This volume of the U.S. Now series was nothing if not timely. Released the first week of May 2011, it features eight songs that were, at that moment, in the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100: Katy Perry's "E.T.," Adele's "Rolling in the Deep," Rihanna's "S&M" (though it's the Britney-less album version here), Chris Brown's "Look at Me Now," Kesha's "Blow," Cee Lo Green's "Forget You," Lady Gaga's "Born This Way," and P!nk's "F**kin' Perfect." Just as significantly, the disc marks the re-emergence of Max Martin, who was involved with five inclusions: "E.T.," "Blow," and "F**kin' Perfect," as well as Britney's "Hold It Against Me" and Avril Lavigne's "What the Hell." Once again, there's no rock or country here, demonstrating the continued dominance of dance-pop and, to lesser extents, R&B and rap. ~ Andy Kellman
