Smartly programmed and laden with hits from the first half of 2001, the seventh entry in the Now compilation series is a more-than-agreeable, summer-party soundtrack. Moving from up-tempo pop/R&B to various stripes ... more »of hip-hop (including a snapping Neptunes remix of Backstreet Boys'"The Call") to three draggy ballads you can easily program out to reminders from Aerosmith, Lifehouse, Evan and Jaron, and American Hi-Fi that guitars still exist, this disc is one of the strongest Nows yet. With the high-quality likes of "Jaded," Janet Jackson's "All for You," Nelly's "Ride wit Me!" (heavily edited for language), and Mystikal's "Danger (Been So Long)" on tap, even Jennifer Lopez sounds pretty good as the beats power by. Does the style-by-style sequencing effectively segregate genres, particularly by placing the rock stuff at disc's end? It's more likely that the appearance of all these tunes in one place demonstrates that the notion of pop as a big tent isn't dead yet. --Rickey Wright« less
Smartly programmed and laden with hits from the first half of 2001, the seventh entry in the Now compilation series is a more-than-agreeable, summer-party soundtrack. Moving from up-tempo pop/R&B to various stripes of hip-hop (including a snapping Neptunes remix of Backstreet Boys'"The Call") to three draggy ballads you can easily program out to reminders from Aerosmith, Lifehouse, Evan and Jaron, and American Hi-Fi that guitars still exist, this disc is one of the strongest Nows yet. With the high-quality likes of "Jaded," Janet Jackson's "All for You," Nelly's "Ride wit Me!" (heavily edited for language), and Mystikal's "Danger (Been So Long)" on tap, even Jennifer Lopez sounds pretty good as the beats power by. Does the style-by-style sequencing effectively segregate genres, particularly by placing the rock stuff at disc's end? It's more likely that the appearance of all these tunes in one place demonstrates that the notion of pop as a big tent isn't dead yet. --Rickey Wright
Stacia C. (ShadowsCursed) from SWANZEY, NH Reviewed on 10/6/2009...
Take a trip down memory lane. It's a great CD. It's good for a laugh while thinking about the taste in music of the nineties. It's a must-listen for old times sake.
CD Reviews
NOW- Chart Topping Hits?
Nick | Louisville, KY United States | 09/05/2001
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Since there is alot of confusion on if this volume has all the "chart topping hits" i compiled a list on the peak positions of these songs on the Billboard hot 100. hope this is helpful.1. Survivor - Destiny's Child- #2 for 7 weeks
2. All for You - Janet Jackson- #1 for 7 weeks
3. Baby Come on Over - Samantha Mumba #49
4. In My Pocket - Mandy Moore **DID NOT CHART
5. Play - Jennifer Lopez #19
6. The Call (Remix) - Backstreet Boys #58
7. Playas Gon' Play - 3LW #82
8. Ride Wit Me - Nelly #3
9. Danger - Mystikal #14
10. Fiesta - R. Kelly with Jay-Z #6
11. Let Me Blow Ya Mind - Eve #2 for 1 week
12. What Would You Do - City High #8
13. Don't Let Me Be the Last - Britney **DID NOT CHART
14. This I Promise You - N'Sync #5
15. Never Had a Dream... - S Club 7 #10
16. Hanging By a Moment - Life House #2
17. Jaded - Aerosmith #7
18. From My Head to My Heart - E & J **DID NOT CHART
19. Flavor of the Weak - American Hi-Fi #49Hope i was helpful!"
Getting Better...
Brian Giaffoglione | Omaha, Ne United States | 09/08/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If you have read any of my other reviews about the NOW series, you know that I think the editing process has REALLY gotten out of hand, and it has AGAIN on this one. From track 8 (Nelly) to track 12 (City High), every song has one skip. Why put R. Kelly's "Fiesta" on this CD if every other word is skipped out? If they really wanted to edit something, why couldn't they take out that annoying guy in 3LW's "Playas Gon' Play" ("We're comin' through, shorty")? Overall, though, this is the best NOW CD. The songs chosen are pretty good, including "Survivor" (Destiny's Child), "In My Pocket" (Mandy Moore), and "Jaded" (Aerosmith). Some songs were serious errors of judgement, including *NSYNC's ridiculously syrupy "This I Promise You" and American Hi-Fi's sloppy ender "Flavor Of The Weak" (isn't the title of this song ironic in itself?). Keep the censors off of NOW 8, put in the same kind of music styles, and it will be the best ever!!!"
The best Now CD!!!
Kirstie | Los Angeles, California USA | 11/16/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Keep in mind I'm writing this review over a year after the songs were popular...1. Survivor - Destiny's Child
This song is good. I used to love it and still like it. All of Destiny's Child's songs are good.2. All for You - Janet Jackson
Good song.3. Baby Come on Over - Samantha Mumba
Really good song. 4. In My Pocket - Mandy Moore
I don't remember this ever being on the radio. I don't really like it.5. Play - Jennifer Lopez
Awesome song! I still love it a year after it's been popular6. The Call (Remix) - Backstreet Boys
One (no make that two) words. Backstreet Boys. Horrible! The original song is horrible and the remix really does not make it better.7. Playas Gon' Play - 3LW
Very good song. Catchy tune. Very hip-hopish.8. Ride Wit Me - Nelly
Good song. Nelly's always pretty good, and this isn't too much of hard rap.9. Danger - Mystikal
It's ok but kinda stupid. I usually skip this track.10. Fiesta - R. Kelly with Jay-Z
Same as above.11. Let Me Blow Ya Mind - Eve with Gwen Stefani
Very good. Eve and Gwen are both really good.12. What Would You Do - City High
I used to be SO obsessed with this song and I still love it!13. Don't Let Me Be the Last - Britney Spears
It's Britney. Get it? But, well, it's sorta nice if you want a slow song, but it sounds too countryish and she really can't sing.14. This I Promise You - N'Sync
This song is ok. Nsync has done better but I know tons of people who love this song.15. Never Had a Dream... - S Club 7
This is a really good slow song. It's kinda old and overplayed now and S Club 7 is pretty bad, but it's still okay.16. Hanging By a Moment - Life House
This is okay. The tune isn't that catchy but it's pleasant. My dad likes it.17. Jaded - Aerosmith
Okay. Sometimes I like it, sometimes I don't.18. From My Head to My Heart - Evan & Jaron
Uh...I forgot how this goes. Sorry. =D19. Flavor of the Weak - American Hi-Fi Probably the best on the CD! It's rock but not hard rock. I LOVE IT!!!This is probably the best CD in the Now! series, but since it's old, it's not my favorite CD. So...I don't know if that helped but it's worth a try :)"
Most of the Best of the Year
J. Martin | Woodside, NY | 08/20/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is one album that you will play over and over again. Now 7 has put together the best of the year in na compliation that has something for everyone. From rap, pop, rock, and r&b Now 7 picked the hottest hits in each genre. I am more a pop fan so I was excited to have hits like In My Pocket-Mandy Moore, Samantha Mumbas Baby Come Over, This I Promise You-Nsync, and Never Had a Dream Come True-S Club 7. I do have all of these albums though so what I was really excited about was that I was able to get hits like Let Me Blow Ya Mind-Eve and Gwen Stefani, Hangin By a Moment-Lifehouse, and Jaded-Aerosmith. All excellent songs that I would not by a whole album for. I give props for Now 7 for creating such a diverse musical selection. One problem-so many songs that radio played the heck out of I wanted to skip-such as Survivor-Destiny's Child and Ride With Me-Nelly. But overall not one bad song on this collection."
Track Listings (19) - Disc #1
Stacia C. (ShadowsCursed) from SWANZEY, NH