The 'NOW' series was coined as a definition of today's music. In keeping with this theme, this 'Now 36' album is indeed a snapshot of today's popular music.

SEE MY PHOTOS IN CUSTOMER IMAGES

My problem is the reduction in the number of 'today's music' on the recent 'Now' compilations. Until `NOW 32', the 'NOW' compilations included 20 popular tracks - a 100% snapshot of 'today's music'. The new format (beginning with 'NOW 33') includes only 16 popular hits. In my opinion, the producers of the Now albums have messed up a winning formula!

On 'NOW 32' a 21st bonus track was added as 'What's Next ... that was fine!
From 'NOW 33' to `NOW 35', the format dubiously changed from 20 chart toppers to 16, with the last 4 tracks featuring 'upcoming artistes' as 'NOW What's Next' bonus tracks.

The (current) 'NOW 36' album has yet again just 16 chart toppers. Still tinkering with the formula for the 'NOW' album compilation - the 4 'bonus tracks' now comprise - 3 featuring 'upcoming artistes' and 1 as a 'NOW Flashback Bonus' - an Elvis Presley song. I love Elvis, but please 'NOW' editors, no oldies on an album of 'current music'!

Enough of the experimenting 'NOW' editors! Just listen to what we the 'NOW' buyers are saying!

You found the winning formula a long time ago ... on the 'NOW' 1 to 32 albums! It's that simple! Revert to the old format - a compilation of 20 chart toppers defining today's music ... not the music of tomorrow or yesterday!

I buy the 'NOW' compilation series to collect the hits from the current stars like Katy Perry, Usher, Daughtry, Ke$ha and Nelly. I simply want a 'NOW' album with 100% today's chart toppers! - no 'oldies' or 'maybes'! Save these as alternative 'NOW' compilations or bonus downloads from the 'NOW' website.

4 STARS for an excellent compilation of 16 current hits. I took out 1 star for the 4 bonus track format!

RECOMMENDED FOR YOUR HOLIDAY LISTENING: Now That's What I Call Christmas 4

I started out as a casual fan of Paramore, but gradually, both albums grew on me, and now they're one of my top 5 favorite bands. I tend to think of myself as being a little outside the demographic of Paramore fans, being in my late 20's, but I don't care! I've been anxiously awaiting the release of this album, and to be honest, it's one of the first time in years that I've paid attention to the 'official release date' from any album.

Paramore has catchy, rock driven tunes with smart, well written lyrics. Hayley Williams' vocals are amazing...for such a tiny person she sure has a set of powerhouse pipes. I actually had expected this album to be a lot darker then the 1st two albums, after hearing the first single, "Ignorance" and also knowing they were going thru some personal band turmoil while recording "brand new eyes". But besides "Ignorance", there is no huge addition of somberness compared with the other albums.

Paramore has progressed and grown, while still retaining their distinct Paramore sound. I also think the drummer, Zac Farro, was given a little more liberty in letting the drums really lead and set the tone on a few songs. There are two quieter, pretty songs "Misguided Ghosts" and "The Only Exception". Thinking back, I can't recall any slower jams on the other albums that are acoustic and lacking drums like "Misguided Ghosts", and that stood out for me. But don't take that the wrong way, they're both awesome songs, and show a different side of what Paramore can accomplish. After listening to the album for at least a week straight, I really have been looking forward to those two tracks, as well as "Careful" and "All I Wanted".

While writing this review I struggled to find something I didn't like about this album(trying to be well rounded and not just chock full of praise!), and I'm sorry, but I couldn't come up with anything, I'm a fan, not a critic.

On the whole, the album is awesome and I think will stand out as one of the year's best Rock/Alternative albums, just like "Riot!" did in 2007. A must have in my opinion.

Also if you have a chance to see them live, go! I don't like live shows as much as I used to, but I never miss Paramore, they put on a stellar show.

Love this song. Love to listen to it in my car or in my room or while working out or in the bathroom.

This is it ladies and gentlemen! The first song from the new Paramore (sans the Farro brothers who left rather abruptly late last year). Like many fans I was worried that Paramore was not going to survive the loss of these two talented musicians, and that the band would dissolve and fade away. I'm so glad that I was wrong! With Monster, the remaining members of Paramore (Hayley, Jeremy and Taylor) are making it clear that they're not planning on going anywhere.

The lyrics of Monster feel like a natural end to 2009's Brand New Eyes. BNE was written by lead singer Hayley Williams about the internal struggles the band faced in 2008 that almost broke the band apart. Most of the problems centered around former band member Josh Farro and songs like Ignorance and Playing God made that frustration known. Now with Monster, Paramore addresses the loss of the Farros and announces "Now that you're gone the world is ours." Monster seems to be the resolution to BNE and a declaration of the new Paramore's independence.

Musically, the only concern I had was that the drums feel a little soft on the track. I think it was simply a mixing issue and that once performed live the drums will be more evident and powerful. Otherwise Monster is brilliant all the way through. Taylor's lead work is great and Jeremy's bass is a solid foundation allowing Hayley's vocals and lyrics shine.

To sum it up Monster is a perfect jumping on point for people new to Paramore, and a must have for long time fans. BNE is in the past and if Monster is any indication of the future, I can't wait to hear the future! Paramore is (still) a Band!

Paramore is known for their hard rock, punk beats and catchy hooks. The Only Exception, however takes a quite different, but just as addictive, turn. It's slow, and has a melody and lyrics that will stay stuck to your brain for quite some time!
When i first heard this song, i hated it. But then it grew on me, as most of my favorite songs do, and now i love it. It's perfect for chilling out to in the car while the sun is setting or playing at night alone in your bedroom writing or thinking.
It's pretty much about having such a broken life that you are afraid to love, but you finally find someone who is the only exception :)
This really is a GREAT song. Even if you're dedicated to the hardness and grit of "Crushcrushcrush" and "Brick by Boring Brick", you'll still love this latest hit from Paramore.
Happy listening!

This is the debut album by a very young band from Tennessee. Singer Hayley Williams is only 16 years old, and, judging from the band's website forum, most of its fans so far are teenagers. But this album should significantly broaden the band's appeal; it's earnest emo in the vein of Jimmy Eat World or Armor for Sleep, but less dark and more poppy. The production is clean, the choruses are memorable, and hooks are aplenty. Williams' confident vocals belie her youth, and, having already scored a slot on this year's Warped Tour, the band looks set for bigger and better things ahead.

Paramore's known for attracting a pretty young crowd, and that's understandable given how young the band itself is. But I'm a 35 year old guy who's gotten just as hooked on them as any of their teen audience. This is just some great rock music, with great hooks in almost every song and some amazing musicianship all around. Hopefully they'll continue to mature and continue to broaden their fan base as they progress.

The MVI DVD was my first Paramore purchase, and it's a great buy. I have to give special mention to the fact that there are actual mp3's on this disc for you to download to your PC - no DRM involved. That's gotta be something pretty new for Warner Music (the band is signed to Fueled by Ramen, but Warner apparently handles the distribution), and I hope that they continue doing it and that more labels follow suit. There are a ton of other great extras on the DVD, including live and promotional videos (the two things I cared about most) as well as other stuff I was less interested in like wallpapers, AIM icons, and screensavers. It also includes the lyrics to all of the songs on the album, which is a good thing in this case - the printed liner notes are written in a style that's pretty hard to read.

Just to be clear about what this comes with, since I think the Amazon page is a little confusing, this package comes with both a DVD and a regular audio CD that includes the full album plus bonus tracks. (Amazon shows "disc 2" above as only including the bonus tracks, which is not the case. It's the full album.) In other words, *both discs* have the full album - the only difference is the format. And of course the DVD has all the extras.

I was worried initially that there was going to be some sort of surreptitious installation of various tracking programs installed when I put this DVD into my computer - you know, like the major labels usually do these days. I'm still not 100% convinced that isn't the case, but I will say that their terms of use and privacy policies seem adamant that there is nothing of the sort, and it seems that the entire DVD interface is just a Macromedia Flash file - it's like viewing a Flash web site. You can also just watch it as a standard DVD if you like. The way their terms of use is worded makes it sound like they know about all the stuff that went on with the Sony rootkit fiasco and they don't want anyone to think that's going to happen with this DVD. I certainly hope that's the case, as I've now watched it on my PC probably half a dozen times already.

There's really no reason to buy the standard CD over the MVI DVD given all it comes with. You're really just getting a lot more with this package for only a couple bucks extra. It's totally worth it.