Thursday, June 30, 2011

The Voice: Finale Performance Studio Versions

Yes, this will be the last batch of studio versions for this season. That was fast no? Anyway, enjoy!!

Download This: Inventing Shadows by Dia Frampton, Stitch By Stitch by Javier Colon, Love Is A Battlefield by Vicci Martinez and Cee Lo Green, and Beautiful by Beverly McClellan and Christina Aguilera 


ORIGINAL SONGS
Javier Colon Stitch By Stitch
Dia Frampton Inventing Shadows
Vicci Martinez Afraid To Sleep
Beverly McClellan Lovesick

DUETS
Javier & Adam Man In The Mirror
Dia & Blake I Won't Back Down
Vicci & Cee Lo Love Is A Battlefield
Beverly & Christina Beautiful

Movie Review: Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Dare I say, Dark of the Moon was a significant improvement from the hot mess that was Revenge of the Fallen. Hard to compare this against the innocence of the first film, but this was pretty much at the same level in terms of story, characters and visuals. Of course, that's not saying much, but I digress.

On a visual standpoint, this was bound to be highly extravagant. As expected, the visual effects were spectacular and seamless, the mix of physical staging and live action stunt work were remarkable and the shot composition was excellent. The action scenes were outstanding and at times, pretty epic. Needless to say, this was THE highlight of the film.

But that's not to say that Dark of the Moon was another dumbed down to a switch-off-your-brain type of film. Ok, at some point it went there, but this movie had a relatively stronger plot and a slightly well-developed characters compared to it's predecessors. Besides, the movie was never marketed as a "story" kind of film in the first place, so obviously the story was just there to support - yes, that's right - the action and special effects.

Seriously. Who goes into a Transformers film expecting something meaningful or a thought provoking action drama? For what it was worth, the story here was satisfying enough and not as badly written as the last film.

As for the actors, I have no complaints whatsoever. I thought Shia LeBeouf stepped up his performance on this one. He managed to showcase a couple more range to his acting abilities and his comic timing, as usual, was pretty impressive. Josh Duhamel was pretty decent and so was Tyrese. John Malkovich gave a pretty one dimensional performance, but that was more on the material than his actual talent. Patrcik Dempsey was possibly the weakest as his character wasn't particularly interesting. Heck, the movie could've survived without his character.

Now, replacing Megan Fox with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley wasn't much of a big difference, but she was actually surprisingly decent for a new comer. In that regard, she's so much better - and more gorgeous! - than Fox. Just saying.

One minor quibble though about the film was the shifting of scenes. I wasn't sure if it was a conscious decision, but the way they edited the abrupt jump from serious scenes to something that's supposed to be funny made the film look awkward. The pacing was a little uneven too. Some action scenes were just too long for comfort that it began to lose impact after a while. I don't know. Maybe that's just me.

Again, this was indeed an improvement from the last film. Sure, this one still relied on heavy-handed, mind-numbing explosion extravaganza, but movies should be judged primarily on how well they can hold up to the promise of what they try to be and Transformers 3 succeeded on that account. Good job on concluding your series Michael Bay.

RATING: 7/10

IDOL Tournament: Round 1 - Season 9 Qualifier

What about Season 9? Here's the Qualifier! Just like what I mentioned in the introduction of this "tournament", there are a total of 120 American Idol Finalists (semifinalists, not included) from Season 1 to Season 10, but we only need 64 American Idol contestants to complete the virtual tournament. Idols will be whittled down to 64 with this process.

Now, everyone is allowed to vote for three (3) people and the six (6) Idols with the highest votes will advance to Round 2. This poll will end July 6, 2011 at 10:00PM EST. Also, results will be hidden while the voting is still ongoing just to add a little suspense to the whole proceedings.

Again, this tournament doesn't prove anything (who's better than who), but to render some meaningless amusement. So, let's just all have fun ok? Enjoy!!




SEASON 1 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 2 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 3 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 4 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 5 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 6 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 7 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 8 QUALIFIER, HERE.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

The Voice: Finale Performances

This was a pretty interesting Finale. I mean, coming into this episode, I knew that Dia or Javier will be the two people to fight for the title of The Voice. But somehow, Beverly and Vicci delivered some pretty strong performances. It's going to be really interesting to see who wins - if only we didn't have the iTunes ranking. Haha - and if any of these contestants ca stand alone from the show and be successful.

ORIGINAL SONGS

4. Vicci Martinez
Afraid To Sleep
Ok. So aside from the interesting bridge, there's nothing really going on with the song. No hook. Weak melody. Uninspired lyrics. Yes, I'm not a big fan of the song. That said, I thought Vicci somehow worked it out. Her vocals weren't as strong as last week, but it's good enough. 6.5/10

3. Beverly McClellan
Lovesick
To me, the song sounded too dated for my taste, but Beverly's performance actually sold it for me. Her vocals were exceptional. I'd say, this was slightly better than Vicci - just because of the song - but it sounded less current than.. 7/10

2. Dia Frampton
Inventing Shadows
.. this one. I don't know. Regardless of how thin or weak her voice sounded on this song, it shockingly worked on her favor. The song was catchy and her incredible phrasing and unique tone made this vocal performance a lot more interesting. I was a bit distracted with her audible gasps on every note though. If only she worked that one out. 8.5/10

1. Javier Colon
Stitch By Stitch 
Javier won this round by default, I think. I mean, I liked Inventing Shadows better than Stitch By Stitch, but I loved how his voice sounded on this song. The vocal liberties he took were quite stunning and although he had a couple of flat notes here and there, his vocals were technically stronger than Dia. 8.5/10

DUETS

4.  Javier Colon and Adam Levine
Man In The Mirror
Well, if Javier does not win The Voice, maybe it's because America was afraid to look at themselves in the mirror no? Haha. Ok. It's a silly American Idol joke, but whatever. This performance was just a decent karaoke version of the song and that's all there was. Sad. 6/10

3. Dia Frampton and Blake Shelton
I Won't Back Down
To be honest, I didn't expect this duet to work, but it somehow did. I still found Dia's voice a tad weak, especially since she was singing with Blake Shelton, but her confidence was off the wall tonight that it somehow overshadowed her uneven vocals. Oh, and I still didn't quite buy the whole stage fright story. I mean, she had major recording deals before, so what are they talking about? 7.5/10

2. Beverly McClellan and Christina Aguilera
Beautiful
This was, well, beautiful. I enjoyed the fact that Beverly's toned down in this performance and it's actually the BEST she had sounded all season long. Shocked. 8.5/10

1. Vicci Martinez and Cee Lo Green
Love Is A Battlefield
AMAZING!! Enough said. 9/10
PREDICTION
Dia Frampton

IDOL Tournament: Round 1 - Season 8 Qualifier

It's Season 8 Qualifier! Just like what I mentioned in the introduction of this "tournament", there are a total of 120 American Idol Finalists (semifinalists, not included) from Season 1 to Season 10, but we only need 64 American Idol contestants to complete the virtual tournament. Idols will be whittled down to 64 with this process.

Now, everyone is allowed to vote for three (3) people and the six (6) Idols with the highest votes will advance to Round 2. This poll will end July 5, 2011 at 10:00PM EST. Also, results will be hidden while the voting is still ongoing just to add a little suspense to the whole proceedings.

Again, this tournament doesn't prove anything (who's better than who), but to render some meaningless amusement. So, let's just all have fun ok? Enjoy!!




SEASON 1 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 2 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 3 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 4 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 5 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 6 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 7 QUALIFIER, HERE.

Album Review: This Loud Morning - David Cook

FACT: I am a HUGE David Cook fan.  
FACT: This album review is a little biased.  
FACT: This is a solid sophomore record from David Cook.

This Loud Morning takes the listener on a journey. There's an actual progression and a story from the start of the record that eventually takes a couple of turns midway through, ending with a track that basically sums up everything. Let me be clear though, while one can listen to each song individually, it is an album that rewards those who listen to it in it's entirety. Seriously.

Here's my track-by-track review: 

This track demands attention! From the atmospheric intro that's shockingly very ethereal and dreamy to the pulsating beat of effect-laden keys to the wonderful melody to the big anthemic chorus to the excellent guitar work and even David Cook's genuinely inspired singing, Circadian blew me away. True, it's overloaded with layers of intricate production, but it has a confidence that's immediately gripping. Plus, the children's chorus at the end makes this song exponentially more interesting. 10/10

Possibly one of the more dynamic tracks on this record. The melody just zag when I expect it to zig - you know what I mean? Of course, that's nothing groundbreaking by any means, but there are some pretty nifty transitions in this song. I especially like how the bridge ends with a note that impressively shifts into a guitar line. I also find the chorus to be ready-made for the stadiums. 8/10

Nothing special. It tries to be uplifting or inspirational, but it suffers from a boring formula of a four chord chorus, verse, bridge and anything else to occupy the rest of the song. I know. I know. Most of David Cook's songs are structured that way, but this just didn't grab me the same way the other songs did. The bridge is probably the best part though and the fact that the instrumentation actually reminds me of U2. 7/10

Somehow, there's such a cinematic quality to this song. The easy-strumming guitar intro before exploding into a soaring chorus is quite expected, but it feels more real and earnest than anything. It has a bigger impact by the time it hits the hard rocking chorus because there's already plenty of build up from the relatively slow start. The vocals are also very good as it features the character on David Cook's voice with a sensibility that makes great use of the intense imagery of the song. 9/10

The almost electronic intro with soft piano line accompaniment and steady drumbeat caught me seriously off guard - in a good way. It's like a box full of surprises! Haha. I like how his laid back vocals on the verses suddenly transition into a loud plead during the chorus. There’s an actual emotion behind them and not just some mindless shouting done for the sake of developing a character. Lovely phrasing. Incredible hook. Solid production. 8/10

Wow. This actually has some pretty impressive vocals. Again, I like how David Cook's voice soared when he hits the chorus and bridge. Just from that alone, the song already leaves an impact on the listener. But then, add the fact that this also has an interesting layers of instrumentation from the brooding piano and strings in the beginning to the searing guitars and pumped up bass during the climax of the song. Yes, at it emerges into the peak, everything begins to sound even more splendid. Arguably, one of the strongest tracks on the album. 9/10

Truth be told, the first verse decorated with a cool guitar work is more enjoyable than anything that happens after that. But that's not saying that the rest of the track is awful, because it's not. The vocals are, as usual, pretty good, especially in the chorus with a hook that's worth sitting through.  It totally has enough swagger and the guitar solo towards the end is quite good. 7/10

Ok. I seriously had a couple of reservations when I heard this as his debut single. Right off the bat, I knew that this song just didn't sound right for David Cook. It's too poppy and I didn't know how well this track will tie up with the rest of his record. But you know what, in context, I actually appreciate this song now  more than I expected. Yes, it could've been - judging on the lyrics - harder and distorted, but this creative decision is arguably more musically rewarding this way. Plus, it's a total ear worm. 8/10

This song has the same sound that powered some of Kings Of Leon's hits - the echoing, the incredible guitar riffs, and the reverb that makes everything sound like it's already booming around a vast sports arena. It also boasts a sharp melody that's unbelievably catchy and a pretty strong lyrics to boot. Not to mention, David Cook's impassioned vocal performance. Hands down, one of my favorite tracks on this album. 10/10

Filler song? While I think that this is actually a decent song with a couple of interesting elements, it's just not different enough to stand out. Simply put, the song is generic. To me, this is the only track - maybe with We Believe? - that feels disposable, though will likely appeal to a large portion of the fan base that pushed Cook to the win American Idol three years ago. Not for me though. 6/10

Beautiful. Visceral. Heartfelt. This ballad with a different feel compared to the others is probably the best song in terms of simplicity. Sure, the production still feels a bit over-the-top, but the relative subtlety of this versus the big and occasionally loud choruses prior to this, makes the track undeniably refreshing. The depth in this song is immeasurable and quite intense. David Cook's voice also feels earnest and it strains like there's some actual heartbreak. 9/10

This last track brings the album full circle reliving everything from Circadian to Goodbye To The Girl. If you ask me, it's a pretty clever thing to end the album. There is still a lot going on with the production and it still somehow explodes in the chorus, but the overall impact of the song is pretty solid. It's less anthemic compared to the others, but the stunning lyrics along with his pitch perfect vocals make this track slightly above average. Plus, the strong guitar work makes a terrific backdrop for the powerful statement. And when the children's chorus fadeout at the end of Circadian makes a comeback in this song, I just about lost it. Haha. Pretty clever. 8/10



His last record, David Cook, came out of the gate with his identity intact, and this new album proves that he's an artist with a clear artistic point of view. This Loud Morning is squarely mainstream without being generic and a lot more introspective and earnest than what I was actually expecting. It's sure heavy on production with all the intricate layers of instrumentation and loud anthemic choruses, but that actually made this record a lot more interesting than the last.

Ultimately, This Loud Morning is a strong mainstream rock album, combining anthems and power ballads with intricate production and David's brooding voice. If you are a fan of rock music, chances are you will probably like this album. But there are a dozen songs here and I expect some may appeal more than others. That's ok - music reaches out to everyone by making something for everyone. But like I said, this is an album that rewards those who listen to it in it's entirety.

RATING: 8.3/10

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

IDOL Tournament: Round 1 - Season 7 Qualifier

Finally, it's time for Season 7 Qualifier! Just like what I mentioned in the introduction of this "tournament", there are a total of 120 American Idol Finalists (semifinalists, not included) from Season 1 to Season 10, but we only need 64 American Idol contestants to complete the virtual tournament. Idols will be whittled down to 64 with this process.

Now, everyone is allowed to vote for three (3) people and the six (6) Idols with the highest votes will advance to Round 2. This poll will end July 4, 2011 at 10:00PM EST. Also, results will be hidden while the voting is still ongoing just to add a little suspense to the whole proceedings.

Again, this tournament doesn't prove anything (who's better than who), but to render some meaningless amusement. So, let's just all have fun ok? Enjoy!!




SEASON 1 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 2 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 3 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 4 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 5 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 6 QUALIFIER, HERE.

Album: This Quiet Night - David Cook

Ok. So aside from his sophomore record, This Loud Morning. David Cook will also release a stripped down - almost acoustic - album cleverly entitled, This Quiet Night. This is composed of 5 songs from his new album, but with less production and whatnot. Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD LINK WILL BE UP FOR LESS THAN 24 HOURS!!


1. Take Me As I Am
2. Goodbye To The Girl
3. Paper Heart
4. The Last Goodbye
5. Right Here With You

DOWNLOAD
BUY THE ALBUM!

Album: This Loud Morning - David Cook

FINALLY! Here is David Cook's much awaited sophomore album, This Loud Morning. Yes, I'm obviously a fan, but I really think that this record is pretty solid. Anyway, I'll be writing a track-by-track review of the album, which will be posted either today or tomorrow. So for the meantime, Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD LINK WILL BE UP FOR LESS THAN 24 HOURS!!


1. Circadian
2. Right Here With You
3. We Believe
4. Fade Into Me
5. Hard To Believe
6. Take Me As I Am
7. Time Marches On
8. The Last Goodbye
9. Paper Heart
10. 4 Letter Word
11. Goodbye To The Girl
12. Rapid Eye Movement

DOWNLOAD
BUY THE ALBUM!

Monday, June 27, 2011

IDOL Tournament: Round 1 - Season 6 Qualifier

And then, it's time for Season 6 Qualifier! Just like what I mentioned in the introduction of this "tournament", there are a total of 120 American Idol Finalists (semifinalists, not included) from Season 1 to Season 10, but we only need 64 American Idol contestants to complete the virtual tournament. Idols will be whittled down to 64 with this process.

Now, everyone is allowed to vote for three (3) people and the six (6) Idols with the highest votes will advance to Round 2. This poll will end July 3, 2011 at 10:00PM EST. Also, results will be hidden while the voting is still ongoing just to add a little suspense to the whole proceedings.

Again, this tournament doesn't prove anything (who's better than who), but to render some meaningless amusement. So, let's just all have fun ok? Enjoy!!




SEASON 1 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 2 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 3 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 4 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 5 QUALIFIER, HERE.

Music: Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) - James Durbin

Yesterday, I posted Haley Reinhart's You Oughta Know. Today, it's all about James Durbin and his unreleased (and unperformed) song that will be part of his American Idol Season 10 Highlights EP set to be released on June 28, 2011 by Walmart.

Personally, I like James when he's not all crazy with the vocal acrobatics and just sings the melody as it is. In this song, I think he sounds really good, but he also sounds awfully like the original - Green Day. Heck, it  doesn’t sound like him at all. I don't know. It's just a straight karaoke version of the original song.

LISTEN:


Sunday, June 26, 2011

Music: You Oughta Know - Haley Reinhart

That's right!! Here's Haley Reinhart's studio version of You Oughta Know. Apparently, this is part of her American Idol Season 10 Highlights EP set to be released on June 28, 2011 by Walmart.

Her EP is composed of 5 songs: House Of The Rising Sun, Bennie and The Jets, Rolling In The Deep, What Is And What Should Never Be and the two songs which American Idol didn't release on iTunes, the Led Zepplin song, What Is And What Should Never Be and this Alanis Morisette hit You Oughta Know. Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina and James Durbin will also release their own EPs on the same date.

As for the recording, I think Haley sounds absolutely fantastic on this. Yes, I had problems with her live performance of You Oughta Know as I thought she muffed the tough fast part of the verses, but she - for obvious reasons - pulled this one off pretty nicely. I'm a fan.

LISTEN:


IDOL Tournament: Round 1 - Season 5 Qualifier

It's Season 5 Qualifier time! Just like what I mentioned in the introduction of this "tournament", there are a total of 120 American Idol Finalists (semifinalists, not included) from Season 1 to Season 10, but we only need 64 American Idol contestants to complete the virtual tournament. Idols will be whittled down to 64 with this process.

Now, everyone is allowed to vote for three (3) people and the six (6) Idols with the highest votes will advance to Round 2. This poll will end July 2, 2011 at 10:00PM EST. Also, results will be hidden while the voting is still ongoing just to add a little suspense to the whole proceedings.

Again, this tournament doesn't prove anything (who's better than who), but to render some meaningless amusement. So, let's just all have fun ok? Enjoy!!




SEASON 1 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 2 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 3 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 4 QUALIFIER, HERE.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

IDOL Tournament: Round 1 - Season 4 Qualifier

Next up is Season 4 Qualifier! Just like what I mentioned in the introduction of this "tournament", there are a total of 120 American Idol Finalists (semifinalists, not included) from Season 1 to Season 10, but we only need 64 American Idol contestants to complete the virtual tournament. Idols will be whittled down to 64 with this process.

Now, everyone is allowed to vote for three (3) people and the six (6) Idols with the highest votes will advance to Round 2. This poll will end July 1, 2011 at 10:00PM EST. Also, results will be hidden while the voting is still ongoing just to add a little suspense to the whole proceedings.

Again, this tournament doesn't prove anything (who's better than who), but to render some meaningless amusement. So, let's just all have fun ok? Enjoy!!




SEASON 1 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 2 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 3 QUALIFIER, HERE.

Friday, June 24, 2011

IDOL Tournament: Round 1 - Season 3 Qualifier

Time for Season 3 Qualifier! Just like what I mentioned in the introduction of this "tournament", there are a total of 120 American Idol Finalists (semifinalists, not included) from Season 1 to Season 10, but we only need 64 American Idol contestants to complete the virtual tournament. Idols will be whittled down to 64 with this process.

Now, everyone is allowed to vote for three (3) people and the six (6) Idols with the highest votes will advance to Round 2. This poll will end June 30, 2011 at 10:00PM EST. Also, results will be hidden while the voting is still ongoing just to add a little suspense to the whole proceedings.

Again, this tournament doesn't prove anything (who's better than who), but to render some meaningless amusement. So, let's just all have fun ok? Enjoy!!




SEASON 1 QUALIFIER, HERE.
SEASON 2 QUALIFIER, HERE.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

IDOL Tournament: Round 1 - Season 2 Qualifier

Now, it's time for Season 2 Qualifier. Just like what I mentioned in the introduction of this "tournament", there are a total of 120 American Idol Finalists (semifinalists, not included) from Season 1 to Season 10, but we only need 64 American Idol contestants to complete the virtual tournament. Idols will be whittled down to 64 with this process.

Now, everyone is allowed to vote for three (3) people and the six (6) Idols with the highest votes will advance to Round 2. This poll will end June 29, 2011 at 10:00PM EST. Also, results will be hidden while the voting is still ongoing just to add a little suspense to the whole proceedings.

Again, this tournament doesn't prove anything (who's better than who), but to render some meaningless amusement. So, let's just all have fun ok? Enjoy!!




SEASON 1 QUALIFIER, HERE.

The Voice: Results Show (Semifinals)

Ok. So, I don't want to make this long because the results show was nothing but a snoozefest. I mean, the fillers were incredibly awful - just to make the show an hour - and the results were annoyingly predictable.

FINAL 4: Vicci Martinez, Javier Colon, Beverly McClellan and Dia Frampton 

The fact that The Voice allowed the songs to chart on iTunes - since iTunes downloads are considered votes -  made everything a little boring and unexciting. For instance, Dia Frampton is currently sitting at #9 on iTunes and her rival Xenia is at #24. Do we really expect Xenia to move on instead of Dia? Of course not. Umm, where’s the surprise in finding out who's the highest vote getter? Frankly, other contestants may be hurt by people deciding not to vote, because they think that it’s a foregone conclusion that a particular contestant is actually leading. There’s no drama in this, or a reason to sit through a show.

Oh, and I found the the score thing from the judges completely dumb. What's the point of having the judges vote if they’re just going to split it 50/50 and leave it up to the public? If the show intends to give them the power to have a voting influence, then by all means they need to use it!

Next week, it will be The Voice Finale. The four contestants will sing two songs each: an original song and a duet with their coaches.

Personally, I think it's a toss up between Dia and Javier. Vicci is a dark horse, and Beverly is like a darker horse. Haha. Let's see. 

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

The Voice: Live Performance Part 3 (Semifinals) Studio Versions

Here are the studio recordings of The Voice's semifinals. No specific thoughts, just that everyone has a suprisingly solid tracks.

Download This: The Man Who Can't Be Moved by Xenia, Whataya Want From Me by Nakia and Dog Days Are Over by Vicci Martinez

 

Frenchie Davis Like A Prayer
Dia Frampton Losing My Religion
Beverly McClellan The Thrill Is Gone
Javier Colon Fix You
Vicci Martinez Dog Days Are Over

The Voice: Live Performance Part 3 (Semifinals)

Ok. Before anything else, let me just say that the format and pacing of this show is incredibly strange. I mean, they did the results from last week's performances in this episode and then everybody's performing? But whatever. Just glad the best singers advanced this week. Oh, and it's 6 Girls and 2 Boys. Kind of refreshing, to be honest. Haha.

RESULTS!

TeamCee Lo
America's Save: Vicci Martinez
Christina's Save: Nakia

Team Adam
America's Save: Javier Colon
Blake's Save: Casey Weston

Now, as for the performances this week? I thought they were all shockingly great. There were a couple of missteps here and there, but collectively, this was a pretty strong episode. Oh, and I can’t believe this show got so many current songs to clear. That's definitely a win for The Voice over American Idol. I'm still in love with Idol, but the judges here - with the exception of Christina - are so much more likable. Who knew? 

Frenchie Davis
Team Christina
Like A Prayer

I really wanted Frenchie to do well in this competition, but she was really missing the mark with this song. To be fair, the performance wasn't all that bad, however, her delivery lacked that certain punch. Plus, I thought the song choice didn't showcase much of Frenchie's strength as a vocalist. She was out of breath during the first half of the song and when she went for the high notes, her voice became a little shrill. Too bad that her vocal precision wasn't completely there. 7/10

Nakia
Team Cee Lo
Whataya Want From Me

Wait, so Adam Levine hasn't heard this song before and that Nakia sang it better than the original? Hmm. While I do think that Nakia pulled this performance pretty nicely and made some obvious changes to differentiate his version from the original, I don't think his version was better than Adam Lambert's - as per Adam Levine. He was under pitch while he was playing the piano, but sounded way much better when he started walking around the stage. So yes, the whole thing was a bit uneven. Oh, and was it just me or did the band sound too loud? Good, but it could've been better. 7.5/10

Dia Frampton
Team Blake
Losing My Religion

Wow. I admit, I wasn't a big fan of her Heartless performance, but this one's something else! I thought this was stunning. Her upper register was great, gorgeous phrasing, the vocal liberties she took were lovely and that little clap at the middle of the song was actually a nice touch. 9/10

Casey Weston
Team Adam
I Will Always Love You

Not a good song choice for Casey. AT ALL. I don't know. I was rooting for her because she has this raw and earthy quality to her voice that's very distinct. Sadly, this song choice didn't do her any favors. It wasn't that she sang it badly - she was decent - but with a song this iconic, it's really hard not to draw comparisons. Also, she should work on her vibrato a bit. Just saying. 7/10

Beverly McClellan
Team Christina
The Thrill Is Gone

Never a fan of Beverly because, yes, she scares the hell out of me, but you know what, her performance was actually quite lovely. Her notes were almost always on point and she sure has such a great performing quality. If only she’d have been a little more restrained, this would've been spectacular. Regardless, it's still a really good song choice and performance. 8/10

Javier Colon
Team Adam
Fix You

Quite frankly, this performance was so much better than Angel from last week. True, his vocals started out shaky, but once the band came in it got so much better. His voice had enough power and control, his phrasing was wonderful and he really seemed connected with the song. That said, I still think his performance of Time After Time was still his best to date, but that's probably a moot point because he's obviously pretty close to a done deal. 8.5/10

Xenia
Team Blake
The Man Who Can't Be Moved

I admit, Xenia's awfully green as a performer, but this song worked absolutely well for her voice that I actually didn't mind her non-existent stage presence. Last week, I was a bit hard on her just because the song needed a certain amount of sass and she just didn't deliver. This week, however, was a totally different story. Sure, she was still a bit timid, but her vocals carried the whole performance. I loved how her vocals moved around the song as it didn't sound karaoke. 8.5/10

Vicci Martinez
Team Cee Lo
Dog Days Are Over

I'm not sure if she did anything to the song to make it her own, but this was AMAZING! Her vocals wasn't perfect, but it was strong and powerful and she was on pitch most of the time. She has presence on stage and those drums were absolutely genius. It's a little gimmicky, but so what? It added attitude and flare to the whole performance. Somehow, this has cool written all over it. Great! 9/10

PREDICTION

TEAM CEE LO
Vicci Martinez

TEAM ADAM
Javier Colon

TEAM BLAKE
Dia Frampton

TEAM CHRISTINA
Beverly McClellan

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