#10–Various Artists: Now 9
We already know that they pack the power with each release. A little rock, a little R’B, a little pop, a little dance, and all the songs you can’t buy as singles anymore. We don’t know the track listing, nor what the cover looks like, but we already know both will be perfect. If they can issue 50 of them in the UK and still have them reach #1 position, you know they’ll be around here for a long time to come. Now 9, with a more creative cover, will hit in March.
#9-Mariah Carey: Greatest Hits
Mariah, we thought we knew you so well! Back when she was producing good music, she churned out hit after hit that added up to quite a great collection. This one differs from #1s as it includes hits that didn’t reach pole position on the charts, or due to lack of a single didn’t chart at all. Despite that, you’ll still get the best of her #1s as well. Too bad she dropped the ball with her latest CD.
#8-Various Artists: MTV2 Handpicked
When MTV launched, it brought to the forefront the concept that music television could push CDs. Instantly, music videos brought attention to songs that radio stations might’ve stuck their noses up at. But while Beavis and Butthead and Remote Control made the channel lose its focus, MTV2, picked up where MTV left off. This collection is the hot list of those who deserve your attention.
#7-B-52’s: Nude on the Moon
For 25 years, the B-52’s have been producing music that has always provided for something new and different. From their early days, when they seemed to be jarringly away from the mainstream, to their late 80s and early 90s success with huge mainstream hits, their catalog is unique and very powerful. The two CD set provides listeners with some of the best they’ve offered.
#6-Liz Suzy: Greatest Hits
Freestyle music was huge back in the late 80s as artists like Expose struck gold. But despite a lull in that genre of dance music, Lil Suzy has perservered, creating a series of albums (like “Paradise,” right) that provide a look into what freestyle can sound like in an evolved form. The CD collects many of the tracks that show why freestyle has lasted this long.
#5-Natalie Imbruglia: White Lilies Island
She struck gold in the late 90s with hits such as “Torn” and “Wishing I Was There.” After a long hiatus, she’s returned, and with a bang too. Her new CD won’t disappoint fans of her first CD, but will entice new listeners with a sound that is oh so missing from the radio these days. A fine follow-up to “Left of the Middle.”
#4-Celine Dion: A New Day Has Come
When Celine Dion announced a semi-retirement two years ago, it seemed like it would be an eternity. How time has flown. Just a few short months after her powerhouse performance at the September 11 tribute, Celine is prepping a new album slated to be released in March. Look for a much more confident and relaxed Celine to provide something a little different, while not abandoning her roots that will make her fan base scream.
#3-Various/Mandy Moore: Walk to Remember Soundtrack
The soundtrack to the motion picture will likely stand on its own, mainly because the movie’s star Mandy Moore has provided tracks to the CD. Her tracks, standing on their own, will c+arry this CD, thanks to Moore’s mature sound that has made great music in the past (“Crush,” “I Wanna Be With You”). The other tracks on this CD will be enjoyable too, but Moore will carry the show and if radio stations think things through, they could find a big star in Moore.
#2-Cher: Living Proof
She hit big – really big – in 1998 with “Believe,” a song that showed people that dance music has a place on radio. Now here comes “Living Proof,” an album even more upbeat than the past, that should provide people with even another reason why dance music continues to have a place here. Disco’s death might have have caused dance music to disappear off radio, but once you hear first single “(This is a) Song for the Lonely” you’ll be impressed.
#1-Kylie Minogue: Fever
Kylie has been the Madonna of Europe, amassing hit after hit. But to America, all we’ve gotten is a pair of hits: “I Should Be So Lucky” and “The Loco-Motion.” But after a long hiatus, she’s back, and better than ever. For years we’ve been deprived of the music that’s made her a star overseas, which has had more catchy songs than 99% of what you can find here. Her first single “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” is already sparking at radio, and you’ll be sure to see more of her around once again.
#0-The Worst of 2002’s New Releases: Barry Manilow’s “Ultimate Manilow” and Neil Diamond’s “Love Songs.”
Barry Manilow was big in the 70s, but leave it to his record company to be under the false belief that people want to hear his music still. His failed attempt to remake 70s songs show that there’s not much of a market for him anymore, so it baffles the mind why his label would issue “Ultimate Manilow,” a collection of his hits. The songs, while holding up to the test of time, and musically creative, simply aren’t worth spending $15 in today’s terms when there’s so many other artists that have kept themselves contemporary through the years, like Barbara Streisand, another in this category of music. Even more mind-boggling is how Neil Diamond’s label would issue a new set of songs. “Love Songs” has the same title as a 1980 album he did, and this set might’ve worked then, but doesn’t now. After lousy CDs such as his movies collection a couple years back, you’d think he would learn he is only good for a Will Farrell impresonation nowadays. Instead, he seems to think that another CD will be just what America wants. What we want is to be able to enjoy the old hit “America,” not anything new.
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