The Voice 2 Live Round 2 - iTunes Studio Recordings - Review
Here is my review of The Voice Live Round 2 iTunes Studio Recordings.
A couple of good ones and a few clunkers from the cannon fodder and the vote for the worst. You can't win them all!
The reviews:
Katrina Parker - Tonight, Tonight
I preferred her live performance where I could see her emotion while she sang, but this is a solid effort from her. I agree that the original of this may be untouchable, but she gave it a unique enough twist. I love Katrina! Hope we get at least one more week of her on the show.
Rating: 3/5
Download: Tonight, Tonight
Watch Katrina's live performance
Cheesa - Don't Leave Me This Way
Cheesa did a great job for what was given her. If they want her to do disco, she gave them disco. At least the backing music sounded more professional than most of the songs that were recorded on American Idol last week. Maybe someone can make a remix of this.
Rating: 3/5
Download: Don't Leave Me This Way
Watch Cheesa's live performance
Tony Lucca - In Your Eyes
Another song choice that may be untouchable from the original, but Tony sounded OK on this one. He might have tried to do a different rendition with a different backing music -- but this is probably the style that fits his voice the best. A tough one for Tony this week, surprisingly.
Rating: 3/5
Download: In Your Eyes
Kim Yarbrough - Rolling in the Deep
Kim may have thought that she could outsing ever single person that's every tried Rolling in the Deep, but this song works if you add soul into it. Without it, it's just another karaoke effort. A surprising lack of soul from Kim on this track. An Adele song too big for the singer with the big voice on the show? I'm shocked.
Rating: 1/5
Download: Rolling in the Deep
James Massone - Don't Know Why
James needs to add more power to his voice so he doesn't sound like he's whispering -- but I really like his tone. The cuteness helps my judgement as well, so don't judge me (LOL). Hopefully he learns how to project his voice for performance and the studio -- and not rely soley on the mic to amplify his voice.
Rating: 3/5
Download: Don't Know Why
Juliet Simms - Roxanne
I have to be honest, I think Juliet is a "better actress" than Charlotte Sometimes. I feel like they are in the same school of music. However, this was a very good recording: you can really hear the emotion she puts into this without getting too much of it. Not as good as her live though.
Rating: 4/5
Download: Roxanne
Watch Juliet's live performance
Mathai - Ordinary People
If you like the affected, quirky singing of Mathai, this will satisfy immensely. I like that her sound is distinct, but I wonder how much of that is natural compared to just the affected style. I probably might go crazy listening to an entire album of Mathai singing like this to be honest. You can only take so much of the stylized pronunciation of every other word.
Rating: 4/5
Download: Ordinary People
Watch Mathai's live performance
Tony Vincent - Everybody Wants To Rule The World
Broadway Rock that doesn't work because we can't see that Tony has an androgynous look that some fans might find appealing. This is as regular joe karaoke as karaoke will get -- which is bad because it is the complete opposite of what he wants to achieve.
Rating: 1/5
Download: Everybody Wants To Rule The World
Karla Davis - Airplanes
Better than her live just barely. I'm saddened that no one advised her that this was a total dead end for her. Again, the production value of The Voice tracks are superb, but this is not worth the effort. She took a risk. And failed completely.
Rating: 0/5
Download: Airplanes
Watch Karla's live performance
Erin Martin - Walk Like an Egyptian
Can I give a negative score? Erin confuses me. There seems to be no other purpose but to be on TV and interact with "fans" on Twitter. But I liked the male strippers on her live performance. She needed them in this recording badly.
Rating: 0/5
Download: Walk Like an Egyptian
Pip - When You Were Young
Pip may have a future in Broadway theater because that's what he sounds like -- even if he's trying to be edgy and "gritty" here. He doesn't sound like the cheesy Broadway Rock singers that you know are trying to sound like rockers. His sound is truer to traditional musical theater. He really can't separate his "good boy" image even in the studio which is fascinating to say the least.
Rating: 3/5
Download: When You Were Young
Jamar Rogers - Are You Gonna Go My Way
Nice job from Jamar. You probably can't "sing" a song like this, but he gave it what he could and this was a satisfying listen. There were moments here specially when he let loose with his growls that he just connects. Not other way to put it.
I can't wait for Jamar to sing a soulful ballad that will unleash his emotions in the music.
Rating: 4/5
Download: Are You Gonna Go My Way