AMG Review of Now, Vol. 27

Andy Kellman
All Music Guide

The 27th volume of the Now series covers the big radio hits from the latter half of 2007 and the first couple months of 2008 -- the songs you've either come to hate or can't help but crank whenever they come on, even if you've heard them each hour you've tuned into your favorite stations. The first seven slots are occupied by females, with Natasha Bedingfield's "Love Like This," Mary J. Blige's "Just Fine," and Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music" leading the pack, while the latter half is largely occupied by the rockers, both soft (OneRepublic's "I Apologize," Santana's "Into the Night") and hard (Paramore's "Crushcrushcrush," Finger Eleven's "Paralyzer"). No one else could close it out, or be the lone representative for country, but Keith Urban, who makes what is at least his eighth appearance in the Now series with "Everybody."