Legions better than their vacuous self-titled debut, on their sophomore effort the Making the Band boys of Day 26 more closely step into the shoes of their Bad Boy predecessors, 112. With synthy club anthems to spare, including a fun throwback flavored track by Jermaine Dupri, it’s the ballads and mid-tempo grooves that rule the day. Proving Ne-yo can write no songwriting wrongs, Day 26 has what should be an Urban AC classic in "Then There’s You." Their tenors are more pristine, the runs more accurate, and the harmonies blend better, offering stronger promise of their longevity-if they could just stop fighting. Unfortunately, like 112, Day 26’s material is not always up to their talent and the production can be heavy handed to the point of electronic noise or worse, kitsch ("Bipolar" needs a production prescription). Still, Day 26 is the contemporary boy band of the moment, and these guys aren’t half bad at the job. Notable songs: "Then There Is You" "Need That (feat. Jermaine Dupri)," "Perfectly Blind" and "Reminds Me Of You" Vocals: 3 stars Lyrics: 2.5 stars Music: 2.5 stars Production: 2.5 stars
By L. Michael Gipson
