Now That's What I Call Music Vol.61 - Various Artists > Reviews > Now 61 - Great For Summer 2005!!

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	More recognisable songs than Now 60, Olympics London 2012 Anthem added
Disadvantages:	Crazy Frog?? WHY !  !  !  !  !  !  ! , Songs on here from about March time

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Now Thats What I Call Music 61 is the latest addition to the Now album. This is aimed at the summer by the looks of the album cover here.

This latest album has more recognisable songs than the previous album and I am surprised that this one does not have any Asian singers or bands in, which makes it a good change.

Both CDs are great with singles from James Blunt, 2Pac, Coldplay, Gorillaz, Audio Bullys, Oasis, Bodyrockers, Caesars, The Killers, Kaiser Chiefs, U2, Akon and many more.

The first CD in the album is tended to be a pop, rap, and rock music theme. The second CD is tended to be pop and dance music.

So let's do a breakdown of all the tracks on the album:-

CD 1:

James Blunt - Beautiful

Think of this as a modern classic of "Your Song" by Elton John and then you get the idea how it is like. This song is my favoruite in this album and it is no wonder why I like it...it's a big hit!! James Blunt's debut album has already racked up over half a million copies.

2Pac feat. Elton John - Ghetto Gospel

Since the death of tupac, he has achieved more chart success. Eminem has provided with the beats to this single and also included the vocals of Elton joh n singing "Indian Sunset". the video is a big impact as it shows how his incident leading to his death happened.

Coldplay - Speed Of Sound

This latest single from Coldplay is in my opinion their best yet. From June 2005, they racked up over 450,000 copies of their latest album, "X & Y". They recently been backing Richard Ashcroft at Live 8 and also covered Kylie's Can't Get You Out Of My Head at Glastonbury.

Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc.

This single is their first from the new album, Demon Days. I first heard this track from the ipod advert on TV and this has stook in my head since I heard it on there. This came up at No.2 in the charts in May 2005.

Black Eyed Peas - Don't Phunk With My Heart

A brilliant song and it reached the top 3 in the charts in May 2005. They apparently wrote the songs on airplanes, in bathrooms and also in museums and hotels.

Audio Bullys feat. Nancy Sinatra -Shot You Down

Audio bullys mix up exisiting singles and place them into a house style tune with beats and basslines added to it which creates their very own unique tune. What a smash it was too as it came to the top 3 in Summer 2005.

Jem - They

Jem started singing and writing songs when she was 13. This is one of the songs that this album had put which should have been on Now 60 because this was released back in March 2005 and reached the top 10.

Natalie Imbruglia - Shiver

Yet another song that should have been on Now 60. This track is sensational and is the best from Natalie Imbruglia since the track, "Torn". her new album "Counting Down The Days" apparently taken 3 years to make and this track is the first from it.

KT Tunstall - Other Side Of The World

A catchy pop tune which made it her second hit single. She apparently likes David Bowie.

Oasis - Lyla

God oh mighty! I haven't heard from Oasis for ages and this track shows that they still got the talent even it was a while since their last single, which was for the World Cup back in 2002. Lyla stormed to the top spot, making it their 7th No.1 single.

Razorlight - Somewhere Else

This track was Razorlight's biggest hit to date and it stormed to No.2 in the charts back in April 2005 and Razorlight were one of the successes which took part in Live 8.

Bodyrockers - I Like The Way

I always thought this sounded like a dance tune than pop or rock but it has a suitable place on this CD as it has guitars in the track. It was a top 3 hit in April 2005 and still in the top 20 in June. The tune was also recently used for the latest big Diet Coke ad campaign.

Kaiser Chiefs - Everyday I Love You Less And Less

This is a top tune to hear. kaiser Chiefs are seriously making a mark on the music scene and this latest track is no exception. You'll guarantee to love this. Kaiser Chiefs was brought up as the band's name from the South African Football Team.

Caesars - Jerk it Out

I first heard this from the PS2 games FIFA 2004 and SSX 3 and I seriously loved the track. They have now finally released the track and I must say that it has become a big success in the charts. This song means to let out some steam, freak out, let yourself go and get crazy.

The Killers - Smile Like You Mean It

The next single after Somebody Told Me, The Killers have also made a mark in the music industry. They have now sold over 3 million copies of their album, Hot Fuss. They were also a band that appeared for Live 8 in July 2005 and the crowd rocked to "All These Things That I've Done".

Hard-Fi - Hard To Beat

Hard-Fi are a new band and theit debut single is a great start. It became their first top 10 hit in June 2005. The band are influenced from bands like Dexy's Midnight Runners, The Clash and Happy Mondays.

Weezer - Beverly Hills

Long time since Weezer appeared in the charts and they're back with Beverly Hills and this reached at No.9 in the charts in May 2005.

Rob Thomas - Lonely No More

This is the frontman from Matchbox Twenty's first solo single and this has gave him a big it in May 2005.

The Magic Numbers - Forever Lost

Forever Lost is their first single and made it to No.13 in the charts. Great start for the band.

Jack Johnson - Good People

Jack Johnson is highly successful in music and I have to say the latest single from him is brilliant.

U2 - Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own

This is the latest single from U2's album "How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb". This tune made it to No.1 in the charts and they recently opened up Live 8 with Paul McCartney with their version of Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club.

CD 2

Akon - Lonely

This track stormed to the top of the charts for two weeks in May 2005 and this was the second hit. This track sampled Bobby Vinton's "Mr Lonely".

Mario - Let Me Love You

Mario was successful in talent shows when he was a teenager and he first hit the charts in 2003 with "Just A Friend". Let Me Love You is the biggest hit in his career when it reached No.2 in March 2005.

Gwen Stefani feat. Eve - Rich Girl

I first heard this on hoiday in Centerparcs back in April and I simply thought WOW! The single is a follow-up to the massive hit "What You Waiting For" and reached the top 5 in March 2005.

Will Smith -Switch

Switch was the 10th top 5 hit for Will Smith and he was known as the Fresh Prince back in 1986. He fronted Live 8 in America from his home town of Philadelphia.

M.V.P. (Most Valuable Playas) - Roc Ya Body "Mic Check 1,2"

MVP are a hip-hop crew who are trying to take rap back to the dancefloor and it certainly looks like their heading in the right direction with this track. It reached the top 5 in June 2005.

Mariah Carey - It's Like That

Mariah has sold over 120 million albums worldwide since 1990 and her latest single returned her to the top 5 in April 2005 and she also performed at Live 8 with her single "We Belong Together".

Nelly - N Dey Say

This track uses a sample from Spandau Ballet's track True. This is another top 10 hit for him in June 2005. Nelly has now sold over 20 million albums.

Bobby Valentino - Slow Down

Bobby valention picked this alias because of his birthdate, which he was born on Valentine's Day and his latest single has become a top 3 hit in June 2005.

Faith Evans - Again

The retro feel groove of this track made Faith Evan's biggest hit to date when it reached No.12 in May 2005.

Joss Stone - Don't Cha Wanna Ride

Joss Sotne was another performer at Live 8 and she released this track in July 2005 and samples the 60s classic Soulful Strut.

Roll Deep - The Avenue

This track is based on the 1983 hit Heartbreak Avenue and was released in mid July. Roll Deep are crew behind Dizzee Rascal which have branched out on their own.

Charlotte Church - Crazy Chick

Known back in 2003 as CMC as guest vocalist for Jurgen Vries' big dance hit, Opera Song, she has now gone and released Crazy Chick, her first single. It made to the charts at No.2 in July 2005.

Rachel Stevens - So Good

Released in July 2005, So Good is the new single. A great single from her new album.

Inaya Day - Nasty Girl

A big track in the clubbing scene and it has been successful in the charts. All clubbers and dance music fans should give this a listen.

Deep Dish - Say hello

The new single after the successful Flashdance. This aimed to be following the top 3 success of the follow-up and it certainly looks like it to me.

Freeloaders vs The Real Thing - So Much Love To Give

This is a song that was a cover from Daft Punk's version. When it was released in April, it became a top 10 hit and is still being played in clubs and radio stations. A very uplifting track.

Kylie Minogue - Giving You Up

Kylie was to headline Glastonbury but after finding out that she had breast cancer, she had to cancel it. This new single is her 33rd chart hit and sold over 40 million albums worldwide. Good luck to her with her recovery.

Girls Aloud - Wake Me Up

Girls Aloud never seem to stop as this is their 8th consecutive appearance on the Now albums and this new single is a brilliant one and matches the brilliant Sound Of The Underground.

Crazy Frog - Axel F

I'm sorry but WHY is this here? Many people find this annoying and I don't think it deserves a place on the album. Anyway, this track was released in May/June 2005 and stayed in the top of the charts for 4 weeks. What were you all thinking? Get a life as this is an annoying tune. Let's just hope that Now 62 will include the remix of Popcorn.

Tony Christie - Avenues & Alleyways

Tony Christie is releasing another old single of his in August 2005 and this was originally the theme for the TV programme, The Protectors' back in 1973.

McFly - You Got A Friend

This a cover from Carole King's version of the song and also a big hit for James Taylor back in 1971. This was the Comic Relief single and reached No.1

Heather Small - Proud

Ah, one of my favourite singles on the album. After hearing that London won the Olympics back in July, I just put this song on no end of times. I am pleased to se this here. this was orginally a top 20 hit in summer 2000 for Heather Small, who she was part of the successful M People.

This album has a lot of good tracks this time and there are only the two problems which I have stated above. I must admit that this is a great album and should be purchased by all.