Lucky Daye, Table For Two | Album Review 💿

Grammy-nominated R&B singer Lucky Daye shines on Table for Two, a short but sweet collection of duets with female R&B standouts.   

Would it be far-fetched to call 🎙 Lucky Daye (David Brown) one of contemporary R&B’s brightest stars? Absolutely not! The 🏆 Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter ‘brings the heat’ on his EP, 💿 Table for Two.  True to the title, Daye duets throughout the project, specifically collaborating with six different female R&B singers.  At just 22 minutes in duration, Table for Two is short but absolutely sweet. 

“How Much Can a Heart Take”

Following the introductory, tone-setting 🎵 “Ego Trip (Intro),” Lucky Daye taps 🏆 Grammy-winner 🎙 Yebba on the superb first full-length track, ✅ 🎵 “How Much Can a Heart Take.” Now that’s a pretty sick duo! As to be expected, Yebba sounds fantastic on the first half of the song, blessing us with the first verse, pre-chorus, and the glorious chorus.  Daye brings the heat as well, compelling on the second and third verses, pre-chorus, and choruses.  Finally, towards the end, we get more duet action between these two standouts.  Lucky closes things out with a spoken word outro. With the production of 🎛 D’Mile at work, Yebba and Daye have a classy, lush, and soulful backdrop to speak on those matters of the heart.

On follow up ✅ 🎵 “On Read” (which features some genius ‘message’ sound effects), Daye and 🎙 Tiana Major9 are considered equal partners – co-lead artists.  This round, Daye takes first blood, over a backdrop that does a fabulous job of balancing old- and new school. On the one hand, we have soulful guitar and backing vocals, while on the other hand, we’ve got some trunk-rattling sub bass.  Similarly, Daye fits in with the contemporary breed of R&B singer while keeping that foot in the door of the past.  Tiana Major9 also puts in work, providing the response with that charming British accent.  They join forces on the chorus following Major9’s verse, before we get another spoken word outro from Daye.

“My Window”

Following brilliant collaborations with Yebba and Tiana Major9, Lucky Daye taps Jamaican-British standout 🎙 Mahalia for 🎵 “My Window.”  It should come as no surprise that the 🎙 Ann Peebles classic, 🎵 “I Can’t Stand the Rain” is sampled here.  It’s perfect fuel of the fire, not that either singer required extra gas to shine.  Mahalia takes the reins early own, impressing us with a chill, cool, and gorgeous set of pipes. Daye truly steps aside, allowing her to ‘do her thing.’ He then arrives on the second verse, bringing some contrast to the table before joining forces with her harmoniously.  Once more, an interlude (outro) sets the tone for what’s to come, most notably the final two lines, “Access denied / Access denied, nigga.”

On ✅ 🎵 “Access Denied,” Lucky Daye enlists the 💿 Shea Butter Baby herself, 🎙 Ari Lennox, for the assist.  As to be expected, this is a superb collaboration.  What particularly stands out is the fact that this is more collaborative than the duets that precede.  Throughout, Daye and Lennox either trade lines, harmonize, or sing in unison.  Besides the awesome vocal chemistry, the groove is lit AF, in the most soulful way possible. This is ‘old school’ yet doesn’t feel anachronistic; 🎛 Allen Ritter and 🎛 Vinylz definitely set up Daye and Lennox for success.  “Access Denied” has a strong case as the best record from Table for Two.

“Dream” 

Keeping the big names coming, on the penultimate number, 🎵 “Dream,” 🎙 Queen Naija lends her sweet vocals to the mix. Notably, “Dream” first appeared on Naija’s 2020 album, 💿 missunderstood. Once again, the chemistry between Daye and his ‘partner in crime’ is on-point.  Daye wows with his smooth pipes first on the first verse and chorus, with ‘the Queen’ first rearing her head on the post-chorus, prior to delivering the goods on the second verse.  The best part of this particular performance might be the bridge, where both artists sing together and build the intensity leading into the final chorus.

Lucky Daye concludes Table for Two on a high note with 🎵 “Falling in Love” featuring 🎙 Joyce Wrice.  Like everything else that precedes, “Falling in Love” is incredibly well-rounded.  Love continues to dominate, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. The songwriting is solid, particularly memorable pre-chorus and chorus sections.  Furthermore, once again, we have classy production work (D’Mile) which maintains the sanctity of soul while remaining fresh in 2021.  Wrice and Daye drop fine vocals, separately and jointly.

Final Thoughts 💭

All in all, Lucky Daye drops a fine EP with Table for Two.  All six full-length tracks are worthy of continual spins – there are no glaring cons to be found.  Perhaps even more notable is how well the guest list was assembled.  Daye definitely ‘puts in work’ with each collaborator.  Furthermore, the producers further accentuate the excellence.  Table for Two = winner! 

✅ Gems 💎: “How Much Can a Heart Take,” “On Read” & “Access Denied” 

🎙 Lucky Daye • 💿 Table for Two • 🏷 Keep Cool / RCA • 🗓 2.12.21

[📷: Keep Cool / RCA]