Various Artists - Now Thats What I Call Music Vol 1 (17 tracks) +Album Reviews +Used CD available for Swap

The best of the NOW series

the_decockster | Ashland, Oregon | 12/04/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Out of all the NOW CDs, this one is the best. Sure, the songs are "old" by now, but they were all big pop hits at the time of this CDs release, while, with the newer NOWs, only about half of the songs could really be considered big hits. Here's a quick overview.1. "Together Again" - Janet: I never really liked Janet Jackson, but I did like this song. It has a really nice message, and it definitely deserved to be a hit2. "As Long As You Love Me" - Backstreet Boys: OK, as a huge BSB fan, I'm biased toward this song. BUT, it really is a great pop song, with it's simple, nice melody, and cute lyrics.3. "The Way" - Fastball: This was another huge hit way bakc in 1997. It's the type of song that you either a)Like it a lot at first, then get sick of it... or b)Hate it at first, but grow to love it.4. "Flagpole Sitta" - Harvey Danger: One of THE best tracks on the album! I usually don't like this type of music (alternative/punk/pop mix), but this one is catchy as hell.5. "Say You'll Be There" - Spice Girls: How could you have a compilation of the hits of the late '90s without including the Spice Girls? And whether you like the girls or not, this IS a catchy song!6. "All My Life" - K-Ci & JoJo: A very pretty R&B ballad, and a big hit in 1997. Ballad fans just have to have this in their collection! Don't like ballads? Then this is filler for you.7. "Never Ever" - All Saints: The only song by the psuedo-Spice Girls I ever liked. It has a really nice beat (it samples "Amazing Grace.") and the vocals are pretty good.8. "If You Could Only See" - Tonic: This reminds me of all the hits that I hear today, by bands like Staind, Creed, and the like.9. "Mmmm Bop" - Hanson: This song was essential for this CD. Like the Spice Girls, you couldn't have a compliatin of the hits of 1997 without Hanson's "Mmm Bop!" These boys brang back pop music!10. "Zoot Suit Riot" - Cherry Poppin' Daddies: OK, I hate this song. Simple as that. Send this(...) back to the big-band era where it belongs!11. "Shorty (You Keep Playing With My Mind" - Imajin: OK, I was wrong before. This was never a hit. I doubt most people have even heard of it. I wonder how much Jive payed to get this song put on the CD for publicity? Anyway, it's not bad once you listen to it. It's really catchy R&B/pop.12. "Anytime" - Brian McKnight: Another soulful R&B ballad. Interestingly, this song was also on the "Grammy Nominees 1999" CD, so it spanned a good two years as a hit song!13. "Barbie Girl" - Aqua: Remember this song? It really is a pop classic, and very original.14. "Karma Police" - Radiohead: Another favorite track. This song is just haunting. A musical masterpiece.15. "I Will Buy You a New Life" - Everclear: Another alternative pop hit that is very catchy. 16. "Fly Away" - Lenny Kravitz: Interestingly, this song didn't become a hit until AFTER appearing on this CD. Anyway, it's a great, catchy song. In my opinion, better than Lenny's new stuff.17. "Sex & Candy" - Marcy Playground: A great end to a hit-filled package. This one is actually reminiscent of "Karma Police," only more poppy.BOTTOM LINE: An album full of hits... from 1997. New pop fans may not be into it."

BEST NAMES IN POP

Aaron | Ohio, USA | 07/12/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The first is the best of the series with the exception of Now 4. With names like Backstreet Boys,Janet Jackson,Hanson,Spice Girls,and Lenny Kravitz,you can't go wrong. Songs include the booming Janet hit "Together Again",the soft-rock station favorite "As Long As You Love Me",and the #1 air-wave dominator Mmm-Bop. Kick back,relax,and enjoy!"

Vol. 1

Damian Gunn | I am everywhere | 07/17/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This was the start of an onslaught of yearly 'greatest hits' albums, comp. of every track that's already been overplayed enough on the radio just for the consumer to overplay it even more on their stereo. This is the culprit for starting the revolution. Anyways...the idea wasn't a terrible one. Take the ost popular songs of the 'Top 40' year and throw them on one album, giving the average consumer a chance to score their favorite songs without spending a fortune. There are a few misteps every year, so heres the breakdown of Vol. 1.

When this was released I was a pophead. I was young and loved this kind of music. I listen to much more music now, still listening to Top 40 on occasion because it's mindless and nice to just vibe to with no agenda. Talentwise, pop stars are at the bottom of the food chain mostly because they can't play and or write their own music, but they do serve some sort of entertainment factor as long as you don't have to watch them try to dance.

Janet starts us off with 'Together Again' and she does alright. 'As Long as you Love Me' was one of my favorite Backstreet songs. As I said, I was a huge pophead at the time and loved the Backstreet Boys. Personally, don't much care for them anymore...Nick is too whiney to even be considered a good vocalist, while at least Justin Timberlake (of the much better N'Sync) can sing and dance and thus delivers a well-rounded solo album.

Sorry about that...

Fastball, Harvey Danger, Tonic, Radiohead, Everclear, Lenny Kravitz, Marcy's Playground and Hanson (dear god) deliver our pop/rock tracks and I will admitt that I loved, and still love 'Flagpole Sitta' as well as anything Everclear. Marcy's Playground was probbaly the biggest one hit wonder ever, and 'Sex and Candy' was worth the wonder. Good song, not perfect, a little overrated but overall still memerable.

KC&JoJo, All Saints and even The Spice Girls pull off good tracks. The point of this album is not to be the best music of the year but the most popular and, probably, the funest songs of any given year. These are the songs that will make you bop your head and tap your feet...even if you hate to admitt it.

Probably my favorite track here (and total proof of what I just said) is Barbie Girl by Aqua...I loved that song when it came out because it was a perfect satire and just cracked me up...and I was 12...so now it's even funnier! Great parody. The album is not at the top of my replay list, but it helps me remember younger days, when I was a kid and I remember them with a smile of my face! Not great music but decent and it serves it's purpose. I may not be a pophead anymore, but I can appreciate a good trip down memory lane every once in a while!"

The first NOW album in the US--still a favorite!

Preston | nc | 03/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As I listen to the just released Now 18 album, I still think about that very first Now album from 1998. I bought it back then, because I recognized a lot of my favorite songs. Many of those songs on there still hold up, especially Janet Jackson's Together Again, songs by the Backstreet Boys, the Spice Girls, K-CI and JoJo, Lenny Kravitz (who's even on Now 18--still a hot staple), and Imajin's song. I still love the adventurous Tonic's If You Could Only See. Makes me feel like I'm in Florida in the Everglades area hearing it. There was more of an emphasis on pop back then. These days, the Now albums focus more on rap and rock, which are also exciting to hear. When it reached Volume 10 in 2002, I couldn't believe it. The only songs that still don't grab me are the silly Harvey Danger song and Marcy Playground's sounds-as-if-the-lead singer-was-drunk-in-the-studio-recording-it song, Sex and Candy. It has had a strong shelf life, as many of the Now albums have gone platinum or multi platinum. Some of them weren't well put together, but most of the 18 albums are top notch. They have inspired other similar music compilations like Totally Hits with the 18-, 19- or 20-song format, but they're really no contest. So the Now series that actually started overseas has been a success here. They have a unique way of balancing the songs on the albums and acknowledge many genres on it. This first album was the benchmark to a successful series of Now volumes that still continue 6 yrs. later! Getting the new Now 18 just makes things come full circle as I'm writing this review of the very first one!"

Search - Various Artists :: Now That's What I Call Music, Vol. 1

CD Details

Similarly Requested CDs

Member CD Reviews

CD Reviews