Posted on 07/14/2009
There is something to be said for the Snakes On a Plane school of title selection. When done well, such titles are literal, direct and concise, letting perspective audiences know exactly what they are signing up for. But imagine if Snakes On a Plane was, in fact, not set on a plane, and didn’t even really have all that many snakes. That’s pretty much what you get from Toronto MC, P.A.’s latest. Melodically Vibrant. Far from vibrant, and not particularly melodic, the pristinely sedate beats and technically proficient, but lackadaisical delivery result in a pleasant, but ultimately uninspiring collection of backpacker elevator music (not a very profitable niche, since the prototypical backpacker would likely live in a walk-up.)

Clearly aimed for the lane created by the mellow, futuristic sounds of later J Dilla, most of the production on the EP is open and textured, even ethereal in spots. But where even Dilla’s most chilled concoctions snap with crisp drums, and groove with soulful instrumentation, too many of the tracks here simply float away on a cloud of atmospheric keys and strings, the percussion simply too light to anchor them in the head nod territory where P.A.’s rhymes might carry a bit more resonance. It’s no coincidence that the standout cut, “Mystique,” features P.A. and Oddisee flipping slick braggadocio over hard drums and scratches.

P.A. proves to be a solid lyricist, equally cable of flipping clever boasts (“Illy Bop”), or poetic self-reflection (“Sunshine Pain”). But his delivery can lean a bit to the tepid side, which the laconic production accentuates, making it hard for him to hold attention, even when the rhymes themselves are compelling. P.A. is clearly a talent, and his underground stripes are well earned, but his lyrical ability would probably be better served in the future by more varied backdrops.

- Jeff Harvey