In listening to the Black Eyed Peas latest album, I’ve come to accept that their transition into more radio-friendly pop fare shouldn’t be that surprising. The inclusion of Fergie was a sound strategy, as the group probably took into account their moderate successes on an underground level; tracks like “That’s the Joint, That’s the Jam” and “Weekends” being more notable to those on the fringe of their original fanbase. Decidedly danceable and complemented by female vocals, it admittedly makes sense that the group would re-conceptualize themselves based on that particular mold. And they continue to take that mold further on The E.N.D.

From the moment “Boom Boom Pow” starts, it’s evident that the group is going for more of a dance/electronica vibe, the track charged with an ambient techno-tronic hum and bass-heavy drum loops. “Rock That Body” meanwhile, is an example of some not-so-subtle borrowing from Discovery-era Daft Punk, accentuated by a Rob Base sample. More of this can be heard on “Alive”, seemingly inspired by “Something About Us” in its bassline and chorus, albeit slightly more uptempo. These nods are good in moderation, and thankfully never overtake the album. It actually makes for a welcome change of pace on “Rockin’ to the Beat”, which follows the more disposable fare of “Now Generation” and “One Tribe”. The funk guitar riffs mesh well with the futuristic disco elements. The energy level is right where it needs to be to end the album on a high note. However, one of The E.N.D.’s more notable tracks has to be “Imma Be”. Starting off as the kind of downtempo crunk jam you might find in a club down in the dirty south, it ultimately morphs into a more upbeat New York house anthem.

This isn’t to say The E.N.D. doesn’t have shortcomings. Tracks like “I Got A Feeling” and the aforementioned “Now Generation” and “One Tribe” break up the flow of the album with lethargic pop-rock production and uninspired concepts. There’s also the clear shift in the dynamic of the group in general, wherein Fergie is so prominently featured throughout the album, you’d swear the others were backing up her on a solo project. Will.i.am is still very much the ringleader, but tracks like “Meet Me Halfway”, “Missing You”, and “Out Of My Head” are clearly meant to spotlight group’s vocalist. These offerings aren’t bad so much as they’re overbearing. And while the original trio, quite honestly, were never as lyrically dexterous as some may like to believe, their rhymes never sounded as phoned in as they do on The E.N.D. This is either an honest homage to the more simplistic rhyme deliveries of hip-hop’s early days, or a means of setting the bar low enough for Fergie to jump over whenever she attempts to bust a rhyme.

As far as reinventions go, The E.N.D. just barely boasts more successes than failures. Few albums are as blissfully stupid, while maintaining some semblance of charm. Pushing further away from their musical beginnings, however, one has to wonder where the group can go from here.

Final Verdict: C+