Now That's What I Call Music! 18
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Free Music Notes for Now That's What I Call Music! 18
Free Music Review: Take the bad with the good...
Hit: 3 Stars
Like every Now! collection, there's some good mixed in with the bad. Obviously, not every song here has been a big hit or is a good song, but there are some above average selections included.
The set opens with "Vertigo", the lead single from U2's latest release, "How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb." While "Vertigo" is a solid song, it sounds like a retread of past U2 experiments. It really offers nothing new for the band or listeners, but is an average song. Gwen Stefani's first solo song "What You Waiting For? is an eclectic dance track, fueled by a crazy beat that is undeniably catchy and original. This fun track is a great selection. "What You Waiting For?" is followed by Lindsay Lohan's minor hit "Rumors." "Rumors" is a bland and almost laughable dance track laced with hip-hop beats and a synthesized voice that proves Lohan's lack of credibility.
Snoop's "Drop It Like It's Hot" is a great song and a big hit. One of the few popular songs to actually have an original style to it, I am definitely glad that it is included on this mix. Destiny's Child's "Soldier" is another good selection. The girls harmonize like crazy and have released another great, catchy single. Ashanti's "Only U" is also an above average track, as it has a great synthesized beat that makes it irresistible. Despite its lack of originality, "Only U" is a solid song.
Chingy's "Balla Baby" is a major disappointment from the guy who released three great first singles off his debut. This feels like a retread of his past songs with nothing new to offer. Surprisingly, the Now! people selected relative unknown's John Legend's "Used To Love U", probably because of his connection to rap star Kanye West. "Used To Love U" is a strong song that grows after first listening and offers a distinctive sound that is obviously lacking in popular R&B music. The love it or hate it "Over and Over" by Nelly and Tim McGraw is next. While I'm a fan of the song, I recognize it as a ploy to increase exposure for the artists and not as a genuine collaboration. Nonetheless, it's better than most of what radio has to offer.
Surprisingly, Frankie J's "Obsession (No Es Amor)" is a great song. The guy who sang the hook on Baby Bash's "Suga Suga" was written off by me as a one hite wonder, but Frankie J's "Obsession" is a great song and a huge Hot 100 hit. Congrats on proving me wrong. "Obsession" is followed by "O", the solo debut of Omarion, formerly of the R&B group B2K. I never liked B2K and still view Omarion as a formulated pop artist geared towards the hip-hop crowd. "O" is a generic song and average at best. Howie Day's "Collide" is next. "Collide" is a solid track, but offers nothing new to the realm of adult contemporary music. Boring after a few spins, "Collide" is nothing special.
Hoobastank has proven time and time again that they are a one song album type of band. "Disappear" is a disappointment and lacks the hook or intensity of major hits like "Crawling In The Dark" and "The Reason." Surprisingly, Chevelle's "Vitamin R" is included here and is one of the rare actually good rock songs to be on a Now! collection. Definitely a good choice here. "Home" by Three Days Grace is however a below average selection. The group wants a harder edge than they have credibility for.
Lenny's "Lady" is next and I have to say I didn't like the track at first, but that guitar riff grew on me. This song is fun and I'm glad Lenny earned himself another hit. Good Charlotte's "I Just Wanna Live" is is a pop-punk version of Lindsay Lohan's "Rumors" and offers nothing great, but has a much better chorus sing-a-long than Lohan's track. Frickin A's "Jessie's Girl" is definitely the worst song included and I hope Rick Springfield is pissed off about this cover. It really slaughters the original. Skye Sweetnam's "Tangled Up In Me" is next. Despite the hook of the track, Sweetnam is trying way too hard to be Avril Lavigne. Despite a good hook, the song is definitely lacking. Finally, Keith Urban's "You're My Better Half" is the token country track here. I've always liked Urban and feel he's one of the stronger pop-country acts out there. Overall, this is one of his better songs and one of the best on Now! 18.
So the disc has its ups and downs. I'd recommend hearing tefani's "What You Waiting For?", Snoop Dogg's "Drop It Like It's Hot", Destiny's Child's "Soldier", Frankie J's "Obsession", and Urban's "You're My Better Half" before buying, as these are the strongest tracks.
Free Music Review: Now 19 Tracklistings
Hit: 3 Stars
Here is the Now 19 tracklist, now fan already posted it, but some songs are incorrect:
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS THE REAL TRACKLIST, NOT A PREDICTION LIST, I REPEAT, NOT A PREDICTION LIST
1. Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl
2. Will Smith - Switch
3. Amerie - One Thing
4. Ciara/Ludacris - Oh
5. Bobby Valentino - Slow Down
6. Eminem - Mockingbird
7. Brooke Valentine/Big Boi from OutKast/Lil' Jon - Girlfight
8. Destiny's Child - Girl
9. Shakira - La Tourta
10. Baby Bash/Akon - Baby I'm Back
11. Frankie J - How To Deal
12. John Legend - Ordinary People
13. Anna Nalick - Breathe
14. Keith Urban - Making Memories Of Us
15. Backstreet Boys - Incomplete
16. 3 Doors Down - Let Me Go
17. Relient K - Be My Escape
18. Killers - Mr. Brightside
19. Coldplay - Speed Of Sound
20. Gorillaz - Feel Good Incorporated
Around April, I posted a prediction list/list of chosing the songs on Now 19.
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
First, Pop. "Incomplete" and a Gwen Stefani song were predicted. Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" was added (more recent) instead of "Rich Girl". Jennifer Lopez wasn't added, but Shakira made a spot for the Latin area. Lisa Marie Presley's "Dirty Laundry" didn't make much of an entrance on the charts, so it was left in the dust, and Anna Nalick's "Breathe" was added for alternative-pop.
The hip-hop is loaded, again. Luckily most of the hip-hop section is R&B, so were not choaked on hip-hop *cough* Now 17 *cough*. 4/9 of the predictions I chose made the Now 19 tracklistings. Instead of 50 Cent, they chose Eminem, which Imo was not a smart move because Eminem's "Mockingbird" is a bit dated right now. 50 Cent's "Candy Shop" or "Just A Lil' Bit" would have been better additions, but Eminem is better than 50 Cent. Natalie suprisingly was not added and the Black Eyed Peas were suprisingly not added. Instead, Baby Bash and Frankie J were added in the R&B/Hip-Hop section. Nivea wasn't added, but that wasn't too much of a suprise. Bobby Valentino was added instead of Ludacris, and of course, they have some kind of connection.
My rock section of my prediction list was completely outdated. Most of the rock choices that were added would be ones I would choose if my prediction list was more recent. Notice the word most; how did Relient K make it on here?
And, of course, the random country song from Keith Urban was added. Nows include a country song from the Dixie Chicks, Keith Urban, or Gretchen Wilson. It's a trend that started on Now 16, through Now 12 has Keith Urban and Now 11 has the Dixie Chicks.
Now 19 rocks! Tracklistings rock, and it looks like people agree (now fan, tracklistings look similar to moaning for a life's).
Also, this may be ridiculous, but I'm so bored...here's a Now 20 prediction list.
Natasha Bedingfield - These Words
Pretty Ricky - Grind With Me
Destiny's Child - Cater 2 U
Eminem - A$$ Like That
Gwen Stefani - Cool
Bowling For Soup - Ohio Come Back To Texas
Amerie - Touch
Akon - Bonanza Belly Dancer
Backstreet Boys - My Beautiful Woman
3 Doors Down - Behind Those Eyes
Killers - Smile Like You Mean It
Coldplay - What If
Black Eyed Peas - Gone Going
Jessica Simpson - Those Boots Are For (she has an album coming out + this is the 1st single)
Nivea - Complicated
Ludacris/Bobby Valentino - Pimpin' All Over The World
Keith Urban - You'll Think Of Me
Bobby Valentino - Tell Me
Relient K - Getting Into You
Free Music Review: Now 18 is 50/50
Hit: 3 Stars
First off, this is the first review that I'm writing that will get a helpful vote. I will go by each track, one by one, and tell you what they are.
1. Vertigo
U2
Rock
Song: C
Average at best, I can easily get a better song off of a Chevelle CD.
2. What You Waiting For?
Gwen Stefani
Pop
Song: A+
Oh yeah, this song ROCKS! My favorite off of L.A.M.B., actually, I don't like that album.
3. Rumors
Lindsay Lohan
Untalented Pop
Song: F
Lol, Lindsay Lohan really sucks. This song really proves it.
4. Drop It Like It's Hot
Snoop Dogg
Rap
Song: B-
Rap sucks. This is catchy and an exception.
5. Soldier
Destiny's Child
R&B
Song: C+
They are talented, but the song just sucks a$$.
6. Only U
Ashanti
R&B
Song: F
Just awful. She can't sing lol.
7. Balla Baby
Chingy
Rap
Song: F
Chingy...I don't need to say anything else.
8. Used To Love U
John Legend
R&B
Song: B
The song is alright. Not the best. Not really a hit.
9. Over & Over
Nelly & Tim McGraw
R&B and Country Crossover
Song: F
Untalented. Awful song. Just AWFUL!
10. Obsession
Frankie J
R&B
Song: D-
Filth. I miss his Don't Wanna Try days.
11. O
Omarion
R&B
Song: F
LOL!!!! O?!?!?! WTF?!?!?!
12. Collide
Howie Day
Adult Contemparary
Song: A+
FINALLY! About time for some talent! Great song, and they are talented and WRITE.
13. Disappear
Hoobastank
Rock
Song: C-
They're a good group. I just highly dislike this song.
14. Vitamin R
Chevelle
Rock
Song: A+
YES! YES! A great song!!! The best on the CD!
15. Home
Three Days Grace
Rock
Song: A+
See #14 - Vitamin R
16. Lady
Lenny Kravitz
Rock
Song: C-
His earlier stuff is better.
17. I Just Wanna Live
Good Charlotte
Fake Rock
Song: F
Um, lol. Their vocals sound like they're getting their balls cut off. Awful, medicore, Simple Plan imitation. (FYI, Simple Plan sucks...a lot)
18. Jessie's Girl
Frickin' A!
Rock
Song: B
It's a good song, but they are UNTALENTED!
19. Tangled Up In Me
Skye Sweetnam
Pop
Song: C
They're a great talented band but the song really sucks.
20. Forgot The Title
Keith Urban
Country
Song: F
All country sucks.
Well, I averaged it out, and it comes to 2.8 stars, and I rounded it to 3. So that's D+, below average, below average, selections, artists, and songs, awful, get Now 18, yes, if you're a perfectionist, you'll notice this sentence is too long, therefore I'll end it here, okay, cool, hope, this, was, helpful.
Free Music Review: Now 18 Review with Now 19 Predictions
Hit: 3 Stars
Now! 18 is the 5th Now CD that I have bought. I wasn't into the Now! series before Now! 12 but I my old roommate had all of the Now! CDs. I am not a fan of half of these songs so I will only critque the songs that I listen to.
1. Vertigo: I'm not a U2 fan myself but it is an ok song. It is an interesting song and I can see why so many people like this group.
2. What you Waiting For?: <A> I loved Gwen when she was in No Doubt and I love her now. This is my favorite song off her solo album. The music video is an Alice in Wonderland spoof that is very entertaining.
3. Rumors: In the next installment of the Pop wars, Lindsay Lohan has entered the charts to combat Hillary Duff and Jessica Simpson. This is an ok song but not one of my favorites for sure.
Tracks 4-8: I am not a fan of Rap or R&B. Most of these songs fit in that genre and instead of bashing them I'll let you be the judge.
9. Over & Over: <A> This may be the only R&B style song I like. I think the main reason for that is because I relate to this song. The whole love triangle thing. I like Time McGraw and I wish he had more vocals in this song.
Tracks 10 & 11: I'm not a fan of either song. I did like a song Frankie J did back on Now! 13 though.
12. Collide: <A+> I love this song! I was so excited to find out that this would be on here. Howie Day is new to the music scene and I love this song. I hope he puts out some other songs like this.
13. Disappear: <C+> I liked "The Reason" which was on a previous Now! CD. This song is not as good but worth the time if you're listening to it in traffic.
Tracks 14-17: No Comment.
18. Jessie's Girl: <A+> I love it! Awesome remix. I actualy heard the original and this is much better. Good work.
19. Tangled Up in Me: <A-> Good song. Very down to Earth. Good start for the Canadian newcomer.
20. You're My Better Half: <A> Great song! It has an awesome beat and it is hard to believe that it is a country song.
Grade (All 20 Tracks): C
Now this is what I think Now! 19 should look like:
Pop (3)
"Rich Girl" Gwen Stefani/Eve
"Incomplete" Backstreet Boys
"Dirty Laundry" Lisa Marie Presley
Hip-Hop, Rap and R&B (7)
"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
Rock (5)
"Let Me Go" 3 Doors Down
"Almost" Bowling For Soup
"The Geeks Get The Girls" American Hi-Fi
"We Believe" Good Charlotte
"Lonely No More" Rob Thomas
Soft Rock (3)
"Breathe (2AM)" Anna Nalick
"You And Me" Lifehouse
"Home" Michael Buble
Country (2)
"Making Memories Of Us" Keith Urban
"Live Like You Were Dying" Tim McGraw
Free Music Review: What's Happening with NOW???
Hit: 3 Stars
1. U2- Vertigo: Very Good song plus is the 1st single of their most recent album A
2. Gwen Stefani- What You Waiting For?: Great beat but is very complicated to understand what the song is about the you relize that she's talking about herself A+
3. Lindsay Lohan- Rumors: I love this and the video is realy hot too,it has a hot beat A+
4. Snoop Dogg- Drop It Like Its Hot: this song is good but it gets really annoying when u hear it about a thousand times in the radio B
5. Destiny's Child- Soldier: When this song came out I thought it was silly and stupid but now I think is a great song but Lil' Wayne's solo kills it B
6. Ashanti- Only U: This song has a Rock tune at the beginning which makes very awesome A
7. Chingy- Balla Baby: Annoying song and the owls sounds make it really stupid F
8. John Legend- Used To Love U: I don't know who this dude is but the song is not bad C
9. Nelly w/ Tim McGraw- Over & Over: Great duet bot the song gets overplayed over and over again B-
10. Frankie J- Obsession: This song gets stuck in my head every time I hear it but is a good song after all is a good song B
11. Omarion- O: Great ballad and I think the tune is really good B+
12. Howie Day- Collide: I don't know this guy and I heard the song once and it was horrible D
13. Hoobastank- Disappear: This song is really good is part of the Catwoman Soundtrack Although "The Reason"(Now 16) was better B
14. Chevelle- Vitamin R: Not a good song either very incomplete, poor lyrics F
15. Three Days Grace- Home: Good song but is not their best C
16. Lenny Kravitz- Lady: Always Lenny has the greatest song and this one is one of them A
17. Good Charlotte- I Just Wanna Live: This a very different tune for Good Charlotte but I still like it very good A
18. Frickin' A- Jessie's Girl : This Song souldn't even be on the CD F-
19. Skye Sweetnam- Tangled Up In Me: Great Rock song A
20. Keith Urban- You're My Better Half: This song is Horrible D
Over all the album kinda sucks, there are way better songs
Final Grde: C