Monnie1976's Full Review: The E.N.D. (The Energy Never Dies) by Black Eyed P...
The Black Eyed Peas have never been a group that fits in my usual listening scope. So when I put them on my MP3 player as a review possibility I never imagined they would still be there a couple of months later. While there are certainly better albums on my phone I’d be hard pressed to find anything more fun. Let’s be honest. This group will never be confused as being the Shakespeare of their generation with poetic lyrics like those featured in songs like “My Humps”. But the one thing that is definitive is they can deliver a hit. I’m not really familiar with their work before Fergie joined the group for Elephunk. I just know that it would take early onset of Alzheimer’s for me to forget hooks like the ones featured in songs like “Hey Mama” and “Don’t Phunk With My Heart”. Sometimes the world just needs to have some fun and for that purpose, BEP could easily be part of the soundtrack. With their latest album The E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies), the group continues the trend of making mindless pop music an art form.
The very definition of sonic ear candy, The Black Eyed Peas have an album that is tricked out with little synthesized flourishes and production that is top notch. “Boom Boom Pow” (their first number one) lives up to the title with so many little hooks that its impossible to get this song out of your head. It’s an odd combination of today’s cool synthesized landscape but also has all kinds of old school style. Its easy to recall songs like JJ Fad’s “Supersonic” and even Rob Base’s “It Takes Two” which are both lyrically superior but as catchy as this song. The production is nimble and manages to change things up without being disjointed. If John Legend ever decided to become a dance icon instead of a soul singer he might put out “I Gotta Feeling”. It’s weird because I actually think Will.I.Am sounds like him a little on this optimistic R&B/Pop/Dance hybrid. I bet you ten dollars this will be on some kind of car commercial in the next year! I enjoy this song and it puts me in a good mood. Its nice to have something that gives you energy while doing the exciting task of filing at work. Will.I.Am channels Legend again on the opening verse of “Rock That Body”. This song has some crazy energy and you need to check your pulse if this doesn’t get you on your feet.
There are other enjoyable moments on this album as well which keep up the energy but with a more relaxed vibe. While I‘m not sure sophisticated is an adjective you could ever accurately use when describing this group, “Meet Me Halfway” does have some really smooth production going on. This song really straddles that line between dance, hip hop and pure pop goodness and does it deftly. I love Fergie’s hook on this and she gives the song some sensuality. “Alive” is like a sonic sibling to the aforementioned with Will.I.Am singing the hook while Fergie gets rapping duty. Both of these songs are highlights on this album.
They are definitely some missteps on this album. For example, Fergie sounds smashed on “Out of My Head” which after a couple of listens I think that was actually the effect she was going for. So kudos for getting the concept right. In the end though I find this song deserving of a skip most of the time. Maybe if I was drunk and clubbing my opinion might change but with two kids, a job and a husband I don’t see that happening anytime soon. “Now Generation” is another song I find pretty grating. The music and production is great but Fergie sounds terrible on this one as well. The song sounds like the bastard child of Escape Club’s “Wild Wild West” and some garage rock ditty from the eighties.
Thankfully there is far more good here though than bad. When the group decided to name the album they really hit the nail on the head. The energy truly never dies and the album is definitely designed to keep you going all night long. Whether it be the early eighties funk vibe that permeates “Rockin’ To The Beat” or the Sesame Street meets Kanye West feel of “Showdown” there is no way you can feel tired listening to this collection of fantastically produced tracks.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.