Now 44 NOW 44

When it was released in early November 2012, the 44th volume of the U.S. Now series featured seven songs that had reached the Top Ten of the Billboard Hot 100, including the number one singles "Whistle" (Flo Rida) and "One More Night" (Maroon 5). The most known inclusion here, however, would be PSY's "Gangnam Style," as close to a global phenomenon as a song gets. Here's another case where "The biggest new hits on one album!" isn't completely accurate, as five tracks -- relatively minor hits from David Guetta, Karmin, Kelly Clarkson, Usher, and Swedish House Mafia -- either narrowly missed or failed to land anywhere near the Top 40. Judging from this disc, European-flavored dance-pop continued its reign through the summer and early fall of 2012. The token contemporary country pick, Little Big Town's "Pontoon" (number 22), seems as tacked-on as ever. ~ Andy Kellman

• Format: CD
• Genre: Country