Search - Various Artists :: Now 62: That's What I Call Music

Nothing Like NOW 61, But Still a Good Buy

Nowfan35 | NYC | 03/19/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Now 61 was outstanding. It was hard to follow it up. And I'll admit that Now 62 isn't bad at all. It doesn't blow me away like Now 61 did, but it has some great songs here and there. But no trance songs? I'm dissapointed. The first CD has quite a few banal songs which will have you yawning, but both discs have some hidden treasures to feast upon. So, now let's go by each song.



CD ONE



1. Sugababes - Push the Button (3:38) B-

Annoying. It'll grow on you.

2. Robbie Williams - Tripping (4:05) B

The first verse will hook you in, but the chorus is nothing to get too excited about.

3. The Pussycat Dolls Feat. Busta Rhymes - Don't Cha (3:38) B+

A good song which got a lot of radio play, and perfect for parties. Truthfully, it's a bit downbeat for me. Ralphi's Hot Freak Remix is a nice dance mix of this song. I'd suggest checking that out. Ashley PLEASE don't put "Beep" on Now 63. PLEASE!!!

4. Daniel Powter - Bad Day (3:53) A-

Pretty good. Daniel is supposedly the next James Blunt, but now that I love "You're Beautiful", "Bad Day" is NOTHING compared to it. Catchy, however.

5. David Gray - The One I Love (3:28) B+

I still don't like his voice, but the rawness of "White Ladder" with the amazing "This Year's Love" and the long but great "Say Hello Wave Goodbye" were his best. "The One I Love" just doesn't carry the same magic.

6. Kelly Clarkson - Since U Been Gone (3:08) A-

I'm SO sick of this song now that the radios killed it a long time ago, but it's still a good rock song from the best American Idol the show will ever produce.

7. Will Young - Switch it On (3:47) B+

I'm really confused listening to this, but the music is cool.

8. Girls Aloud - Biology (3:35) A

The best thing the band's ever done. Really good rock song which is actually somewhat different than every other pop band/artist out there. Only somewhat, though.

9. McFly - I'll Be OK (3:28) A

I am so glad they went back to the faster music, because that's what they're good at. This is a really nice song. Why are only the British boy bands good? This makes the Backstreet Boys look like...well...the Backstreet Boys.

10. Kaiser Chiefs - I Predict A Riot (3:52) B+

Nothing compared to "Every Day I Love You Less and Less", but I like their sound.

11. Franz Ferdinand - Do You Want To (3:37) B

This atonal follow-up to "Matinee" and the massive "Take Me Out" proves that they were better off before releasing their new album.

12. KT Tunstall - Suddenly I See (3:19) A-

Not nearly as good as the beautiful "Other Side of the World", but KT's music is magical. I really hope that "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" is put on Now 63.

13. tATu - All About Us (3:01) B-

Annoying. Their first album was great with "Not Gonna Get Us" and "All the Things She Said". "All About Us" is pretty bad.

14. Hilary Duff - Wake Up (3:37) B

A decent pop song with horrible lyrics ("Wake up/Wake up on a Saturday night...) Her new single "Supergirl" I've heard is just as bad.

15. Rachel Stevens - I Said Never Again (But Here We Are) (3:25) A

Not as good as "So Good", but a nice follow-up. Still better than her earlier stuff. Upbeat and really, really good. She loves making the catchiest hits.

16. Liberty X - Song For Lovers (2:58) B+

Their best hit to date.

17. Friday Hill - Baby Goodbye (3:39) C+

That's exactly what I said to this song upon first listen.

18. Simon Webbe - Lay Your Hands (4:25) C+

After that ridiculous sample at the beginning, I was not compelled to listen further.

19. Mariah Carey - We Belong Together (3:22) B+

Probably my favorite Carey hit. Well-done, but I'm not sure why she's competing against Madonna. They're two completely different artists. But beyond that this song is pretty good.

20. Elton John - Electricity (3:30) A

I'm not sure what he's talking about, but this song is amazing. Definitely nothing compared to his earlier work, though. This is just becoming popular in the US. After the end of this song, change the CD.

21. Katie Melua - Nine Million Bicycles (3:14) C

Uninteresting.

22. Westlife - You Raise Me Up (4:00) C

Bad cover of a Josh Groban song.



CD TWO

1. Gorillaz - Dare (4:05) A

My favorite Gorillaz hit by far. Way too catchy.

2. Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl (3:20) A-

Horribly overplayed and it's only good unedited. It's just not fun saying "This _ is bananas".

3. Kanye West - Diamonds From Sierra Leone (4:00) A

"Gold Digger" is better, but this song gets an A mainly for Kanye's oustanding album "Late Registration". He proves that an artist can totally reverse the sophomore slump.

4. Coldplay - Fix You (Radio/Video Version) (4:35) A+

The best song on the album. Many dislike this song, but I love it. This is the type of song which builds on each verse and ends with a bang, a la Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" and even U2's Now 61 hit "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own". This song is purely beautiful and the end is rockin'.

5. Oasis - The Importance of Being Idle (3:41) A-

This is a very good song from the "Wonderwall" band. It's nothing compared to that and "Songbird", but it's still pretty good.

6. Black Eyed Peas - Don't Lie (3:39) A

With a summery feeling, this now-aging song is definitely one of the better BEP songs, and a vast improvement over "Don't Phunk With My Heart". Still, "My Humps" is better. I would highly suggest buying their latest album "Monkey Business".

7. Pharell Williams Feat. Gwen Stefani - Can I Have It Like That (3:57) B+

Pharell's latest is really good, with cool music and a fun chorus with help from Ms. Gwen Stefani. This is somehow her second appearance on the album.

8. Goldfrapp - Ooh La La (3:24) B

I am so confused on why this is so popular. It's nothing compared to the main dance songs out right now. And it's very weird. Alison does have some cool vocals though.

9. Mylo & Miami Sound Machine - Doctor Pressure (3:25) A-

This dangerously catchy cover of Gloria Estefan's "Dr. Beat" and mashup with Mylo's "Drop the Pressure" is definitely THE dance song out right now. This is mainly because Mylo's full-length album "Destroy Rock & Roll" is very popular and pulled in some awards.

10. Bob Sinclair Feat. Gary Nesta Pine - Love Generation (2:55) B+

Nice music. Maybe the vocals are annoying, but the "Bum bum ba-ba bum" in the background is cool.

11. Daddy Yankee - Gasolina (3:13) A

Reggaeton on a NOW album? ASHLEY YOU ROCK!!!!!! This was the #1 party jam of late 2004 and early 2005. It's kind of old now, and I highly doubt a second appearance on Now 63 with "Rompe".

12. Rihanna - Pon De Replay (3:34) B+

Dangerously catchy, and dangerously annoying. But dangerously catchy.

13. Amerie - 1 Thing (3:59) B

AKA the Turkey song ("Gobble gobble gobble"), this is a song that was rejected by Jennifer Lopez, and now I see why. Catchy but horribly irritating.

14. Akon - Bellydancer (Bananza) (3:13) B

Another catchy but annoying song, this time by Akon. A vast improvement over "Lonely", but that wasn't that hard, was it?

15. Mattafix - Big City Life (3:55) B-

Cool band name, but somewhat weird Jamaican song. Please skip to the next song right now.

16. Damian "Jr Gong" Marley - Welcome to Jamrock (3:33) A

Very popular in the US now, and for a reason. This great Marley family addition gives a great contribution to the legend with this awesome reggae classic.

17. Depeche Mode - Precious (4:08) A

The closest to dance music as you're gonna get on NOW 62, but "Precious" is far from bad. This is the first Depeche song I've heard but now I'm hooked. But where's Erasure's "Breathe"? (PSST: Ashley, if you're going to put "Breathe" on NOW 63, please put on the LMC remix of it).

18. U2 - City of Blinding Lights (4:12) A-

This great new U2 song reminds me of "Where the Streets Have No Name". Very well done, but their Now 61 hit was better.

19. Magic Numbers - Love Me Like You (4:49) B+

The music is the only thing good about this song, but this is nice upbeat music.

20. Texas - Getaway (3:12) A+

One of three best songs on the album. Texas almost takes the gold with this one - from the beautiful music to the great vocals, I'm hooked. Easily their best, runner-up being the awesome "Summer Son" on Now 44.

21. Bon Jovi - Have a Nice Day (3:15) A+

Three of three best songs on the album, this time a smashing but generic new Bon Jovi hit. By generic I mean that this song greatly reminds me of previous Bon Jovi hits. That is not a bad thing, though. Ending up NOW 62 with a bang, I am so going to change my rating of this album now. Amazing song.



So, overall, NOW 62 has some boring songs, and it is not nearly as good as NOW 61, but it's a solid album. The second disc is the main reason to buy it - the first disc has quite a few boring 'uns. Overall, the album gets a B+/A-. Just buy it."