Customer Reviews

Totally Hits 2004, Volume 1

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

THIS IS THE ULTIMATE 2004 ALBUM AND IS DEFINITELY A MUST HAVE FOR ANYONE INTO TODAYS GREATEST HITS.

If your a fan of the Now Cd's, but have never really considered Totally Hits, this is for you. I own this Cd, and love it! I also own and have a review for Now 15, and personally think this is way better! It has all the hit songs for this year, but it does have some downs, believe me. See my review below and make your own judgement. Definetly worth buying, and worth 5 stars!

1. Jet-Are You Gonna Be My Girl-9/10
2. Maroon 5-Harder To Breathe-8/10
3. Jason Mraz-You And I Both-6/10
4. Kelis-Milkshake-7/10
5. Sean Paul w/Sasha-I'm Still In Love
With You-4/10
6. Ying-Yang Twins w/ Lil' Jon & The
East Side Boyz-Salt Shaker-7/10
7. J-Kwon-Tipsy-8/10
8. T.I.-Rubberband Man-4/10
9. Alicia Keys-You Don't Know My Name-
6/10
10. Christina Aguilera-The Voice Within-
9/10
11. Ruben Studdard-Sorry 2004-6/10
12. Justin Timberlake-I'm Lovin' It-3/10
13. Kelly Clarkson-The Trouble With Love
Is-9/10
14. Dido-White Flag-10/10
15. Clay Aiken-Invisible-7/10
16. Simple Plan-Perfect-9/10
17. Michelle Branch-Breathe-8/10
18. R.Kelly-Step In The Name Of Love
[Remix]-6/10
19. Joe-More & More-5/10
20. Missy Elliot-Pass That Dutch-4/10

Why won't people give Totally Hits a chance? Totally Hits 2004 vol.1 is just as good as any NOW album, even better than some!
Good Tracks:
Are You Gonna Be My Girl
Harder To Breathe
Milkshake
Salt Shaker
Rubber Band Man
You Don't Know My Name
The Voice Within
Perfect
All the rest aren't so good.

I try not to bring my personal life into my reviews,just the music you know. But I must with this album,because many of these songs,"Perfect" and "White Flag" in particular,really get to me emotionally.Thus certain songs are rated a bit higher.The album does a pretty good job of collecting some of 2004's biggest hits(although maybe not the best).
(1) Jet "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" B. This song sounds like it's from the 80s, it is atleast a simple and catchy rock track.
(2) Maroon 5 "Harder To Breathe" B+. I was hearing for months that I "had to hear Maroon 5". The hype is true. This is an excellent first single and great hard rock.
(3) Jason Mraz "You and I Both" B. Another song that could have been made decades ago. It is soothing, but the "zip" that "The Remedy" had is missing.
(4) Kelis "Milkshake" C-. That this became a hit is proof that people have no taste at all. The beat gets boring quickly and the song has zero substance.
(5) Sean Paul feat. Sasha "I'm Still In Love With You" B-. It's a close call,but I recomend the song for the talents of the artists and the "killer" horn arrangment.
(6) Ying Yang Twins feat. Lil' Jon & the East Side Boyz "Salt Shaker" B+. Surprisingly, the beat and production make this song rather entertaining.
(7) J-Kwon "Tipsy" B-. This song is fun to listen to, but that still does not make it any better than average. He's too overpraised.
(8) T.I. "Rubber Band Man" C+. Same as #7 and less fun.
(9) Alicia Keys "You Don't Know My Name" B+. Despite the long length, it is still pretty interesting. The spoken verse is very effective.
(10) Christina Aguilera "The Voice Within" A-. Just like "Beautiful", the song really has a hard hitting message.She has actually gotten better over the years.
(11) Ruben Studdard "Sorry 2004" A. Excellent song, you can actually feel true emotion with it. Despite the title, it is not a remake but an original and soulful work.
(12) Justin Timberlake "I'm Lovin' It" B. Being in the McDonald's ads tainted this song. It is in truth not funny, but hip and sexy, kinda like "Like I Love You".
(13) Kelly Clarkson "The Trouble With Love Is" A-. Kelly has finally focused all her talents to make a very powerful ballad.
(14) Dido "White Flag" A. Just as hard hitting and touching as "Thank You". It is depressing, but that is good because that is the song's purpose.
(15) Clay Aiken "Invislble" A. Who has not felt this way about someone? This track is clever, deep and very powerful. One of the year's best songs.
(16) Simple Plan "Perfect" A-. I was not a fan of "Addicted", but this time they have created a deep and touching (yes) hard rock track.
(17) Michelle Branch "Breathe" A-. For a change, this is a very happy and cheerful pop track. You will feel better after hearing it.
(18) R.Kelly "Step In The Name Of Love" (Remix) A-. R.Kelly at his best; joyfull, heartfelt and beautiful.
(19) Joe "More & More" B+. An old fashioned and very well done R&B track. No more, no less.
(20) Missy Elliot "Pass That Dutch" C-. This is a huge dissapointment after "Work It". That track clever, original and bold. This one is just meaningless generic rap.
Bottom Line:***.It's a close call, but I recomend the album for a number of great tracks. Keep in mind that they are also dealing with what music 2004 has to offer, which isn't much.

Ok, for all of you who don't understand why the NOW series are more successful, let me explain it for ya. First of all, both cds have some good and some bad issues. First of all, both contain some songs past their peak. The difference is how many songs, as well as how long ago they were hits. With Totally Hits, the songs are WAY too outdated. "Harder to Breathe" IS a great song...and it was REALLY great when it came out LAST SUMMER!!! It could have been on Totally Hits 2003! "Breathe," "White Flag," and "Perfect" are all good songs, but they were popular last fall. Then consider how many times you heard "Pass That Dutch," "Step In the Name of Love," and "I'm Lovin' It" on the radio...ever. Not many? Yeah, that's the problem. And if you insist on using American Idol artists on these compilations, make sure that they are hits. "Tipsy" is the only song that is still an actual "hit". So if people are not into reminiscing about overrplayed/ underplayed songs of the past 8 months, they will probably be buying a NOW cd, which at least gives us half of the songs as up-to-date hits.

1. Are You Gonna Be My Girl-Jet 8/10
2. Harder To Breathe-Maroon 5 9/10
3. You And I Both-Jason Mraz 9/10
4. Milkshake-Kelis 5/10
5. I'm Still In Love With You-Sean Paul featuring Sasha 9/10
6. Salt Shaker-Yina Yang Twins featuring Lil' Jon and the East Side Boyz 10/10
7. Tipsy-J-Kwon 7/10
8. T.I.-Rubber Band Man 8/10
9. You Don't Know My Name-Alicia Keys 8/10
10. The Voice Within-Christina Aguilera 10/10
11. Sorry 2004-Ruben Studdard 8.5/10
12. I'm Lovin' It-Justin Timberlake 4/10
13. The Trouble With Love Is-Kelly Clarkson 10/10
14. White flag-Dido 10/10
15. Invisible-Clay Aiken 6.5/10
16. Perfect-Simple Plan 8/10
17. Breathe-Michelle Branch 10/10
18. Step In The Name Of Love (Remix) 8/10
19. More & More-Joe 7/10
20. Pass That Dutch-Missy Elliott 10/10

Way too much rap...other than that, it's a really good CD! Here are my predictions/WANTS for volume 2:

1. Kimberly Locke - "8th World Wonder"
2. Avril Lavigne - "Don't Tell Me"
3. 3 Doors Down - "Away From the Sun"
4. Cheri - "I'm Ready"
5. Hilary Duff - "Come Clean"
6. Outkast - "The Way You Move"
7. Jessica Simpson - "Take My Breath Away"
8. Joss Stone - "Fell In Love With a Boy"
9. Lenny Kravitz - "Where Are We Running?"
10. Linkin Park - "Numb"
11. Los Lonely Boys - "Heaven"
12. Maria Mena - "You're the Only One"
13. Evanesence - "My Immortal"
14. Switchfoot - "Meant To Live"
15. The Darkness - "I Believe In a Thing Called Love"
16. Yellowcard - "Ocean Avenue"
17. Train - "When I Look To the Sky"
18. Blink-182 - "I Miss You"
19. Hoobastank - "The Reason"
20. Britney Spears - "Everytime"

OK... I hope yall like it! Ive put 7 songs before, and, this the full listing (duh):
1. Maroon 5- This Love or She Will Be Loved
2. Usher- Confesssions Part 2 or Burn or Yeah
3. Brandy featuring Kanye West- Talk About Our Love
4. Avril Lavigne- Don't Tell Me or My Happy Ending
5. Fantasia Barrino- I Believe
6. Alicia Keys- If I Ain't Got You or Diary
7. Kelly Clarkson- Breakaway
8. Kimberley Locke- 8th World Wonder or Wrong
9. Modest Mouse- Float On
10. Ying Yang Twins featuring Trick Daddy- What's Happenin!
11. Alanis Morsette- Everything
12. Kanye West- Jesus Walks
13. Mase- Welcome Back
14. Franz Ferdinand- Take Me Out
15. Outkast- Roses (Radio Edit)
16. Monica- U Should've Known Betta
17. Story Of The Year- Until The Day I Die or Anthem Of Our Dying Day
18. Trapt- Echo
19. Calling- Our Lives
20. Maria Mena- You're The Only One

I got this CD the day it was released and I *LOVE* it. I don't care for every single song but there are several that I listen to everyday. My favorites are:

"Milkshake"
"I'm still in love with you"
"Salt Shaker"
"Tipsy"
"Sorry 2004"
"White Flag"
"Invisible"
"Step in the name of love"

I've listened to this CD over and over again! I highly recommend this one!!!!

"Now, Now, Now, why is it always NOW!"

The Totally Hits has, since its inception, been treated as the less-loved sibling of the all-hit compilation family, and it really isn't clear why. It's rather pointless to compare chart positions since the #1 single spot this year has been continuously duopolized between OutKast and Usher, neither of whom appear on either album. Both have respectable hits from a variety of genres (pop, rock, R&B, rap) and both mix real hits with wannabes.

So why do NOW albums regularly entered the album charts in the top 5 and linger for months while "Totally Hits" eke out a brief existence usually never getting above #20?

I'd like to think that it's because so many tracks on this album previously appeared on the British import collection "Hit 40 UK", (available -- and recommended -- at Amazon's UK site) but that's very unlikely.

The inclusion of (count 'em!) 3 Idol tracks (from Kelly, Clay & Ruben) should encourage sales, and track for track, this is as good if not better than NOW 15.

So give the album a try. Jan Brady will thank you.