The Black Eyed Peas are back at it yet again with their fifth studio album,
The E.N.D.The new album, whose title stands for “The Energy Never Dies,” is the mismatched band’s hope in re-establishing their notoriety.
The new album is a soulful, electro-hip-hop fusion with a mix of urban-futuristic contortion, an important component that will eventually save the Black Eyed Peas from falling too deep into a broad pop category this time around.
With its revolutionary style of sounds, The E.N.D. introduces listeners with the smash-hit single, “Boom Boom Pow.” The song, which has a futuristic style and a heavy bass feel that makes you want to crank up the volume to the max, presents Fergie’s egotistical side on full blast. Lyrics such as “I’m so three thousand and eight, you so two thousand and late” clearly emphasize Fergie’s cocky approach through unforgettable verses and catchy hooks that get glued to your mind. So, it doesn’t come as a surprise that “Boom Boom Pow” has topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 10 weeks in a row.
“Rock That Body,” the second track on The E.N.D., is a compelling, let-loose club anthem that tastefully samples the 1988 smash hit “It Takes Two” by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock. The song’s old-school feel brings back the '80s club vibe but still keeps it current with today’s style of innovative music. It would be a great loss to the Black Eyed Peas if this radio-friendly song isn’t chosen as a single.
A possible follow-up single to “Boom Boom Pow” is “Imma Be.” However, while the song’s heavy bass and well-rapped verses by will.i.am give it an excellent hip-hop foundation, the song overall is poorly crafted. “Imma Be” derails halfway through, leaving listeners confused and killing the vibe it was intended to produce. People will find themselves replaying the track not because they enjoyed the song, but to find out what happened. “Imma Be” sounds like more of an extended interlude than an actual song.
Slow jams such as “Meet Me Halfway” and “Alive” represent the album’s slower side and make great possibilities for singles. Love is the obvious storyline behind both tracks, something the Black Eyed Peas illustrate very well.
The hypnotic sounds of “Ring-A-Ling” make a listener think of the “Game Over” at the end of Pac-Man. However, I don't necessarily mean that in a bad way. The song's high energy and repetitive hooks make you want to hear it over and over again.
The E.N.D. has a smooth flow from top to bottom, although the end of the album becomes a bit tedious. Fortunately, the last track, “Rockin’ to the Beat,” wakes up the disinterested with its heavy Daft Punk-style beat and old-school rhythm that make it stand out from the rest of the album's second half.
The new album is available in stores now, and an exclusive two-disc deluxe edition is available only at Target. Make sure to pick up a copy today!
Album rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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