Urban Music Reviews

GRADE: B+

In case you have been living under a rock for the last 2 years, Day26 is the latest product of Sean “Diddy” Comb’s reality TV phenom, Making The Band. They are an R&B quintet made up of Michael “Big Mike” McCluney, Robert “Bitchassness” Curry, William “Shirtless Willie” Taylor, Qwanell “Dawn’s Boyfriend” Mosley and Brian “The Guy with the Cornrows” Andrews. They are kind of a big deal.

Day26’s debut is the kind of soulful, cool, swagger-filled R&B group effort that hasn’t been successfully pulled off in years (sorry Pretty Ricky). The album manages to be smooth without being too sensitive, sexual without being overly raunchy and high energy without getting too “pop.” The end result is one of the most enjoyable R&B albums of the year. Think Dru Hill, 112, Blackstreet or Next singing on tracks from Danja and Bryan-Micheal Cox. It’s a good look. The real standout tracks are the gospel-tinged “If It Wasn’t For You,” the soulful “Since You’ve Been Gone” and the ultrasexy closing track “Don’t Fight The Feeling.” The latter of which is a mid 90’s style panty dropper that is bound to pop up on more than a few “Love Making Mix” CDRs.

But, all is not well in the world of Day26… The 5 lead singer format is a nice idea (in theory), but it becomes highly obnoxious on more than one occasion. The group needs direction. Bitchassness Robert would be the most logical choice; he has the strongest, most unique voice and manages to steal the show on almost every track. Also, what happened to the days when producers just produced without talking shit all over the ballads? The number of producer voice overs from Diddy, The Runners and (most awkwardly) Bryan-Michael Cox is absurd.

Traditionally, reality TV-produced “artists” bring absolutely nothing to the table. Day26 is a welcomed, and surprising, exception. Believe it or not, their album is actually good, it’s damn good.