The Black Eyed Peas: The E.N.D
Editorial
Do you remember the moment you threw Kanye West's 808s and Heartbreak into your CD/MP3 player and thought, 'Wait a minute ... is that an abundance of Auto-Tune on this otherwise profound departure from an established artist who appears to have produced a concept album?' Chances are you thought those exact words. Well don't be surprised if your mind reaches the same conclusion about the new album from the Black Eyed Peas, The E.N.D. Of course, the Peas have achieved this without the alienating effect of dark introspection, something that can't be said for Mr West.
Surprisingly, The E.N.D is probably the best use of fuzzy keys, Auto-Tune (even T-Pain is probably nodding his head in approval), 808 snares, and bass so fat it would make Fatboy Slim blush, that you're likely to find on an LP this year. Although the album does move a little into cliche on occasion, such as the shtick of I Gotta Feeling ("I gotta feeling/That's tonight's gonna be a good night/That tonight's gonna be a good night/That tonight's ..." rinse and repeat), or general 'meh' of Now generation, there are genuine moments of brilliance - from Rock That Body and Boom Boom Pow (which kept pole position on the Billboard 100 for 11 consecutive weeks) to the dancehall-injected Electric City.
And while many lamented the addition of Fergie to the Peas line-up so many years ago (ok, seven years ago), she actually proves her pipes on this LP - give Ring a Ling a spin to get the idea.
Tracks:
1. Boom Boom Pow
2. Rock That Body
3. Meet Me Halfway
4. Imma Be
5. I Gotta Feeling
6. Alive
7. Missing You
8. Ring a Ling
9. Party All the Time
10. Out Of My Head
11. Electric City
12. Showdown
13. Now Generation
14. One Tribe
15. Rockin' To The Beat
16. Mare
Mark Gambino, June 2009
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