fashion beats

The Beginning by The Black Eyed Peas (Interscoped Records, 2010)

genre: Pop

age: 10 years +

honors: none

review: The Black Eyed Peas’ new CD is full of dance music… you can’t help yourself. The band’s familiar electric sound is back for this CD, so long-time fans shouldn’t be disappointed with what they hear. The Beginning is said to be a refelction of what’s happening in the world now, but with touching back to musical trends of the past.

opinion: The BEPs put their signature funky beat to work on the listener in this new album. The \ band has managed to stay relevant in the world of ever changing musical tastes, and can be heard here taking popular styles of music and adding their magic—in Fashion Beats is Fergie channeling her inner-Blondie Debbie Harris, and they liven up the Dirty Dancing theme with their The Time.

favorite: Fashion Beats and Light Up the Night

ideas: The band is everywhere—the Superbowl and Nickelodeon’s Kid’s Choice Awards—but may not be appropriate for all tweens. In the library, I’d be happy to help them find the disk, but I’d never recommend it… no matter how much I like it.