The Black Eyed Peas fall into a sophomore rut with Bridging The Gap. They write about being new to the music industry, neglecting the listeners by writing about what is familiar to them.
Black Eyed Peas
Bridging the Gap
Interscope Records
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Listeners don't know or care about the world of the music industry and can't relate. That makes first song "BEP Empire" a poor opening in BEP's move to establish a career in music.
"Weekends" brings the disc around by talking about Thursday night parties. The Black Eyed Peas apparently start its weekend the same day college students do. It sets a mood for high-tech lights flashing through a smoke machine's fog, helping listeners set a goal for a great party later in the evening.
A melodic guitar solo before "Lil' Lil'" provides a recess from the driving beats surrounding it. It is dreamy and accompanied by wispy voices that increase its light air. It also provides a glimpse of how versatile the group is live. The energy of the group's live performance is not reflected anywhere in the disc and is a major factor in the subtly flat sound throughout the album.
Mos Def appears on "On My Own" along with Bohemian soul group Les Nubians. Mos Def adds a dash of exciting hyper beats and a unique voice while Les Nubians' talents are underused. With the exception of the drum 'n' bass style, the song becomes boring. A prominent guest appearance fizzles when it would probably work if it were live.
Macy Gray helps finish the album by adding the right amount of raspy vocals to "Request Line." Black Eyed Peas' vocals are slightly more pronounced than in preceding songs, so the beat works with Gray. The song relinquishes the overpowering bass of other songs to reveal their voices, but it also reveals their mediocre rhyme scheme.
Overall, this CD is frustrating. Black Eyed Peas' music selections clash with their voices. They complete the blunder by using respected guests that don't complement their style enough to bring them out of the infamous sophomore slump. It's good that they didn't stick to a pop sound, like their last CD, but they should not have stuck to this.
