The Voice 2 Semifinals - iTunes Studio Recording Reviews
Here are my reviews for The Voice 2 Semifinals iTunes Studio Recordings.
Half the tracks are good and half not so much, with one totally missing the mark and one just missing.
Juliet Simms is already at #6 on the iTunes Top 200 charts. Lindsey Pavao at #18, Katrina Parker at #24, Jamar Rogers at #27, Tony Lucca at #30, Jermaine Paul at #41, Chris Mann at #53 and Erin Willett at #123.
The reviews:
Lindsey Pavao - Skinny Love
This is so good. I love this song and Lindsey definitely does it justice in her Lindsey style. Kudos to the awesome production from The Voice on this one in the studio. This is a single ready from primetime. Amazing.
Rating: 5/5
Download: Skinny Love
Watch Lindsey's live performance
Chris Mann - Ave Maria
This song worked on the live show because it was refreshing to see as an actual performance in a singing reality show like The Voice. However, it just sounds like any other version of Ave Maria in the studio. Only for the fans. I've heard better light opera.
Rating: 3/5
Download: Ave Maria
Katrina Parker - Killing Me Softly With His Song
I love Katrina's voice! This is a good track the just lacked a little bit of that x factor that would make it great. But I am a fan, so I really love this. There is a better song out there for Katrina though.
Rating: 4/5
Download: Killing Me Softly With His Song
Watch Katrina's live performance
Juliet Simms - It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World
I'm still not convinced about Juliet in the studio. I'm a bit surprised that her performances are getting raves on a reality show, but if it is working, there must be something there that fans see in her. However, I've found her tracks in the studio lacking that punch that makes her live outstanding. It's really lacking the magic for me.
Rating: 4/5
Download: It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World
Watch Juliet's live performance
Jermaine Paul - Open Arms
Why is he singing this song? Is this his target audience? I thought he was R&B? He is also applying a bit of the Jonas School of Music singing on this one among other schools to reach the high notes. Only for the fans.
Rating: 2/5
Download: Open Arms
Watch Jermaine's live performance
Erin Willett - Without You
Horrible arrangement. Horrible song choice. She took a risk hoping to stand out, but she stood out in the worst way. This wasn't pleasant to listen to at all. Too bad. One of the worst recordings of the season.
Rating: 1/5
Download: Without You
Tony Lucca - How Do You Like Me Now
This was very good, and Tony's fans will love this. A solid recording from him. He's a bit of a throwback act though -- his voice sounds Peter Gabriel-ish -- and he would fit perfectly in the late 80's to early 90's. Straight to adult contemporary for him -- which seems to be the audience for these reality singing shows.
Rating: 4/5
Download: How You Like Me Now
Jamar Rogers - If You Don't Know Me By Now
Well he tried. But this arrangement really doesn't work for me. I was already not so sure during the live performance, but now I know how horrible this was listening to his studio track. I think Jamar signed his exit papers with this one. He actually might have had a better showing doing a traditional soul'ed out performance of this.
Rating: 2/5
Download: If You Don't Know Me By Now