Reviewed by Paddy Hudspith

Another year, another 'WoW' collection, one again celebrating the cream of Nashville's biggest tracks from the past 12 months or so. If you have one or two of the previous 'WoW Hits' compilations, you will probably be able to name half the artists on this release with your eyes closed. No prizes for guessing that the pattern of mixing old hands (Michael W Smith, Amy Grant, Newsboys, Jars Of Clay, Toby from dc Talk), current champions (Caedmon's Call, Third Day, Bebo Norman, Rebecca St James), and newer "flavours-of-the-month" (Mark Schultz, Out Of Eden, Stacie Orrico) is continued. The quality of the individual tracks, as usual for 'WoW', is very high (although the second disc suffers from a run of very similar-sounding modern rock offerings - it sounds like 12 Stones, Jeremy Camp and Kutless all share the same vocal coach). Personal favourites? Chris Rice, livelier than ever on "The Other Side Of The Radio", a welcome return by Sixpence None The Richer ("Breathe Your Name") and the best tune from the second 'City On A Hill' collection. And, of course, the sublime "He Reigns" from the Newsboys' worship album. One small regret is that earliest 'WoW' releases made an effort to include artists such as Iona, the World Wide Message Tribe and dba, to avoid a US-only monopoly. These days, only Delirious? would ever get a look-in. Ho-hum. Anyhow, drop everything and get this for the youngsters in your life - compliment their latest 'NOW' with a bit of 'WoW'!

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