Album- The E.N.D
Artist- Black Eyed
Peas
The Black Eyed Peas are one of the ultimate hip hop groups
that have produced an array of mega hit singles that have really captivated the
world. As the group are currently on a hiatus and are each on their own
projects, with will.i.am notably releasing a highly anticipating solo record, I
wanted to look back to what is arguably in many people’s eyes their greatest
album and ask myself the question of whether they should just stick together as
a group, because the music is so good?
Track 1- Boom Boom
Pow
Reportedly made for underground clubs, the record’s lead
single is a futuristic electro pop, hip hop tune that is not traditional in
composition and doesn’t have that simple verse to chorus flow. However it still
has a thoroughly catchy quality with this unique structure, and has that
vibrant personality from each member of the group that is needed to really make
a catchy tune. Lyrically the track find’s will.i.am rapping about this new
futuristic sound that he and the Peas have created, with each member then
offering their own rap section and variation on this theme, with the raps being
fast paced and digitally effected to really grab our attention and make for an
interesting tune. Vocally all the group really come together on the track and
brings a vibrant power to the song, with each being really strong in their
delivery and having that swag that is needed for such a tune. But what really
makes the track so good is the stomping but simple 80’s inspired electro
production with its steady beats that immediately make for an attention
grabbing sound. A very unique song that seems to only be possible through its
creation by the Black Eyed Peas.
4/5
Track 2- Rock That
Body
Bringing the futuristic quality of the record to the fore
seems to be the aim of this track with its robotic vocal tone that is created
by the heavy use of Auto Tune, and the powerful use of synthesisers within the
production. The songs lyrical concept is very much party driven, with the group
singing about how they want to party and rock their bodies and yours, with the
track heavily sampling the Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock’s tune “It Takes Two”. It’s
a simple message, but the lyrical repetition is a little annoying, and the
message doesn’t feel as strong from a group well-known for their party driven
tunes. Vocally the track is also annoying as the heavy use of Auto Tune is too
much, particular within the Fergie sections of the track, as she is completely
unrecognisable and so loses her sense of personality. However the production of
the track saves the tune a little as the dance based sound with its electro and
hip hop tones makes for a quite powerful and catchy sound, not enough to make
it a great song but enough to make us want to listen.
3/5
Track 3- Meet Me
Halfway
The group really slows things down for this song and give us
a little bit of an emotional side of their character, as the mid tempo
electro/hip hop tune has a more wistful and love based mood. Fergie is
definitely the best member of the group here, with her smooth vocals acting as
the centre piece of the tune, whilst the other members of the Peas simply rap
around her and elevate the message that she conveys in their unique ways, all
combining to make a nice and quite powerful tune. Lyrically the track has
melancholic but hopeful kind of split in ideology and is a song for the lovers,
as the guys rap about thinking of this special person, whilst Fergie plays the
role of a woman waiting for her lover and asking him to meet her, but meet her
halfway, and is definitely a concept that is driven by the idea of having to
make sacrifices within relationships. The chorus is extremely catchy, and
Fergie’s vocal tone is really powerful. And in keeping the production a little
bit more simple with the electric guitar moments and steady back beat, but
still having a futuristic feel, the band gives the record a nice touch of
diversity and makes for a record that we want to hear more from.
3.5/5
Track 4- Imma Be
Track number 4 is one that has kind of divided opinion and
is definitely one of the more hip hop based tunes, with the title being a use
of slang that is very much relevant into today’s youth. The track is all about
how the group are going to be doing all these things and are just going to be
doing all these things in a great way because they are here to stay and are
really the best. It’s a simple message that comes of a little egotistical, but
the group provides enough of a cool personality to pull the track off, although
the lyrical content is a little bit too repetitive. Vocally it’s a very simple
track and is more rap than vocal driven, and so you can’t really say that the
vocal is bad, with each member really having a vibrant tone in the track.
However whilst the lyrical content and vocals are ok, it is the production that
will either make you love or hate the song, as the track is one of two parts.
The first section is very simple, with a throwback sound in the use of horns
and simple hip hop driven beats that are catchy. Midway through the track than
transforms into this more up tempo, chunky synth driven state that is in its
own right catchy but equally just weird. It can come across a little gimmicky
but also potentially has this self-parody kind of style, and so this is
definitely just a weird tune, and you have to make your own decision about
whether it’s a song for you or not (although the fact it hit number one in the
United States does kind of signal that it is good).
3/5
Track 5- I Gotta
Feeling
Most of the Black Eyed Peas records have been made with
these tunes that try to get you in the party mood, and the group once again
tried to achieve this with this, the fifth track and second single. But not
only have the group succeeded, they have made a tune that is so deliciously
irresistible in its catchiness that it has gone down in digital sales history.
The up tempo dance pop number is very simple in its lyrical ideology as the
guys sing of how they know that tonight is going to be something good and they
are just going to go out and have some fun. It’s lyrical simplicity is the key
to the track, immediately enveloping you with its catchy hook that gets stuck
in your head very, very easily. Vocally each member is strong, giving a cool
vibrancy to the track individually whilst also blending really nicely as a
group. The production is kind of simple but has a throbbing dance groove, with
the use of heavy synthesisers and a tick tock rhythm that just gets you in the
mood to really let loose and have fun, and this is easily one of the best
tracks in the history of music to just go crazy to.
5/5
Track 6- Alive
From the party atmosphere of the previous track we enter
into a more mid tempo state in which the band seem to be kind of loved up, as
this is very much a relationship song. However lyrically the song is really
cool in how it has this kind of two fold perspective, in which will.i.am and
apl.de.ap play the roles of guys who are really in love and speak of this girl
making them feel alive, whilst taboo and Fergie offer a different prospective
in which the relationship isn’t all roses and love and something seems to have
kind of gone wrong. It’s a cool twists that makes the songs sentiments a little
bit more potent, however the track lacks a little power as the vocals are too
monotone, with will.i.am being too processed and no band member really adding
any zest to the tune. The production is also something that is both cool and
annoying, as it is simple but varied and layered. The electro sound has a
simple back beat and a cool piano melody intermixed with the strong synth
energy, and the transitions are cool in their slow burning essence and cool
twerks. However, the track is too processed in places and just becomes dragged
out towards the end.
3/5
Track 7- Missing You
Missing You is another song that has its lyrical content
embodied within the title. The Peas here sing about their love for their
respective partners and how things don’t feel right when that person is gone.
The concept isn’t original and the lyrical delivery is by no means innovative,
but the chorus has a nice sincerity and catchy quality. The catchiness of the
tune is also helped by the snarling, powerful vocal performances by the Peas,
in particular Fergie, who elevates the chorus through her powerhouse diva
vocals that really command your attention in a nice and cool way. The
production of the track is more simplistic and welcoming that some of the other
tunes, with a wild bass line and handclapping rhythm that is chilled and dance
ready at the same time, and has this undeniably appealing quality.
3.5/5
Track 8- Ring-a-Ling
When this track begins with that cool electronic shimmering
that acts as the backbone of the track it feels like a cool continuation of the
end of the last track, and so works in terms of creating this cohesive element
to the track. However the track is more lyrical fast paced than the previous
track and has much more of a sexual edge. The title of track is repeated by
will.i.am many times throughout the track, and the song basically focuses on
the idea of calling up someone for sex. It’s a little bit of a cool but awkward
listen, and works well in highlighting attitudes of today’s society towards
this type of sex. However, rather than being an appealing insight into social
attitudes, the song is marred by over repetition and poor vocals, with Fergie
being annoyingly subjected to Auto Tune, with only the rap section having a
marked level of appeal. Production of the track is better, with a clattering
electro rhythm that is cool and easy on the ear, although the last 20 seconds
are just annoying and drag the track out.
2.5/5
Track 9- Party All
the Time
With the title of this track and the overall euphoric kind
of sensibility that it exhibits in sound, this is almost an I Gotta Feeling
Part 2. Lyrically it is another simple offering from the band: the chorus focuses
on how life would be better for them (and everyone) if they could just party
and not think about other things, whilst the verses offer each members
perspective on what they would do if they could party like they want to.
Certain sections are marred by cliché, but the chorus has a catchy simplicity,
and the track is also given gravitas by the fact that they are not focusing
solely on the idea of party but also on how life can bring a lot of stress, and
it is ok to dream and just wish you could relax all the time and enjoy every
moment. Vocally the track is cool in terms of the commanding raps and the light
vocal tone of Fergie who brings a euphoric element to the track, with the final
verses having a cool play off moment between her and will.i.am. Production on
the track is strong with a nice back beat and thumping electronic bass lines
that make for a toe tapping rhythm.
4/5
Track 10- Out of My
Head
Fergie is the main vocalist for this tune and dominates the
party focused track that is all about how she is sick of life and is just going
to go crazy, particularly through the benefits of alcohol. The concept is a bit
cliché and annoying but is given gravitas by Fergies quite aggressive vocal
performance that powerfully emphasises how she means what she is saying, and
the bridge is cool in how it stops the song to show Fergie messing it up as if
she is actually drunk, and giving a cool twist to the track that makes for a
strong finish. It may be a bit bland lyrically but the production makes up for
this a bit with it’s cool electro pop/hip hop rhythm with the dominant bass
line blending nicely with the use of horns and cool guitar riffs to make a
little bit of a soul flavour in the tune.
3/5
Track 11- Electric
City
Containing elements of “I Want Candy” as performed by Bow
Wow Wow, this track seemingly finds the group transformed into a from the
islands reggae group in terms of the way that they express themselves vocally,
and although it is a little weird, it is attention grabbing and something you
enjoy after a while. Lyrically the track
is all about how the group are so awesome and you should watch out for how incredible
they are. It’s a bit egotistical but not as annoying as it could be, perhaps
because Fergie dominate the track and so her vocals give the song a little bit
more of a smooth edge compared to if one of the Auto Tune heavy guys had sung
it. The heavy, punchy bass line keeps that cool reggae vibe of the vocals
ticking along nicely and melds organic drums with electronic beats nicely for a
sound that is cool and collected.
3/5
Track 12- Showdown
As the title would suggest, this is very much a song where
the Black Eyed Peas seem to be calling out their musical competitors and people
who dislike their music and are prepared to fight for their musical prominence.
The song is strong in terms of the rap sections that have a nice sense of
charisma about them and are less Auto Tuned than previous offerings, and there
is also a sense of amusement intermingled with the seriousness. The chorus is
also catchy in terms of it’s vocal harmonies and this essence of it being built
for a crowd to sing along to. The song also has this kind of it would be great
live feel to it in terms of the production, which utilises cool electric guitar
rhythms and a scattered electronic beat in the chorus that is all about showing
the forcefulness of the group. The end of the song with the dark electronic
voice going on about the economy is stupid, but otherwise this is a solid
track.
3.5/5
Track 13- Now
Generation
I thought that from the title of this song this would be
another electro pop party stomper like I Gotta Feeling, but with the way the
song begins with this subdued guitar strumming, I was really intrigued. The
song is much more organic, with the forceful drumbeats and cool electric guitar
riffs and amazing use of the harmonica creating a nice tone that gets the
energy rising just as much as the dance songs do. The song lyrically focuses on
the idea of how the Peas represent this generation where it is there time to
rise, being an anthem for the youth that contains some cool cultural
references. The only issue with the song is the vocals, as after about 3
minutes you become a bit bored and can hear the strain within their voices a
little bit more.
3.5/5
Track 14- One Tribe
Things are kept still in that vein of the more organic with
this track that opens up in an acapella, gospel style as Fergie sings “woah’
repeatedly. The song is lyrically kind of a bit of a part 2 to their break out
hit Where Is the Love, as the song focuses on how people are united by the fact
that we are all human, and we should just forget the evil of the world.
Will.i.am produces some much stronger rapping within this song, perhaps because
the subject matter is a bit more serious, and as the song continues you really
do get caught up in the lyrical message and feel better because of it. The
vocals are also really strong, with Fergie providing nice melodies to accompany
the raps. And the production is really nice, with a simple back beat that just
creates a snappy but light rhythm, and the introduction of potent guitar riffs
within the bridge and the rest of the track make for a final section that
really makes you believe in what they are rapping/singing.
3.5/5
Track 15- Rockin to
the Beat
The final track ends the album on a firm electronic level,
as it opens up with these cool disco stop and start rhythms and then goes into
this funky disco mode complete with distorted vocals and a snappy, fast paced
rhythm that builds in momentum a little, but never goes crazy. The rap section
is cool, although it does take a while to get to, and although there is this
lack of vocals and a strong lyrical content, the song is appealing in sound,
particularly with the electric guitar moments of the final minute that are a
bit excited. A nice track to finish with, albeit it feels like we are listening
to it in its unfinished form.
3/5
Final Review
This is probably one of the best of the Black Eyed Peas
albums in that it really produces some hit songs that are vibrant and catchy
with a powerful level of uniqueness to them. However that is not to say that as
a whole this is a good album. Although it has a nice cohesiveness to it, more
often than not the band feel like they are indulging themselves a bit too much
with the way that the songs are so electronically and Auto Tuned based, with
the way the songs are so long just being annoying rather than innovative. This
is a nice record, it just needs to be polished, and although I feel weird in
saying this, this is actually a group that might want to tone it down a little,
whilst still enjoying the party.
6/10
Best Track- I Gotta
Feeling
Worst Track-
Ring-a-Ling
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