Elephunk

The Black Eyed Peas

Elephunk (A&M)

The big gripe about Elephunk, The Black Eyed Peas' third studio outing, is that it's just too poppy. Many fans were floored by them opening for Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera's 'Justified & Stripped' tour. And the first single, Where Is The Love?, makes you wonder when they enrolled in hippie camp.

Yes, the amount of disappointed loyalists out there is surprising. And that is a back-handed compliment for the Los Angeles-based alterna-rap outfit. But, the fact is, Elephunk is a fine album. Doubters charge Will.I.Am, Apl.De.Ap and Taboo with not keeping it real. Yet who really cares if they have you grooving to the chunky, funky beats in no time? Ignore the nonsensical wordplay - 'bop your head like epilepsy' (Let's Get Retarded) or 'keep it stinky' (Smells Like Funk). Don't be bothered by their MTV-friendly reincarnation. And get over the mediocre rapping.

In the end it's a likeable and slick change of direction. The addition of lush female vocalist Fergie will help them delve deeper in their search for diverse, experimental, funkified pop/hip-hop happiness.

Since 1998's Behind The Front, BEPs have done their time on the fringes of the underground. So chill, and let them have their crack at claiming a chart-topping party hit. They've earned it.