the sing-off (radio hits and 60s classics, part 1)

(SPOILER ALERT:  The eliminated group is mentioned at the end!)

What an interesting night.  It seemed that not one group did an exceptional job at both songs.  I guess that's why the results were a little hard to believe.

Vocal Point:  Their pop hit was just good.  There weren't really any bad parts, but it was just safe and good.  I enjoyed the 60s hit SO much more!  I really liked how they kept changing the feel and I thought the instrumental bgvs were really fun and well thought through.  The drum fill at the end was a nice little touch as well.

Delilah:  I loved their pop hit!  The beginning was so great and I was totally sucked in.  Yet again, they turned a song that I hate into one I enjoyed.  They lacked a bit in the creativity category with their 60s hit, but it was still good.  I thought Kendall's solos and the ending chord were great enough to keep them in the competition.  Their pitch is just always right on so it's hard not to like them.

Urban Method:  Loved the blonde soloist in the pop hit.  Fergie is definitely out of a job, not that we didn't all think that already.  I thought the building and swelling of that chord in the middle to transition into the next section was perfect.  The 60s hit was okay.  They were headed in a good direction with impersonating all of those instruments, but I think it could have been better.

Afro-Blue:  Their understanding of rhythm and time is superb.  I LOVED the feel.  Each vocalist is right on ... all of the time.  I still can't believe that arrangement.  Oh my gosh.  Okay, I'm stopping.  As for their 60s hit, they did a great job again.  It didn't throw me out of my chair, but it was really fun to listen to.

YellowJackets:  The lead at the beginning was annoying.  I didn't like their 'techno' sounds they were trying to make vocally.  They had several pitch issues.  The end section was NOT together.  Overall, I did not like their pop hit.  Their 60s hit?  Better.  I thought the lead vocal was great.  Here's the deal though ... because they have so many voices, they can totally fool you into thinking they are awesome simply because of the full sound they produce.  That can also cover up a lot of mistakes that way.  I'm not trying to hate, but I just don't think they match the caliber of creativity that the other groups bring to the competition.

Kinfolk 9:  I wasn't overly impressed with their pop hit.  It was good, but nothing crazy creative going on.  However, their 60s hit was pretty yummy.  Moi is an amazing lead vocalist.  I thought the bgvs could have been more full, but it was still a great performance.

Goodbye to Kinfolk 9.  I disagree with that decision.  It was down to Delilah and Kinfolk 9, which was crazy.  No, Kinfolk 9 isn't the best group, but, in my opinion, YellowJackets should have been out.  Judges, I love you, but I think you might be sad you don't have Kinfolk 9 on stage anymore.  I think that in the long run, Kinfolk 9 would have improved and produced cooler arrangements than YellowJackets.

Oh well, I'm not the one getting paid the big bucks to sit in the judge's seat.  I hope my favorites next week can hang in the competition!