Now That’s What I Call Music! 78

If anyone needed confirmation of just how much commercial U.K. indie/rock is struggling at the moment, the 78th installment of the all-conquering Now That's What I Call Music series should provide the conclusive evidence. Whereas the previous EMI compilations have usually given equal track listing space to the major chart genres, its reliance on the modern hit parade means that only Noah and the Whale's "L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N." could be convincingly placed under the alternative category. Instead, the brand's latest 42-track collection is swamped with the kind of urban electro-pop which has dominated the upper reaches of the charts, and could be convincingly placed under the alternative category. Instead, Now's latest 42-track collection is swamped with the kind of urban electro-pop which has dominated the upper reaches of the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, with number ones from Kesha ("We R Who We R") and the Black Eyed Peas ("The Time"), nestling alongside similar synth-based hits from Enrique Iglesias ("Tonight I'm Lovin' You]"), [Far East Movement ("Like a G6"), and Flo Rida ("Who Dat Girl"). Highlighting the collaborative nature of the sound, there are a number of artists who feature both solo and as guest stars such as Chris Brown ("Yeah 3X" and Chipmunk's "Champion"), Taio Cruz ("Higher" and McFly's "Shine a Light"), and Tinie Tempah ("Wonderman" and JLS' "Eyes Wide Shut"), while over half of the two-CD selections are credited to more than one act. Luckily, there are a few less club-focused tracks which offer a respite from the relentless four-to-the-floor beats and generic trance riffs, such as X-Factor winner Matt Cardle's straightforward rendition of Biffy Clyro's power ballad "When We Collide," Take That's anthemic comeback single "The Flood," and the retro-soul of Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" (surprisingly chosen here over number one "Someone Like You"), while Devlin ("Runaway"), Chase & Status ("Blind Faith"), and Wretch 32 ("Traktor") show that there is still invention to be found in the British urban scene. Now 78 still works as a snapshot of the current chart scene, but through no fault of its own, it's perhaps the most samey, repetitive, and one-dimensional compilation in the series' 28-year history. ~ Jon O'Brien