Yet Another Year In America June 3, 2010
This year, Glee is having more of an impact than American Idol.
Glee Cast "Poker Face": This is a weird and interesting version, sung as deep drama rather than pop, with an unexpected and fairly horrible gospel workout in the middle. Kind of riveting overall, though I doubt I'll want to hear it much. Maybe I'd like it more if Lea Michele had grappled with it alone; as it is, Idina Menzel's technique just gets in the way of Lea's artistry, at least on record. NO TICK.
Lee DeWyze "Beautiful Day": The combination of sensitivity and forced quasi-soul in his voice is MOR male standard now, and I don't like the style, but Lee does sound pleasant rather than assaultive, gets reasonable feeling out of it. He can't lift this song off the ground, however; but then, neither could Bono. NO TICK.
Carrie Underwood "Undo It": Lean country rock in the verse, flood of sound in the chorus, with Underwood contributing a wiggled-up rhythm and hook atop. I like the individual elements but they don't cohere, though maybe my ears will eventually adjust. BORDERLINE NONTICK.
Shontelle "Impossible": Shontelle has got a vulnerable and sweet sex voice, right for sorrow and yearning, but also basically anonymous. The song's not bad, but someone like Rihanna could have burned right through it, while Shontelle just sounds generic. BORDERLINE NONTICK.
Glee Cast "Poker Face": This is a weird and interesting version, sung as deep drama rather than pop, with an unexpected and fairly horrible gospel workout in the middle. Kind of riveting overall, though I doubt I'll want to hear it much. Maybe I'd like it more if Lea Michele had grappled with it alone; as it is, Idina Menzel's technique just gets in the way of Lea's artistry, at least on record. NO TICK.
Lee DeWyze "Beautiful Day": The combination of sensitivity and forced quasi-soul in his voice is MOR male standard now, and I don't like the style, but Lee does sound pleasant rather than assaultive, gets reasonable feeling out of it. He can't lift this song off the ground, however; but then, neither could Bono. NO TICK.
Carrie Underwood "Undo It": Lean country rock in the verse, flood of sound in the chorus, with Underwood contributing a wiggled-up rhythm and hook atop. I like the individual elements but they don't cohere, though maybe my ears will eventually adjust. BORDERLINE NONTICK.
Shontelle "Impossible": Shontelle has got a vulnerable and sweet sex voice, right for sorrow and yearning, but also basically anonymous. The song's not bad, but someone like Rihanna could have burned right through it, while Shontelle just sounds generic. BORDERLINE NONTICK.