The Sing-Off Top 5

The Sing-Off starts off this week's episode with 5 groups remaining, and the week's theme is R&B. With that said, the opening number blended old school with new wave by starting with James Brown, then moving to the Jackson 5, and ultimately finishing with Beyonce's "Crazy in Love." In each episode, these opening songs are such a great part of the show, and this is one of my favorites of the season. Here are my thoughts on each group's performances of the night:

Dartmouth Aires - Ignition (Remix), Midnight Train to Georgia

They have such a great community feel to them, and with their five (or six?) leads that kept passing off the melody, it accomplished that goal of communal song. They've been really reliant on just one lead for the past couple weeks, so it was nice to prove that they're not a one-man show with this song. It was also just so much fun, these guys are the party starters and they made me smile from the first beat. Their old school song was a choral arrangement more than a fun Broadway thing like they usually do. They went back to their bread-and-butter lead, and it really seemed like a concert instead of a competition. These guys bring the crowd up on stage with them emotionally, and it's really a refreshing dynamic.

Urban Method - Knock You Down, It's Your Thing

This song definitely was right in their wheelhouse, but the fact remains that I'm not a fan of their female voices. It was one of their best performances on the show, and the tall dude with the mohawk is their X-factor. For this song they put him on bass....because that's where the dam is leaking the most. But he's good enough to be their lead, so big ups to him for being versatile. Their second song was mostly a pass-it-off song of drum solos between the guys while the ladies screeched in the background. I feel like anything the judges are saying positively about their performance is pure sugar-coating at this point. They deserved to go home this week, just like each of the past 3 weeks. I wonder if they sound much better live?

Vocal Point - Every Little Step, Ain't Too Proud To Beg

Such a departure from their usual sound - but they pulled it off so well! The breakdown in the middle quite possibly was the best 30 seconds of the show to date, between a sick beatboxer, great, guilty-pleasure-dance moves, and then some remix effects on the last chorus. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Their classic R&B choice was a Temptations song, and they busted out their deep voice to lead this one. It wasn't quite tight as it neared the end of the song, and I felt like there were a few pitch issues, but it's near-impossible to not like these guys! Seeing them leave was difficult because they have such star power, but they haven't been as consistent as some of the other groups, so their departure is defensible.

Afro-Blue - We Belong Together, Best of My Love

Taking on Mariah Carey, their groove was flawless throughout the song. Their bass is so fluid and just plain solid, and the guys provide such a great foundation for the female vocals to use as a springboard. The lead was so good, and didn't try to emulate Mariah, which is impossible - but rather, she just did what she could, and it worked. Their old school song was one that I've never heard before, but it seemed to be right in their kitchen. With their lead Danielle, they've got someone who is strong enough to lead their ensemble of girls, but with a vocal tone that sits so well within what the male voices bring. These guys probably won't win it all, but that will be America's fault, and definitely nothing that they've done wrong.

Pentatonix - OMG, Let's Get It On

Having their incredible lead take on Usher is a great comparison, and their arrangement was just. so. good. They have the beat/bass drop out at the right moments, and when they do, they can just go with their super-tight trio. Then, without skipping a beat, the two guys can join back in and bring in a huge momentum boost to the group. It was such a good vocal, and these guys are so far ahead from everybody else that it's not even funny. Then, they take a Marvin Gaye song (a personal favorite) and put just the right amount of their own spin on it...and absolutely murder it. Such a great performance, and there were no tricks to it - just great singing. Also, with Kevin's sticking up for his religious beliefs, I just fall more in love with these guys as a group each week.

Going into the Final Four, here are my power rankings:

1. Pentatonix

2. Dartmouth Aires

3. Afro-Blue

4. Urban Method

Back to The Sing-Off

After quite a lay-off, I decided to blog about today's episode of The Sing-Off. Coming into this episode, I'd say that the power rankings look like this (taking into account the whole season to date):

1. Pentatonix

2. Dartmouth Aires

3. Afro-Blue

4. Vocal Point

5. Delilah

6. Urban Method

To be honest, I think the eliminations have gone pretty much as they should throughout the show. Now, any group except for Urban Method can win it and I don't think it would be an injustice. However, I still think that Pentatonix fits what the judges look for - they're a small, close-knit group with individualized roles for each person. Looking at the past winners (Nota and Committed), Pentatonix seems to fit the mold the most.

The Arcade Fire song to start the show was actually really cool, and I like how the numbers are getting down to the point where everyone can fit on stage without it looking like the kid's cattle race at the rodeo. Here are my thoughts on each group's two performances:

Pentatonix - Their rock song was "Born To Be Wild," and I loved some things about it. The big silence before they started the chorus was a great effect, and they just have the best bass/beatboxer in the whole show and their trio of singers fit well together. However, minus points for hilariously awful fashion. I was nervous about what song they would pick to do for country, since they're so techno/dubsteppy. A Sugarland song had the good high melody that Pentatonix needs for their trio of singers, and then whoa! Out of nowhere they bust out a reggae groove for one of the choruses, and then they come back to their perfect blend for the end. They're gonna win the whole thing.

Dartmouth Aires - After last week's really awesome Queen medley, they did "We're Not Gonna Take It" and it was really great! I liked the back-and-forth between the two leads and the school choir bit right at the end. They used to have trouble deciding who would be their lead, but it seems that the black dude, Michael, has taken that role by storm. If I had a complaint, it seemed, like all of D'Aires' songs, to be really treble-y. Their country song was "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy" and it was very different from what they usually do. However, it wasn't bad - it definitely had a line dance feel to it, and the singing wasn't opera-quality, but what can you expect from some boys from Hanover, New Hampshire?

Afro-Blue - The resident jazz group took on "American Girl" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and their "rock" sound just wasn't very rock-y. I thought the national anthem in the middle was...kind of random, but it sounded good? It was interesting. THEN, they had to do a country song: basically, they were gonna be screwed going into this week. Lady Antebellum was probably one of the best song choices they could pick, and they brought their intelligent arrangement style to this, with their bass being really evident of that. However, I didn't think it was emotional enough to have the girls crying at the end of the song, so that kind of confused me watching them wipe tears away while they're being judged. Guess you just had to be there.

Delilah - An all-girl group has to sing a rock song? I guess if they're not going to do a Heart song, they might as well cover Steven Tyler. "Dream On" is one of my favorite Aerosmith songs, so maybe I'm just more critical of it. The lead girl had some real pitch problems on a couple high notes, but with her Steven Tyler impression, she showed she's definitely got some pipes. It didn't quite fit my expectations. For the country portion, they covered The Band Perry and got back to their strength of slow songs sung with lots of emotion. However, this also brought back more unnerving closeups of Miss Skinhead. Great lead by the other blonde girl - she did a whole heap of justice to the song. It was moving and very well-sung, at least to my ear. I'm so very, very surprised that they got kicked off, and while I think that they shouldn't have gone home this week, their time was coming soon.

Urban Method - The group with a rapper sings...Whitesnake? Whatever, they completely changed it up and made it "modern." If my snark isn't obvious enough, it seemed like a desperate move by a group that feels that their collective backs are against the wall. I didn't like it. Their country song was Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats," and it's obvious at this point that they're relying on the main girl lead's strength to carry them whenever they can't have their rapper take center stage. However, I just really don't think that their girls are strong enough - I didn't like it. I absolutely disagree with their progression to next week.

Vocal Point - The Mormons sing "You Really Got Me" while wearing white, frilly shirts. Sure, just how I predicted it. It started slow, which I actually really liked, and these guys change keys so freaking well. Their lead is like the 5th or 6th out of their 9 to lead a song, and he was just as good as everyone else. Dang boi. Then, what country song would a group of tenors sing? Oh yeah, Rascal Flatts! "Life Is A Highway" was a little too fast for me, but I loved seeing these straitlaced guys wearing black cowboy hats and huge longhorn belt buckles. Again, they change keys as seamlessly as anyone in the whole game - the song was pretty good.

So the power rankings after this week are as follows:

1. Pentatonix

2. Dartmouth Aires

3. Vocal Point

4. Afro-Blue

15. Urban Method (I'm bitter.)

Sing-Off Update Round 2, Group 2

On NBC's "The Sing-Off," tonight showed our second look at the second half of a star-studded bracket to see who will be crowned as Season 3's best a cappella group. The opening number really reintroduced me to all of these great leads, and aside from a few specific singers, that's what this side of the bracket has to offer: great lead vocalists. Here's the breakdown of how the night went:

Deltones - Their pop song was "The Edge of Glory" by Lady Gaga, and I really like their musical balance, but I think that for all the studliness they have at the bottom with their strong basses, they're missing a top-end girl voice. But I think that would be just gravy, and their lead did a good enough job to highlight a good ensemble sound. The oldies song they picked was a Supremes song, and it really gave this huge group a chance to show off the female depth on the vocal bench. However, it felt like all the ladies were layered on top of each other too much. Their lead didn't quite knock this one out of the park for me, and hearing the judges skirt around their performance was kind of a giveaway that this wasn't a very good song.

Pentatonix - Last week's surprising group comes out with a Ke$ha bit, and from the first note it's evident that their beatbox is the best in the competition, hands down. The arrangement is definitely different, and while I'm not sure it totally worked, it was commendable for its bravery at the very least. There just wasn't enough of their amazing male lead for my taste. For the '60s song, they definitely sit behind the 8-ball because these guys are so very modern in their style. With that said, their take on Janis Joplin was so soulful and just nice to listen to. I expected their pop song to carry them, and hearing their Joplin cover reinforced that.

The Collective - The pop song they picked is a favorite of mine, "Rocketeer," and I'm really glad they went with the other girl voice since I just really don't love the female lead from last week. While it was a good performance, it seemed a little bit like a group of people singing around a campfire. Their second song was a high-energy group dance song, and it gave each of these solo artists a chance to sing their lungs off. Really, just the last 45-seconds of the song were stellar, but it was fairly good all around.

North Shore - The old-school doo-woppers are really out of their element singing a pop song, and taking on "The Lazy Song" by Bruno Mars really seemed weird. However, each member of this group does exactly what they're required, and they may have the best cohesive chemistry of all the groups. Also, the lead's personality really has a chance to come out when he sings - it's really refreshing. They took on The Righteous Brothers "Unchained Melody" with their oldies song, and it was...amazing. Really just had nothing wrong with it, the lead vocalist was incredible and his range was completely on display. That song was right in their wheelhouse, so they needed to kill it. Thankfully, they did.

Dartmouth Aires - I love these guys! So much fun, and their take on Neon Trees' "Animal" was really great and energetic. They lost it a little bit right at the end, but showing the versatility to have another guy step into the lead spot and absolutely kill it was really a strong statement. Also, their fashion is great - for what that's worth. Their second song was "Pinball Wizard" by The Who, and holy crap it was a great change of pace from hearing Sonos immediately before. They just had such a great combination of layered vocals between their lows and highs, and they went back to the original lead vocalist, so it was incredible. I loved it, and I love these guys. They're in my elite of both sides of the bracket.

Sonos - My least favorite group from last week, they took on Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" and I just didn't really like it. Very boring, and between having one guy singing lead and having the other beat box...that just leaves three girls to split up the bass duties. And it was very lacking. The oldies song that this urban group tried to take on was The Jackson 5's "I Want You Back," and they definitely...made it their own? As always, the three female vocalists are in the alto/soprano range, and their non-beatboxing male isn't a bass. So there really is never a foundation to build on. It was pretty awful to see the judges skewer them and just see them squirm up there. Them getting eliminated really wasn't a hard decision, and I'm tired of hearing about how hard it is to sing without effects pedals.

The Other Half of The Sing-Off Bracket

Another week, another group of 8 a cappella groups going up against each other in a contest replete with bow-ties, sparkly sequined dresses, and more hair product than Conan O'Brien uses in a year's time. Or maybe...a week's time? Regardless, here's the look at this week's performances:

Dartmouth Aires - This season's Beelzebubs! An all-male group of quirky, high-energy Ivy Leaguers, they also feature the best lead on this side of the bracket. I absolutely loved their rendition of "Higher Ground" by Stevie Wonder, and they are my favorites of their foursome, easily. They also have a secret weapon: a Janelle Monae look-alike. But seriously...exact doppelganger.

Pentatonix - A quintet that has three all-star-caliber members: their lead has an amazingly solid tone to his voice, their bass is one of the most capable in the show (no barber shop walk-downs for him), and then their beatbox is incredible. He's a former YouTube star (they showed a video of him beatboxing while playing cello), and definitely can handle some cool tempo changes. The other two members are average or maybe above-average, but nothing special.

Messiah's Men - Refugees from Liberia (now based in Minneapolis), their sound is just plain gospel/african. From the first note I wanted to like them so much. With a song like "People Get Ready," there was definitely a chance for this to be a church sermon, but instead it seemed like too much of the same thing. I'm sad to say that I didn't like it that much. I'm not that bummed that they're out.

Sonos - They're definitely a group of musician's musicians, with a really great new-wave type of beatboxer. The chemistry among their sound wasn't incredible, especially because they have a male bass, and then three female voices in the same range - and nothing in between. The judges all pointed this out, and I'm really satisfied with the opinions the judges (Shawn Stockman, Ben Folds, and Sara Bareilles) are giving. I think they're the best panel in all vocal reality shows.

The Collective - Nashville band that seems like a complete aggregate of unique styles. They sang the now-overplayed "Rolling In The Deep," and I didn't like the lead's range - she sounds really good low, but really doesn't have a nice upper register. It seems like a group full of lead singers though, so I wonder why they chose her for the first showing.

Soul'd Out - This season's high school group, which already has me tentative. They chose "Aquarius" from Hair - which I saw on Broadway. Let me just say - this one was a much more PG-rated version. The lead guy at the end during the breakdown has a pretty good voice, but the group is just too young and not comfortable on the stage. I doubt that two of the guys were actually in high school - I still don't grow as much facial hair as they were flossin'. No surprise on the elimination here, however, in two years these guys could be superpowers in a cappella.

North Shore - This year's Jerry Lawson doo-wop quintet, which were some of my favorites from last season. They sang "Run-Around Sue," and I think it was a great song choice. I was surprised by their lead's range; he actually showed off a great voice. The chemistry of the group is obvious, and it really fits the genre. Their uniforms made it seem like they were a bowling league team that sang together on the side. Also, Nick Lachey's Italian impression was...ridiculous. There are no words.

Deltones - A "Voices of Lee"-style, they've got a family feel to their group. Their lead is piercing, and it felt like it was a brief glimpse into her life through her eyes. That's a really special connection to establish with a crowd, and it definitely made the performance pop for me. She had some runs that surprised me, but they still worked. I think she's the second-best lead of the night, just a tad behind the lead from Dartmouth.

The Sing-Off, Round 3

Here's my thoughts on each group's performances in the premiere of NBC's "The Sing-Off":

Yellowjackets - The boys from Rochester University came out with fire! I really enjoyed the groove they had, but their lead vocalists were a bit too shaky. That could be because they went first, but the music major black dude came in and killed the bridge. I kind of want them to be a mix between last season's winners Committed and the fun-loving On The Rocks.

Fannin Family - A group of 8 siblings, their harmonies fit together so well. However, they have the youngest girl (14 years old) singing lead, and I thought she left a little bit to be desired. It's a shame they're voted off so quickly, but give that young'un some time to mature and they could win a later season of this thing.

Afro-Blue - I really like the chemistry running through the entire band. They fit so well, and it's a really deep, complex sound - you can tell that they're music majors. Props to the white girl in the R&B/jazz ensemble at the previously-all-black Howard University. Girls got cajones.

Delilah - Another shot at redemption for some previously-rejected Sing-Off girls. The lead has the best female voice I've heard on the show in recent memory, and as a group they utilized the quiet dynamic that only a small theater provides.

Urban Method - A hip-hop group from Denver, they're definitely the most dark and edgy group that's been on the show to date. I'm not sure how much I liked it.

Cat's Pajamas - They're from Branson, Missouri - which means that they're consummate professional showmen. A group of 5, they're a little smaller, but everyone can really sing, and they have the concept of teamwork. There isn't really a nice bass tone to the group, but they've got the high register down pat. Also, Sara. Bareilles. Is. Awkward. Such a shame that they were sent home early.

Kinfolk 9 - What a name! Los Angeles natives, it seems that they think they've got the secret weapon in their rockin' lead singer (a la Street Corner Symphony from Season 2), but I thought his voice and performance leaves something to be desired. I think that this is a group who could learn a thing or two from Delilah's usage of musical dynamics. I definitely thought they were the weakest of their foursome, and I can't see them outperforming everyone else for very long.

Vocal Point - Mormon alert! The boys from Provo are completely G-rated and family-friendly, but they definitely aren't boring. I love the lead, he had a great energy to him and so did the whole group that just leaves a good taste in your mouth. I loved the self-aware uniform from the guys: white shirts and skinny black ties.

Best of all: this is only half of the performing groups! Next week is apparently all new people, and I'm pumped to see the other side of the bracket! What a good show, this definitely has been worth the wait.

Fall TV Season Preview

The dog days of summer having wreaked havoc on the grass here in Houston. Seriously, H-Town has been dryer than Jay London's sense of humor. In addition to being light on rain, this summer has been pretty tame in terms of must-see television. However, there are quite a few televised events that are coming up that qualify (for me) as Must-See TV. Here's a look:

Baseball Playoffs, NFL Season, NCAA Football Season

Thankfully, God has rained sports manna down from heaven for fans across the nation: baseball games that matter, America's favorite sport, and a place for the people of Nebraska to go on Saturdays (namely, Memorial Stadium in Lincoln - the largest city in Nebraska when completely filled). The MLB playoffs are wild and crazy during the division series round, and from there the "Team of Destiny" stories help carry the suspense from game to game. The NFL, through only a week of regular season action, already has regained its stranglehold on Sunday activities. And for the cities and regions with a strong college football presence, fandom is crazier than that of the pro game, the week is spent trash talking with friends and neighbors, and lots of crow promises to be eaten throughout the season.

Jersey Shore
(MTV, in progress)

The 4th season of Jersey Shore is underway, as we observe The Guido Gang's adventures in Florence (or Firenze, for all native Italians scoring at home). So far, I think this season has been the best since the original season, and the language and culture barrier have provided the plot with enough twists and turns to make the show interesting again, which had been lost in seasons 2 and 3.

How I Met Your Mother
(CBS, premieres Sept. 19)

Entering the alleged penultimate season in the series' schedule, the show still seems to be miles away from its ending. It is my (shared, I'm sure) opinion that the final clip of the final episode of the series should be Ted meeting the future mother of his children, but there is nothing that leads me to believe that that can be anytime soon. This is my favorite sitcom on TV right now, and I love the cast top-to-bottom, especially Neil Patrick Harris and Jason Segel.

Glee
(Fox, premieres Sept. 20)

Say what you will about "the gayest show on television," but after recently getting caught up on the dram-com (just made that word up), I reinforced an opinion that I was wavering on: the out-of-this-world soundtrack more than makes up for the ridiculous-at-times plot structure. Look no further than the Justin Bieber episode (actual title - "Comeback") or the "Funeral" episode to see some amazing songs performed by amazing singers. I'm surprised to hear myself recommend this, but Glee is my sleeper pick for best show of a star-studded fall schedule.

Modern Family
(ABC, premieres Sept. 21)

I'm new to the Modern Family bandwagon. I just discovered it about two months ago, and absolutely ripped through the old episodes, all the while laughing like a school girl at the mayhem induced by the complicated family structure. My favorite characters have to be Phil and Mitchell, but really it's the same as choosing your favorite child: you go with the one whose coat-tails you can ride to fame. Or so I'm told.

The Sing-Off

(NBC, premieres Sept. 19)

The Sing-Off, a reality show-adaptation of the ever-popular Glee, has quickly risen in two seasons to be my favorite vocal-centric reality show (there are surprisingly quite a few shows that fit this rather specific category). They've made a great (in my opinion) personnel change in letting go of the Pussycat Dolls' Nicole Scherzinger and bringing in former a cappella groupist and pop darling Sara Bareilles to take over the female presence in the panel. The mix of eccentric personalities (so many faux-hawks!), attire (so many vests!), and choreography (so many jazz hands!) with the strong presence of popular, catchy tunes makes for fun, guilty pleasure TV. Plus, it's practically designed to make you fall in love with the contestants. The Sing-Off is my most-anxiously-awaited show, and I guarantee that if you try it, you won't be disappointed.

Upcoming shows on the horizon:
Mad Men (early 2012), NBA (currently locked out, TBA)