Panacea – The Scenic Route
Rating: 
Review Date: September 29, 2007
Website: Panacea Website
Label: Rawkus Records
Panacea “The Scenic Route” Album Review
This is a feel good album – period. That’s about the easiest way I can describe Panacea’s “The Scenic Route.” Such a feel good album, in fact, that I threw it in my headphones this morning and decided to take “the scenic route” to work.
Normally I jump on the J Train into the city every morning, transfer over to the 6 at Canal Street, and get off at Astor Place only a block from my office. But today – inspired by the relaxing sounds of “The Scenic Route” – I got off at Bowery and decided to walk the rest of the way to work. I just wanted to walk and listen.
In mythology, Panacea was the name of the Greek goddess of cures. Born one of five granddaughters of Apollo, the god of healing, Panacea acquired the ability to heal the sick. With this historical reference in mind, it becomes clear why emcee Raw Poetic and producer K-Murdock call their collaboration Panacea: Their music is comforting and leaves the listener with a feel-good vibe throughout the course of the album and the day.
The Scenic Route
K-Murdock sets the pace for this vibe with a bunch of soulfully laidback tracks. Utilizing a consistent combination of keys, strings and soft horns, K creates a low tempo hip-hop canvas reminiscent of both old school Ali Shaheed Muhammad and modern day 9th Wonder. Each song seems to flow from one to the other, throughout the entire course of the album, creating a serene and peaceful backdrop mixing old and new school hip-hop production techniques.
And Raw Poetic fits in with this production style perfectly. With a melodic and positive rhyme style often reminiscent of a young Common Sense, Raw approaches each track with a humble intellect, often philosophizing on life and reflecting on his past. One of my favorite songs was Pops Said, in which Raw reminisces on some of the things his father taught him and how they help him to think positive:
Pops stayed straight faced no frown
See the world upside when you’re feeling down
I walk my own path now yet repeat the steps
With my weight gained through pictures I see connects
With the patchy beard and my laid back eyes
Chip off the old block yeah the Frank Lloyd tribe
Reminiscent – speak on visions
Or resort missions – yeah I did them
But I need something different y’all
Living on the edge you are fixed to fall
And pops said, “Son you gotta move ahead”
Leave all this behind before you’re gone and dead
But what I liked most about Raw Poetic was his ability to maintain a spiritual and almost earthy tone throughout the course of the album. It really made for inspiring lyrical content. That tone can be seen in the following verse from the album’s title track:
Dope is on a natural high and I’m a natural guy
Won’t cut my hair just so my afro will rise
Love mother Earth ‘cause she’s my natural god
And ricochet back to my people like a bullet that’s wise
Up in your pictures pretty like the heavens and skies
Although where we honor our mothers who keep heaven inside
It’s better than pride – a messy Jessie reverend lies
Let imagination take you and ride
Panacea’s “The Scenic Route” is filled with just this type of feel-good lyricism – with the production to match. I highly recommend picking up a copy. Throw it in on a lazy day, after a long week, or on your next road trip when you’re looking to chill out. But no matter what you do, make sure you take the scenic route. It’ll be well worth the time. Peace.
Album Track Listing:
- Intro
- The Scenic Route
- Flashback to Stardom
- Pops Said
- Epiphany
- Between Earth and Sky
- Bubble
- Square 1
- Blue Ice
- Walk in the Park
- Aim High
- Katana
- One Shine
- Outro
DUNE ALI wrote:
GOOD WORK!
51/50 RATCHET “IN STORES OCT.23″
Posted on 01-Oct-07 at 2:43 pm | Permalink
Jay wrote:
Amazing CD like their first release, Ink Is My Drink, is both inspiring and cultivating. This CD is nothing less than a 5 star album. Flawless! You can listen to it from the start to finish without skipping a track. Perfect combination of both lyrics and beats. Scenic Route is what hip hop needs, never talked to someone who didn’t love the album. Not mainstream, but real. 5 STARS. thats wassup..
Posted on 04-Oct-07 at 7:18 am | Permalink
Adam J. Levine wrote:
This is without a doubt the best ” concept” album I have ever heard. It’s very rare that you can find an album that you can put in, press play and let it rock all the way through. This is one of those album’s!
This is a breath of fresh air for Hip Hop in general , considering the unfortunate lack of subtance and depth in today’s world of Hip Hop.
I have actually made a bet with all my friends that if they didn’t love this album I would give them thier $15.00 back. The first friend I heard back from said ” I should give you the $15.00, just for putting me on to Panacea and ” The scenic Route”.
Posted on 07-Oct-07 at 5:53 pm | Permalink
Rob wrote:
It’s a shame albums like this don’t get promotion or even appear in large retail stores like Best Buy. I love this album.
Posted on 02-Jan-08 at 11:51 am | Permalink
Reasons are what I’ve got. « Space Is The Place wrote:
[...] in on that computer. I’m pissed that my blog is gone, but it was fairly new anyway. Back to square 1. The blog is of course still Space is the Place, the title being a homage to Sun Ra, and the [...]
Posted on 29-Mar-08 at 11:40 pm | Permalink
stephen wrote:
this cd sends u trippin…honestly listen to this while while shroomin with ur headphones on and just walk around ur neighborhood…in my case, south florida is built up like disney world, this cd is a soundtrack to that
Posted on 14-Sep-08 at 2:35 pm | Permalink
Ben Velazquez bigben wrote:
wow. this album is awesome. and finally a couple of brave guys who came out and did there thing without worrying about props from mainstream wak hop. i grew up in the late 70′s through the 80′s and 90′s now hip hop sucks badly, and panacea is here to save it from dying. i love you guys for bringing hip hop back the way me and many of us remember it. god bless you guys and the best of luck.
Posted on 13-Jan-09 at 12:19 am | Permalink
a wrote:
Some of ya’ll may not know this, but the scratches/dj’ing is done by Damu The Fudgemunk a third member of the group, he is also a member of Y-Society with Insight, I suggest checking them out, as well as their solo work. Also we can’t forget that Panacea is part of the group ‘Restoring Poetry In Music’ same panacea only with a live band by their side.
Posted on 13-Mar-09 at 3:15 pm | Permalink
Recording studios LA wrote:
@Ben Velazquez bigben
yes u r rite. Atleast two guys came forward boldly. Thank god. I wish them the best
Posted on 29-Mar-09 at 2:36 pm | Permalink
TMM Recommends: Panacea 12 Step Program | The Marketing Muse wrote:
[...] of producer and sound engineer K-Murdock and lyricist/rapper Raw Poetic. Their 2007 release, The Scenic Route, was Hip-Hop Connection’s Album of the Year. Panacea’s early work was sonically influenced by [...]
Posted on 03-Jul-10 at 10:42 am | Permalink
Articon26 wrote:
I love their songs they are definetly a new age Tribe called quest. I like the video game references in their songs as well. They are very creative and it is sad that people who stay true to hip hop are hidden gems.
Posted on 01-Jun-11 at 7:28 am | Permalink
Beatsbylexx wrote:
This is a breath of fresh air for Hip Hop in general , considering the unfortunate lack of substance and depth in today’s world of Hip Hop.
Posted on 02-Jun-11 at 6:53 am | Permalink