Considering the fact that the Black Eyed Peas get bigger and better with every album, fans can only hope that The E.N.D. doesn't really mean the end. Au contraire, and what a contrast it truly is that acronymic title means The Energy Never Dies, suggesting that there will never be an actual end and that their music, following the laws of energy conservation, will never be destroyed, just transferred and transformed but constant all the while. Most fitting a concept for this album, where the music maintains a constant energy and, though it’s presented in different forms, the vibe remains upbeat continuously.

While the energy remains constant on this album, the hits do not. Will.I.Am does a great job with the production, but there are times when its on overload and the listener gets lost in the noisy clutter. Boom Boom Pow served as the album’s lead single, sitting atop the Billboard’s Hot 100 for more than 11 consecutive weeks. Rock That Body includes a high-energy sample from Rob Base’s infamous smash It Takes Two and the 80’s vibe continues on Meet Me Halfway where Fergie’s vocals are reminiscent of Cyndi Lauper in this dance-styled love song. But then there are tracks like I’mma Be, where the beat switches dramatically about halfway through the song, but the added elements take the production way overboard and get messy. Such is also the case with Party All The Time. Alive is one of the highlights of the album with its heavy use of the auto-tune device that complements the futuristic vibe of the entire album. Other highlights include Missing You where Fergie gets some more shine, Electric City, and the second single, I Gotta Feeling, a slightly mellower feel-good jam that places emphasis on optimism. On the flipside, Now Generation and One Tribe are some of the downfalls of the project – decent concepts, just failure on delivery.

The Black Eyed Peas have certainly come a long way, rising from obscure beginnings as a 3-man team to a worldwide phenomenon with the addition of Fergie to the roster. The E.N.D. sees a decrease in the group’s attempt to be hip-hop and embracing more of a hip-pop style, bringing together elements of electro-pop, hip-hop, techno and some classic styles of the 80’s. If you’re a hip-hop fan, expect to only survive this album in small doses, but if you’re able to keep an open mind, you just may love this album in it’s entirety.

Sound-Savvy officially rates The E.N.D. with 3 out of 5 platinum headphones

Related Posts:
Audio: The Black Eyed Peas - I'mma Be
Audio: The Black Eyed Peas ft. Busta Rhymes - Boom Boom Pow (Remix)