Now That's What I Call Music 75

Celebrating a rather impressive milestone, the Now That's What I Call Music series returns with its 75th album, still dominating the compilation market as it has done since its debut back in 1983. Featuring eight number ones and 35 other Top 20 singles, the hit-packed collection takes in synth-led R&B (Black Eyed Peas, Chipmunk), anthemic rock (Florence and the Machine, Biffy Clyro), and girl power pop (Sugababes, the Saturdays). With the charts dominated by both The X Factor and Glee, it's no surprise that eight related tracks appear here. Indeed, both the hit U.S. show and original Journey's versions of “Don't Stop Believin'" are included, alongside huge hits from JLS, Joe McElderry, and Alexandra Burke. From the first disc, Gabriella Cilmi's '80s-inspired “On a Mission,” Rihanna's dancehall-inflected “Rude Boy,” and Lady Gaga's bombastic “Bad Romance” are the standouts, while Plan B's Northern soul/hip-hop hybrid “Stay Too Long,” Alicia Keys' modern classic “Empire State of Mind,” and Example's infectious “Won't Go Quietly” provide the highlights for the second. With over half of its track list falling under the urban category, Now, Vol. 75 perhaps isn't as varied as previous collections, but with the genre dominating the music scene, it's undoubtedly a fair reflection of the Top 40 in early 2010. ~ Jon O'Brien