Talent as big as Will.i.am's can't help making a lot of noise, and Songs About Girls is, for sure, a big, noisy record. But in addition to the kind of hugeness, it's sometimes hard to get your head around--see "Impatient," a freaked-up, very busy club joint--there's an outsize effort to connect with listeners on a deeper level here. Will.i.am, whose unstoppable run as a producer may have temporarily rubbed the sheen off his reputation as an artist, pulls it off in his own radiant, loopish, never-boring way. The best of this batch of songs chronicles a failed real-life relationship: "Over," which was co-written with Jeff Lynne and plucks from ELO's way-cool "It's Over," leads the pack with a bust-the-walls-in beat, and it's followed by the excellently unruly related numbers "Heartbreaker," "One More Chance," "Invisible," and "Fantastic." Listen to the hip-hoppy lyrics to these songs--several resonate through the hoots, horns, and hype--and you get the sense Will.i.am's appetite for the meaninglessly spectacular has diminished. But then "The Donque Song" comes along. Bouncing off a lot of electronic beats, booty references, and sly asides by Snoop--Girls' only guest star--"Donque" does its pulse-raising thing in classic out-there Will.i.am form; ditto first single "I Got It from My Mama," which traffics in sound effects and Black Eyed Peas-type call and response. "S.O.S.," a plea sent out on behalf of the environment, ends the disc on a somber note, but don't expect to walk off feeling all serious; Songs About Girls sucks its listeners way too far into the center of a stylish, if gloriously unhinged, universe for that. --Tammy La Gorce

After selling close to 20 million albums as the mastermind of the Black Eyed Peas,Grammy winner will.i.am is ready for his solo release - "Songs About Girls."

Will has recently produced hits for many artists - Fergie, Sergio Mendes, Pussycat Dolls, John Legend, Nas,The Game, Justin Timberlake - to name a few..."Songs About Girls" is produced and written by will.i.am with Snoop Dogg confirmed as the 1 featured artist. He has made a concept album with songs surrounding common relationship issues. "It really made me aware of how much is possible musically," he says.

After selling close to 20 million albums as the mastermind of the Black Eyed Peas,Grammy winner will.i.am is ready for his solo release - Songs About Girls. Will has recently produced hits for many artists Fergie, Sergio Mendes, Pussycat Dolls, John Legend, Nas,The Game, Justin Timberlake to name a few... Songs About Girls is produced and written by will.i.am with Snoop Dogg confirmed as the 1 featured artist. He has made a concept album with songs surrounding common relationship issues. It really made me aware of how much is possible musically, he says.

I traded this cd at a used cd store with no idea what to expect. I had heard the hit I got it from my mama but man the rest of the songs are fantastic. Heartbraker is truly a wonderful song. Get you money makes you want to get up n dance right there n then. Lyrics are smart a la Black eyed peas. Recording, very fine and well balanced, deep base a highe frequency very well balanced not harshed or over worked. This is one cd you don't want to miss. A great cruising album that will make you dance your seat of its rails. Will! you da bomb. Enrique

I love this album because every song pumps me up! I love to listen to it when I am driving, dancing, and working out. Although some of the lyrics are questionable (like the one about the stripper), I just see it as fun, comical, and upbeat. I love the beats; keep 'em coming Will!

As in the BEP albums, Will.I.Am mixes in Jazzy & Soulful beats with good hip-hop & R&B rhythms. He knows how to have fun with music as in "I Got it From My Momma." And he knows how to make a song incredibly sexy as in "The Donque Song" (with clever lyrics too). Unfortunately, sometimes his lyrics have no substance and he insists on looping them endlessly as in "heartbreaker" so I can't give this album more than 4 stars. Overall, though, it's a strong release that I enjoy very much.

The Black Eyed Peas didn't really get a whole lot of mainstream love until Fergie joined the group, a point driven home by the fact that the songs where she was predominantly featured became the biggest hits -- not to mention that almost every single off her solo album The Dutchess became a #1 hit. I guess Wyclef, Jr. -- I mean, will.i.am wanted a little bit of that action for himself, which is why HE went the solo route for Songs About Girls.

This is a concept album: if the title didn't tip you off, the songs are pretty much all about women (maybe he's trying to be the new LL Cool J?). And although it's true that Will is a better rapper than apl.de.ap and Taboo, he still isn't exactly the most exciting rapper in the world. But that's not even what the real problem is; the problem is the lyrical quality. It feels more like an R&B album DISGUISED as a rap album; and the album as a whole is cornier than a can of Del Monte. This is especially evidenced by "I Got It from My Mama", a phrase that has gotten played out (well, not exactly, but no one really SAYS it any more).

Another questionable track is "The Donque Song", which is made even less interesting by Snoop Dogg's third verse, which has him interpolating his own "Gin and Juice" but instead making it about women. "She's a Star" is cheesy, "Make It Funky" and "Impatient" are mindless club tracks (especially the latter, a techno song that Will isn't even in), and "Get Your Money" is an unfocused tribute to strippers.

The only song that isn't about girls is the obligatory end-of-album we-are-the-world song, "S.O.S. (Mother Nature)". The two-in-a-row of "Invisible" and "Fantastic" (which uses a clever sample of Jackson 5's "I Want You Back") are okay, but they're not enough to make the album more exciting. In the end, Songs About Girls is a pretty forgettable album (I don't even remember what the first single was), so you can do without it.

Anthony Rupert

Well when an artist has as much exposure through collaborations, associations and affiliations you sometimes wonder when and if they do a solo album what will be their focus. Well for Will.i.am, I think he stayed true to himself and crafted a well mixed collection of Pop, hip-hop and rock inspired selections that go from warm to hot by the time you reach the end of the journey. I am dubbing him Prince of Hip Pop & Soul because he is the only man on the scene who can rap, sing simultaneously as well as he does, not to mention writing and producing. This is a well orchestrated concept album that states true to form and explore a range of relationship oriented topics. I Got It From My Mama, Donque Song and Get Your Money and probably the least tasteful of the bunch; from my personal perspective. Yet still catchy, nice production and vocals for those who have a tolerance or preferance for those type of songs. But tracks 7 through 15 are simply on fire and the last song simply verified why he is considered to be a musical genious. Honestly, he did not forget about anyone on this project. Love it or hate it but he has lived up to his reputation and still in the vain of the Blackeye Pea's. "I Can't Wait", will definately be a hit in the House & Dance Club scene, as well as, "Make It Funky" in the Club Music & Hip-Hop Scene. Invisible and Fantastic are just incredible lyrically, vocally and musically. As many Fly Girl songs as there have been over the years, he still manages to make it a fresh them, I thought the lyrics and production were clever. She's A Star has that same kind of fresh appeal from a them that no doubt has been out there for a while. And that is the novelty of a top notch producer, he is one who can take the old and make it feel new. SOS is like such a moving reflective piece that it opens the man up and lets you inside of who he really is. BIG UP's to Will. I. Am
Don't Sleep.