Boom Boom Pow

The Black Eyed Peas. Former purveyors of light, happy hip-hop (see Request Line feat. Macy Gary). Then transformed into international supergroup thanks to the addition of Fergie. Now leading some sort of dance-hip-hop hybrid revolution.
According to group leader Will.i.am, the new sound of BEP's album is down to the time he spent in Australian filming Wolverine.

“The energy on the Presets’ small little stage was crazy energy. That song, My People, is wild. I went back home and I was playing that s… to so many people.

“Their audience; it was like the new generation. The fans born with the internet, born with a phone in their hand. These kids were on some 3008 s…; that’s what we meant with that line.”

Listening to Boom Boom Pow, the influence of the Presets, Cut Copy and The Potbelleez is clear. The banging beats, high-powered synths, Fergie's soaring vocals and Will's chanted chorus.I first heard them back in 2000-2001, when Nick bought their album. It got a lot of play in Computer Graphics class. Since then they've gone from happily alternative to happily mainstream. Compare "Weekend" with "My Humps".

I can't begrudge them any success. They produce catchy songs and care about providing entertainment for their fans. They're fun to dance to. I wonder if the Australian dance scene might have more of an influence on music overseas in the next couple of years? It gets a bit of play in the English club charts, but I tend to think The Presets might be too dancy for the US market. Which is a shame, because Apocalypto was a great album.

Will I buy the new BEP album? Probably not. Will I dance to their music if I'm at a party? No doubt.