American Idol Top 8 Season 11 - iTunes Studio Recordings Review
Here are my reviews for the American Idol Top 8 Season 11 iTunes Studio Recordings.
This was not a good week in the studio for these guys. Some really awful ones including my first 0 of the season. Most of my 3's were "generous". The best surprisingly was DeAndre Brackensick -- apparently, he really is the next DeBarge! He's the only one who made a good song choice and delivered.
Download: American Idol Top 8 - Season 11
The reviews:
Deandre Brackensick - I Like It
This was a laid back recording from Deandre with more control than his previous ones. I think he did a good job. I really like this. Great song choice. This is the type of song he should be doing, and his best so far. The falsetto was in the right places and not all over the place.
Rating: 4/5
Watch Deandre's live performance
Hollie Cavanagh - Flashdance... What A Feeling
This track is dead in the water simply because of the cheap back track that was used. Awful. Not worth it. Did they just let her sing something from a videoke bar catalogue? WTF. Poor Hollie. I feel bad that she could actually go out on this track.
Rating: 0/5
Watch Hollie's live performance
Colton Dixon - Time After Time
Sorry, I can't rally behind the Jonas Brothers School of Music alum this week. One of the worst interpretations of this classic song ever. Please save your money. No edge, nothing. This is a high school band performance at best.
Rating: 2/5
Watch Colton's live performance
Skylar Laine - Wind Beneath My Wings
This was good. I must confess I like the nasally-style singing of Skylar. I've liked all her studio recordings, and this is yet another solid output from her.
Rating: 3/5
Watch Skylar's live performance
Download: American Idol Top 8 - Season 11
Joshua Ledet - If You Don't Know Me By Now
Not pure torture like last week, but I have to be honest, Joshua sounds like he is the one being tortured on his studio recordings week after week. This track is so slow -- you can notice every break where Joshua is compelled to make a run. Not all his runs sound good. Hearing someone cough out notes is not pretty on high fidelity headphones. It's like he spits on you without the saliva. Then gargles the saliva just to make sure you get it. Gross. Not as bad as his past recordings so he gets a generous 3.
Rating: 3/5
Watch Joshua's live performance
Phillip Phillips - That's All
This is Phillip's weakest recording so far. I'm surprised this song exposed a lot of his vocal flaws -- mainly that he has zero range. Struggled through the high notes for what is just a simple melody. His brother's guitar solo was good though. This is a generous 3 because Phillip is my favorite.
Rating: 3/5
Watch Phillip's live performance
Jessica Sanchez - How Will I Know
A pitch perfect vocal from Jessica on another videoke backing track. Like most of her recordings so far, she adds nothing to the original. This would be impressive if she was recording it in her home studio, but on a bigger scale this really is quite irrelevant. Not a good song choice from her.
Rating: 3/5
Watch Jessica's live performance
Elise Testone - I Want To Know What Love Is
Poor song choice. Poor delivery. You can tell that she's pissed off singing this song from the first few notes alone. Oh Elise. This was painful to listen to. She didn't even make an effort during the key change, LOL.
The problem with Elise (which in the real world shouldn't be a problem) is that she knows she has to put up with singing crap like this in order to get her name out there. She looks and doesn't sound happy at all doing this.
Rating: 2/5
Watch Elise's live performance
Download: American Idol Top 8 - Season 11