Clearly, listening to Now 38 feels like listening to the radio as it is TODAY. These are pretty much all current hits. And for a change, I must say, some of the 'now next' tracks are actually REALLY good and should totally get airplay in the near future, but that hasn't happened yet.
Just want to point out some versions for those purchasing this disc. On the plus side, you get the actual hit version of Katy Perry's ET including Kanye West, who wasn't featured on the original album version. Next, they've included the 'original' mix of More by Usher. At least in New York, the ONLY version that has ever gotten airplay is the "Red One" remix, which has more of an electro dance feel. For me, that mix is the 'hit' mix, so those who feel the same might be very disappointed by the mix included here. It's a great version as well, but it doesn't have the same driving beat.
Finally, F*ing Perfect by Pink is NOT the "Less than Perfect" resung lyrics version that is the only version ever played here in NY. Instead, it is the explicit version with the F word blanked out! Sounds horrible that way and I'm shocked they didn't include the Less Than Perfect version instead. Considering they used the hit version of Cee Lo, "Forget You" instead of bleeping out the explicit version, I'm not sure why they opted for this distractingly censored version of Pink. NOW That's What I Call Music Vol. 38
The four Now What's Next tracks aren't bad but as always it would have been nicer to include more of the songs that most of us know already. Also for the first time since Now Vol. 26, there are no country tracks included here. This is also the second straight volume without a rock track. As usual, this collection is great for keeping up to date with what's on the airwaves these days. Here are the peak positions on the Billboard Hot 100 for the tracks.
Born This Way- #1
Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)- #4
S&M- #1
Hold It Against Me- #1
Blow- #7
Grenade- #1
E.T.- #1
F***** Perfect- #2
Coming Home- #11
Look At Me Now- #6
Down On Me- #4
The Time (Dirty Bit)- #4
More- #15
Rolling In The Deep- #1 (this week)
Forget You- #2
What The Hell- #11
Not sure why some people bash on NOW albums. If you don't like pop music, then move to something else. NOW is meant to be a moment in time...a snapshot of pop music at that moment. I judge it simply on that...
The NOW CD concept was great, but the recent CDs, including #38 give you less hits by substituting "preview songs" for the last 4 songs on the disc. This is a lousy idea because you only get 16 hits instead of 20. So far, none of the "preview" songs have become hits. This is just one more example of how the consumer now gets less value for their buck.
This is a great CD compilation from recent releases from a wide variety of music genres by various top musicians/artists, titled 'Now 38 : That's What I call music'. It's a great selection of top singles/from bestselling albums by top artists in the music industry today. Music genres in this great CD include POP ("Born This Way" by the outragious/fabulous Lady Gaga from her forth coming CD release (title track) later this month, it's a great pop tune reminiscent of Madonna's popular tunes, "Hold It Against Me" is great dance techno/pop track by Britney Spears from her recent popular 2011 CD 'Femme Fatale', "E.T." by Katy Perry featuring Kanye West from her 2010 bestselling CD 'Teenage Dream', "Rolling In The Deep" a lovely soulful/pop tune by Adele from her bestselling 2011 CD '21', "You And Me" by Parachute & "I'll Be Waiting" by Michael Franti & Spearhead), Techno Dance ("Tonight(I'm Lovin' You)" a great dance track with wonderful rapping by Enrique Iglesias featuring Ludacris and DJ Frank E from his 2010 CD release, "Blow" by Ke$ha from her 2010 CD 'Cannibal' & "The Time(Dirty Bit)" is a good dance track with sampling from Billy Medley/Jennifer Warnes' track "I've Had The Time Of My Life", a soundtrack from the movie Dirty Dancing starring the late Patrick Swayze by The Black Eyed Peas from their 2010 CD 'The Beginning'), R 'n B/Soul ("S & M" a great single by the lovely Rihanna from her 2010 CD 'Loud', "Grenade" by talented Bruno Mars from their great 2010 CD 'Doo-Wops & Hooligans', "Look At Me Now" a great R 'n B/pop/hip hop/rap tune by Chris Brown featuring Lil' Wayne & Busta Rhymes from his 2011 CD 'F.A.M.E.', "More" by Usher from 2010 CD 'Raymond vs Raymond', "Forget You" by Cee Lo Green from 2010 bestseller 'The Lady Killer' & "All Day" by Cody Simpson), Rock ("******* Perfect" by lady rocker P!nk from her 2010 CD "Greatest Hits ... So Far" & "What The Hell" a wonderful rock track with great melody & harmonies by the Canadian lady indie rocker Avril Lavigne from her 2011 CD 'Goodbye Lullaby') & Hip Hop/Rap ("Coming Home" by Diddy-Dirty Money featuring Skylar Grey from their underrated 2010 CD 'Last Train To Paris', "Down On Me" by Jeremih featuring 50 Cent & "Tonight, Tonight" by Hot Chelle Rae). Stand-outs/gems/solid tracks from this CD include "Grenade" by Bruno Mars (wonderful music, great vocals & melody. Their performance of this track during Grammy Award 2011 Ceremony was quite memorable), "E.T." By Katy Perry (a wonderful pop tune), "******* Perfect" (great rock track), "More" by Usher (a beautiful melodical dance techno track), "You And Me" (a great pop/rock track, very melodical) & "All Day" by Cody Simpson. There is no weak track on this great CD (16 tracks plus 4 Bonus tracks/Now What's Next = 20 tracks in total), a highly recommended CD listening.
The NOW series of CD's have proven themselves, over the years, to be one of the best and most reliable purchases you can make when it comes to good, current music without mediocre "filler" songs. You can bet that on a NOW CD each song will be a chart climbing heavy-hitter.
If you like Pop music you can grab a NOW CD without even looking at the songs and know that you are getting something of high quality.
This one is no different. Although one change from past NOW's I own are that it seems heavy on dance music and female singers. But, looking at the charts, it is a reflection of who is dominating the top.
I would like to make a suggestion to NOW, though. Dump the numbering system already. We are at #38, and each one before it is a blur and the CD title gives no indication of what time period the songs might be from when searching past volumes. You have to drop it eventually, will there be a NOW 114, or NOW 228?
I suggest the year first, and then the volume number within that year. You guys have established yourselves well. No need to show us you have had 37+ successful compilations prior to this one. We trust your brand enough without knowing how many NOW's came before this one. - Billy Joel - Classic Joel - Nice Collection Of Billy Joel - Lmfao'
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