Nov. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Some of us want to move on from soothing memories of the King of Pop and the Fab Four, so here are a few suggestions for catching up with today’s music.

One starting point is to invest in any of this year’s “Now That’s What I Call Music!” compilations on Sony. The track lists vary across countries, though the 32nd edition released in the U.S. this month is a good sampler.

The following selection of downloads will get you refreshed fast, and help fill the iPod for the holiday season.

BLACK EYED PEAS, “Meet Me Halfway” (Interscope). This single from the Los Angeles band’s fifth studio outing “The E.N.D.” is as catchy as its No. 1 predecessors, “Boom Boom Pow” and “I Gotta Feeling.” The funky guitars and distorted handclaps make for insidious hip-hop.

JAY-Z & ALICIA KEYS, “Empire State of Mind” (Roc Nation). This song in praise of the Big Apple declares “the streets will make you feel brand new, the lights will inspire you.” It’s the “New York, New York” for 2009. Still, Jay-Z is going too far in declaring himself “the new Sinatra” -- he can’t sing, for a start, as the rest of “The Blueprint 3” shows.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD, “Cowboy Casanova” (Arista Nashville). This single leads the “American Idol” winner’s third album “Play On,” out this month. It’s country, though not as we know it, and steamy enough to add to Underwood’s haul of hits.

SHAKIRA, “She Wolf” (Epic). The Colombian singer- songwriter’s title track from her new collection marks an impressive shift to electronic dance from Latin pop.

MADONNA, “Celebration” (Warner). Madonna signs off from her Warner Bros. contact with another greatest-hits outing that comes with an obligatory previously unreleased track. Fortunately, “Celebration,” co-written with Paul Oakenfold, is an upbeat invitation to Madonna’s perpetual dance party.

OWL CITY, “Fireflies” (Universal). Adam Young, 23, started making music at night in his Minnesota home studio because of insomnia. The result, with lyrics about counting sheep and being too tired to fall asleep, sounds like the Pet Shop Boys or Erasure until the big chorus kicks in.

LADY GAGA, “Paparazzi” (Interscope). The CD “The Fame” came out last year, though its highlights “Just Dance” and “Poker Face,” took off in 2009. Their creator comes on like Pink or Madonna with fewer inhibitions and clothes.

STING, “You Only Cross My Mind in Winter” (Deutsche Grammophon). Alarm bells sound at the news that the now-bearded Sting’s first new music since the Police reunion is a concept album of traditional airs and new songs inspired by his favorite season. “If on a Winter’s Night…” is serious and unlike anything else in this list, and that’s no bad thing.

Not all the quality music in 2009 has enjoyed multimillion sales. There also has been much to recommend from Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, Dead Weather, Friendly Fires, Lily Allen, Florence and the Machine, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Regina Spektor, the Kittiwakes and Amadou & Mariam to name a few.

Ratings for all: ***. Download fees vary across services; the albums are priced from $12.98, or 8.99 pounds in the U.K.

What the Stars Mean:
****       Excellent
***        Good
**         Average
*          Poor
(No stars) Worthless

(Mark Beech writes for Bloomberg News and is the author of “The Dictionary of Rock and Pop Names.” The opinions expressed are his own.)

To contact the writer on the story: Mark Beech in New York at mbeech@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: November 16, 2009 19:00 EST