Daley
Days & Nights
(Republic Records)

The debut full-length album from UK R&B singer Daley comes as the culmination of promising singles and EPs from the past few years. Days & Nights however is not quite the triumphant arrival we may have been hoping for. A mix of old and new songs, the album feels aimless and tired. To be sure, Daley has an impressive voice, and many of the songs included on Days & Nights are quite good. But listening from front to back becomes rather monotonous, everything sounding vaguely familiar but rarely memorable.

Some of the new songs on the record, like “Broken” and the cover of Joan Armatrading’s “Love and Affection,” stand out as diamonds in the rough by embracing a more pop-oriented sound. Indeed, “Broken” could likely be Daley’s breakthrough song on the radio. But most of the record is weighed down by uninspired pastiches of neo-soul and silky R&B. Although Daley has a great voice technically, he really lacks the personality to sustain interest over a full album, at least with this material.