Various Artists NOW 22

For its 22nd installment, the Now series presents a 20-track set that's front-loaded with R&B/hip-hop tunes by Rihanna (the energetic, Soft Cell-sampling "S.O.S."), Ne-Yo (the smooth "When You're Mad"), and other chart-topping contemporaries. The latter part of the disc falls squarely into the pop/rock vein, featuring songs by Daniel Powter (the inescapably catchy "Bad Day") and Ashley Parker Angel (the revved-up "Let U Go"), with country-rock heartthrob Keith Urban closing things out with a moving ballad ("Tonight I Wanna Cry"). ~ Eric Schneider

• Format: CD
• Genre: Country