Most of us first heard of PARTYNEXTDOOR when big-brother figure Drake posted the single “Make A Mil” on OVO’s tumblr last summer to advertise who would be next to add more depth to the Canadian label. Promotion from the global Drake name sought after The Weeknd first, with collaborations on Take Care, and the latter’s Thursday. But Tesfaye found fame quicker than we could have expected, and the rookie that took his place would later go to see a feature on two NWTS tracks: “Own It” and “Come Thru”. We swallowed Drake’s personal recommendation like a sip of whiskey, smooth and easy and elegant. Being presented with the just-as-intimate-but-a-bit-more-in-your-face-about-it PARTYNEXTDOOR, who would we be to not welcome warmly the next name out of OVO?
Straying away from raps, and drifting more often than not towards the hook, Jahron Brathwaite brings a certain intimacy to the table that is mindful of his comrades, but with his own personal twist. Brathwaite obtains the ability to put passion into every word he outputs, and his lyrical capacity reeks of absolute maturity. One thing this Toronto fam knows is women; essentially all they ever talk about, PND in particular has captured those moments in relationships that have you lost in your own thoughts, where honesty has no place to hide. And his tricks work because he is so damn matter-of-fact about each display.
The outcome sees to lines like “FWU” (When we arguin it’s just me and me) or on “Options” (You know you got options babe/ party is an option babe). But next to his lyricism, what may be even more noteworthy tends to how easy his music is to entertain. His production value being nothing short of sublime, he presents his music as he presents himself- somewhat of a mystery, like the party is a secret for a close-by neighbor to view only from the outside, in awe and wonder of what could possibly be going on inside.
However, his themes do drift towards being repetitive a bit too often. As a debut LP, Two seems like an absolute sequel. And as a proper debut album for OVO Sound, he doesn’t necessarily prove too much more than he did with his quick, barely 30 minute mixtape that set the PND tone. One particular drag comes on “Sex on the Beach”, with words so to-the-point, we knew the chorus lines before we ever heard it. See also the almost pointless, 90 second “Belong to the City” that is over as soon as we start to process it. But even when his demeanor gets taxing, his voice has the power to tie up any loose ends. He sings effortlessly, and his voice feels so close – almost like he knows something we don’t, and he is trying to tell us all a secret.
PartyNextDoorTwo leaves room for growth on Brathwaite’s part. Though the album has many strongpoints, it falls short as a proper freshman LP for a label it’s safe to expect more from now. The project has our main player here still playing his cards close to the chest. Featuring just Drake for one song for the second time doesn’t place PARTY at the front, but in a state of number two; insistent on having the label’s leader attract more of an audience for himself, and staying conservative. Two has its moments of intimacy and passion, but also holds PARTYNEXTDOOR as an artist we are slowly learning that we expect more out of.
7.0
-Zilla
