NOW That's What I Call Music !9

Review by Philip Masiakowski for NOW That`s What I Call Music 29Rating: Now first came out in the U.S. in_was it 1998? Personally, I don`t mind to the radio, especially "pop" stations, so I use the Now series to get up on where pop music is at through the years. As a result, most of these songs are new to me when I put these CDs in the player.

(As opposed to the balance of humanity, who complains that these songs are "overplayed" by the sentence a new Now comes out.)

In late years, I have felt that there has been a fall in the character of Now albums. I enjoyed Now 24 and Now 27, but Now 25, 26, and especially 28 just didn`t go up for me. While some Now fans (particularly Leona Lewis and John Mayer fans) were ok with Now 28, I believe many would check with me when I say that I feel at Now 28 as somewhat of a low level in the Now series.

That being said, the Now series has resurrected itself in the final week with the issue of Now 29 and The Better of Now. (I won`t cross the latter in this review, but stop it out-especially since the Now series has lost some good hits that made it to The Better of Now.)

Now 29 gets kudos from me for choosing three No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100-the energized, Hollaback Girl-esque "So What" by P!nk; the catchy, dance-influenced "Disturbia" by Rihanna; and the 2008-dominating "Whatever You Care" by T.I.

Several of the other hits are also major ones. I`m reasonably sure "When I Raise Up" by the Pussycat Dolls was nominated for some awards this class at the VMAs. "Hot N Cold" is a somewhat successful attempt by Katy Perry to avoid "one-hit wonder" status. And this Now offers its just part of rap and hip-hop, as well-"Dangerous" by Kardinal Offishall is in my top 5 from this collection; "Got Money" by Lil Wayne & T-Pain, though not one of my favorites, is a decent hit; and "Put On" by Young Jeezy & Kanye West and "The Line" by Yung Berg & Casha are both respectable hits.

I hate myself for it, but I really am fine with (not in bed with! "One Measure at a Sentence" by Jordin Sparks.

And I am surprised by how often I like "Hail On Get Higher" by Matt Nathanson. I am especially surprised by how often I wish "I Still Miss You" by Keith Anderson because I truly don`t like country music.

_That being said, Now 29 does lay a few eggs. "Swing" by Savage & Soulja Boy Tell`em? This song wasn`t that successful-and different versions of it have been available for what, 3 years?-so I was surprised by this choice. You might like "Better in Clip" by Leona Lewis if you`re a big fan of hers, but for a casual fan like me, it doesn`t nearly measure up to "Bleeding Love," one of Now 28′s few highlights. And please_Now goes with Daughtry and Boys Like Girls again with "What About Now" and "Thunder." This made me sigh.

I would have liked to see Paper Planes by M.I.A. in lieu of any of the songs mentioned in the former paragraph. But overall, I still have this a 4 out of 5. My darling is "Closer" by Ne-Yo.

And I failed to name a couple other things. "Forever" by Chris Brown is on here, a wise choice despite being somewhat old. "Addicted" by Saving Abel and "Don`t Suppose I Don`t Mean About It" by Darius Rucker aren`t bad either.

And buying this CD unlocks five bonus songs from a particular site. (Hopefully you won`t get as much problems as I did with the site-be patient. It worked for me on my second run through. You may be capable to see why these five songs didn`t do it to the Now album-they`re not near as bubble-gum pop sounding as some of Now`s biggest fans would prefer. But I reckon this is a great idea by Now, and I take to being quite fond of "Licking My Bosom" by Jon McLaughlin.

If you don`t wish the Now series-or at least the final 3 or 4 months of pop music-you`ve already made up your head that you hate this CD. But if you`re a Now fan, I find this CD doesn`t disappoint.