NOW appearence. Actually, this is the first time he's went beyond the basic pop song...
2. Busted: You Said No (B) The NSYNC of the UK, only better.
3. Daniel Bedingfield: I Can't Read You (C+) Somewhat dissapointment from this singer. His voice goes from OK to out of tune in this song. I liked his last NOW appearence better.
4. Amy Studt: Misfit (A-) A great singer in her own way. She's not a lot like Avril if you think about it. IE: Amy can sing and she sings her own songs. To top it off her songs are good.
5. The Thrills: Big Sur (B+) This talented band is monkeying around. Big Sur is like a trip to 70's Los Angeles.
6. Coldplay: God Put A Smile on your face (B) Coldplay is a great band. "Yellow" was fantastic and "Clocks" was super too. This song is Okay but it's got the moving tune to get anyone going.
7. Appleton: Everything Eventually (B) Nice tune. Good song to wake up to in the country. Da da da da da da da da da...
8. David Sneddon: Don't Let Go (B) This guy can't sing too well; it's strange how he won a singing competition. He can still make a good song, and this proves it.
9. Ronan Keating: The Long Goodbye (B-) Whatever.
10. Darius: You Are Incredible (A-) Darius has sang a lot of songs but this one really stands out. Good work on the chorus.
11. Feeder: What I'm Feeling (A-) Great song, 'nuff said.
12. Sinead Quinn: What You Need Is... (B+) What she needs is an award because this girl can sing.
13. Melanie C: On The Horizon (B) Chipper song.
14. Emma Bunton: Free Me (C+) Good chillouter. Both tracks 13 & 14 are sang by Spice Girl soloists.
15. S Club 7: Say Goodbye (C) For a finale, this song really did not close out the originals well. To think they are getting replaced by the young 'uns mentioned earlier.
16. Sugababes: Shape (B-) I've had enough, of them, it's time for a new band...sing along! Nice remake of Sting's song.
17. JayZ: Excuse Me Miss (B) Now that JayZ is retiring from the rap scene, he might as well go singing his old good hits. The black album sounds like a disaster, but whatever.
18. Mariah Carey & Cam'Ron: Oh Boy (B) Girl=great voice Boy=keep on rappin'. Hey Ma, whazzup, let's run, because you need some better songs...
19. JaRule & Ashanti: Mesmerize (B-) A finale for the best NOW so far. Ashanti has been better.
So after the not-so-painfull hours of listening to Now 55, all I can tell you is to listen to it again. Now Decades stinks and I can bet that Now 56 will be another bunch of mixed berries like Now 54."