NOW That's What I Call Music! 6 — Various Artists

Updated June 26, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

• Epic

Like an old AM radio blarin' “The hits just keep on comin',” the “NOW” series keeps churning out one hits package after another with extraordinary results

The previous five volumes have sold a combined total of nearly 15 million copies since the series made its U.S. debut in 1998. This time out it's more of the same, 19 tracks in all by some of the biggest names in the business. If you never thought you'd see the day when U2 would be on the same album as The Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync, stay loose for the day has arrived. 'N Sync's “Bye Bye Bye,” U2's “Beautiful Day,” and Britney Spears' “Stronger,” are just three of the mega-smashes on this disc dominated by Billboard chart toppers and radio faves from the past year.

Just like the current charts, there's too much candy pop, but while Backstreet Boys' “Shape of My Heart,” is way too sweet, there is something weirdly alluring about ATC's keyboard-chiming “Around the World (La La La La La).” And while rockers take a backseat at the beginning of the disc, they get some definite play at the end, with cuts including Coldplay's captivating “Yellow,” Creed's “With Arms Wide Open,” and Everclear's “Am Radio.”