Now That's What I Call Music! #1's (by Various Artists, Compilation)

Okay, there's a reason these songs all made it to #1 on the pop music charts. Most of them are great songs -- catchy, fun, well-performed, attentively produced, sometimes even transcendently brilliant. But it's hard to imagine any true Outkast fan not already owning "Hey Ya!" or a Destiny's Child fan having somehow missed "Survivor," and there is something less-than-appealing about the constant repackaging of the same hit songs, over and over again. The songs on NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC! #1's range from the ridiculous (Britney Spears' "Baby One More Time" and Creed's "With Arms Wide Open") to the sublime (Outkast's amazing "Hey Ya!" and Nine Days' "Absolutely: Story of a Girl") -- and from G-rated to R, or at least PG-13.

So yeah, these are good songs, but with no surprises. How about, instead, going into the record store and walking right past where Now! #1's is displayed, back to the dusty bin where hopeful local bands have their CDs displayed, probably sold to the store manager on consignment by the drummer's girlfriend. Buy something. Listen to it. If you like it, tell your friends -- this small revolutionary act could be the start of something really good.

Released on: January 26, 2006
Label: Utv Records
Genre: Compilation