Better Late Than Never...

...that I finally called another exit correctly, that is. Of course, how wrong could I be with only five contestants to choose from, two of them being shoo-ins?




















Goodbye, Brooke White ... a real sweetheart, the genuine article. We'll obviously be seeing an album from her ... and again, like Carly, undoubtedly a reissue of her existing album.

Idol Thoughts: The Top 5

Well, I guess we're down to the final month of "Idol", aren't we? Just five hopefuls remain, and they're dropping like flies. But there's a bright side: it's Neil Diamond Week!! Well, okay, maybe that's not necessarily a "bright side". But anyway, I just heard Ryan say that each contestant will be singing two songs tonight (and, presumably, every week from here on out) ... now that really is a bright side! I think I'll sort my comments by performer, because I assume they'll not each sing their two songs in a row. Anyway, let's get going....

Jason Castro -- He's sweet, he's charming, and so was his performance of "Forever In Blue Jeans" ... uniquely Jason Castro. And it's also why I'll be buying his album as soon as he puts one out. ... "September Morn" was pretty good, but not outstanding for a Jason performance ... his voice was rather shaky in places.

David Cook -- Well, if anyone can rock a Neil Diamond song, it's David Cook ... and he did it! Hmmm ... I think it might be tough picking someone to vote for tonight! ... His second song was pretty darn good, too ... I'll be shocked if it doesn't come down to the two Davids this year.

Brooke White -- "I'm a Believer" is probably my favorite Neil Diamond composition, and ... I have to say, I thought it was pretty good, but not excellent. She should have chosen a bit of a higher key, 'cause she had trouble hitting the notes in the verses. ... She did better with "I Am, I Said" ... she definitely has an appeal all her own ... still in the running, perhaps.

David Archuleta -- I've been waiting for my boy do to another upbeat song (enough with the slow somber stuff, already, David!) ... and I loved it!! I'm not entirely sure it was his strongest performance (maybe his voice does shine more on the ballads), but I'm lovin' this kid more with every week! ... I've always thought "America" was a rather cheesy song, and I cringe a bit at the fact that he chose it, but he did the best he could with it. I hate to sound repetitive, but guess who's probably getting my vote again this week?!

Syesha Mercado -- Very well done, but not extraordinary. I guess the only way to say it is that the two ladies are the contestants I'm least excited about, quite frankly. ... Her take on "Thank The Lord For The Nighttime" was much better ... maybe she's still in the running, too.

Miscellaneous thoughts: Is Paula on drugs, thinking that Jason had sung two songs halfway through the show? Good thing she's not voting. ... Doesn't that one violinist look like Neil Young? ... What is it with the girls waving their upraised arms from side to side during EVERY slow song? They just do it like mindless drones.

Who I think will be eliminated: Brooke White. Each of the contestants had good performances, but I have a feeling she was the least impressive. (But then, how many times have I predicted Brooke's exit...?)

Who else I think will be in the bottom two: Syesha Mercado. I think it's pretty clear by now that the guys are the darlings of the competition this year.

Who I voted for: Take a wild freakin' guess (as if it were even a "guess", right?).

As one reader here pointed out last week, anyone could be let go from here on, so it's sure to be an exciting few weeks. Are you ready for the results tomorrow night? I'm almost afraid to watch...!

Franky Perez

FRANKY PEREZ
"POOR MAN'S SON"
(Lava, 2003)


"Class Act"


Franky Perez may be a full-blooded Cuban, but he was born and raised in Las Vegas, and except for one or two songs on his 18-track debut album, his sound is just about as American as can be. Imagine a Cuban version of John Mellencamp -- good old-fashioned, jeans-and-T-shirt rock and roll, with a bit of a Latin twist.

Yes, that's right ... eighteen songs are stuffed onto this album, which not only means that it's well worth the money, but also significantly increases the odds that most everyone will find at least one or two things on the album to enjoy. Don't let the depressing subject matter of the first few tracks give you the wrong idea ("Cecilia" is a frantic plea to a self-destructive young runaway to come home, and "Something Crazy" paints a dark picture of a woman physically abused by her boyfriend), because the album lightens up considerably from then on.

Just a few of the highlights include an uplifting ode to youthful innocence ("Angel Park"), a coolly raging angst-rocker ("Leave Me Alone"), a beautifully breezy Latin ballad ("Bella Maria"), a pair of music-themed anthems ("Cry Freedom" -- not a cover of the Dave Matthews song -- and "Love Soul Rock N' Roll"), and one of the gentlest and sweetest love songs I have ever heard ("Beautiful Mistakes").

I must confess that this is another of those CDs that I'd owned before and traded in -- and now I wonder whatever possessed me to do such a thing. It's safe to say that this CD will never be leaving my collection again.

Was (Not Was)

WAS (NOT WAS)
"BOO!"
(Rykodisc, 2008)


"Crazy Water"


I was never much of a fan of this group back in their late-'80s/early-'90s heyday, although I was passingly familiar with their bigger hits like "Walk The Dinosaur" and "Spy In The House Of Love". Nevertheless, when I saw this CD on display last weekend (on my Record Store Day visit to the local shop), I was intrigued enough -- and got enough of a pang of my own personal musical nostalgia -- to call it up on the listening station ... and, as you probably guessed from its presence here on my blog, I ended up coming home with the CD.

This disc starts out strongly with "Semi-Interesting Week" (clever song titles usually make me want to check out a CD), occasionally swerves into avant-garde oddity (the trippy robotic dialogue "Needletooth" and the half-spoken-word closer "Green Pills In The Dresser", featuring country legend Kris Kristofferson), and also features a nice ballad ("From The Head To The Heart"). But it's on the abundant upbeat numbers that the group is at its best -- especially "It's a Miracle", "Forget Everything", and "Mr. Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore".

They've gotten a bit more serious with age -- back in the day, Was (Not Was) possessed a bit of an off-kilter whimsy not unlike the B-52's -- but their spirit is as strong as it ever was, and they've piled on the funk, soul and disco grooves in such a way that it sounds like they'd been keeping it bottled up for all of the 18 years that have passed since their last album. To borrow an advertising slogan, "Boo!" is such a chunky, funky stew that you'll be tempted to eat it with a fork.

Another Shocker...

I'd have bet cash money that it was Brooke's time to go ... but, well, I guess it's a good thing I didn't.


















See you around, Carly Smithson ... you've had a recording contract before, and we know you'll have one again (and a reissue of your old album, no doubt!).

Idol Thoughts: The Top 6

Hmmm ... okay ... I don't quite know what to expect out of tonight's show, because "American Idol" and Andrew Lloyd Weber seem like a rather weird combination. Obviously, the songs are going to be hard to pull off because of their theatricality -- maybe that's the point ... to really test the Top 6 and push their performing abilities to their limits. Let's see what happens....

Syesha Mercado -- I've never heard the song before, but I really like it (would go perfectly on one of my "I Love Music" compilations!) ... and she performed it really well! I was a bit disappointed, though, since she sounded really promising when she was just singing in front of ALW backstage. Pretty darn good, though.

Jason Castro -- I've gotta say, he did much better with that daring choice of song than I expected he would! He almost should have chosen a slightly higher key for the first half of the song, 'cause he struggled just a bit with the lowest notes, but overall I'm impressed. He's in the Top 6 for a reason, that guy!

Brooke White -- Oops. You know what? I have mixed feelings about this one, and not just because of her false start. (Hey, she's not gonna be able to do that if she's performing in concert ... good for Paula for laying that down point-blank.) Simon was right, in that she seemed uncomfortable and didn't fully recover from that slip-up. Sorry to say, I think this is going to cost her.

David Archuleta -- Randy was absolutely right ... this kid can sing anything!! This song was completely unfamiliar to me, and it could very easily be an album track, or perhaps even a single on contemporary radio. Bravo, David!!

Carly Smithson -- ALW was right ... Carly needed to sing a song like this! (I actually expected David A. to sing a song from "Jesus Christ Superstar", but that's neither here nor there....) An excellent showing from Carly ... probably her best in at least the last few weeks!

David Cook -- This is one of the pitfalls of "Andrew Lloyd Weber night" ... some of the contestants sing songs that just aren't them. While David was good (especially with that big note in the middle), I just wasn't into the performance because it's not the kind of song he's best at singing. I'll admit that I may not be giving him his due, but (as Randy is fond of saying), "I'm just keeping it real."

I'm not sure if, or when, the "bottom three" becomes the "bottom two" (remember, I've never watched a season of "Idol" before), so I think I'll do it this way:

Who I think will be eliminated: Brooke White -- I thought she was going to go last week, but with her little flub tonight, I'm pretty certain that her number's up this week.

Who else I think will be in the bottom two: Syesha Mercado ... I'm tempted to say Jason Castro, but I think the fans love him too much to let him get voted out just yet. (If I may extend a prediction ... I think he'll be the next of the guys to go, unless one of the others screws up next week.)

Who I voted for: Of course, David Archuleta! Hey, at least I'm not blindly voting for him every single week, right?

The results are getting more and more nerve-wracking to watch ... and I have to wait a whole 24 hours to see them this week!

Bent Fabric

BENT FABRIC
"JUKEBOX"
(Hidden Beach, 2005)


"Keep On Rising"


I wrote a bit about this CD before, but I decided to dedicate a whole post to it because ... well, quite frankly, it's that good and it deserves more than one mention. This is one of those CDs that I honestly can't imagine anyone disliking, and that I think everyone should hear, no matter what kind of music may be their favorite.

For an 80-something-year-old Dane, Bent Fabricius-Bjerre is pretty darn hip. Okay, most of these songs have probably been extensively tricked-out for the modern music audience by the album's army of producers, but Bent Fabric is the writer and performer of the piano melody at the heart of each of the tunes. Most of the songs have been rounded out with lyrics, but there are a pair of instrumentals: the super-fun "Blowout", and the classic arrangement of his most famous tune, "Alley Cat" (you might not know it by name, but you've definitely heard it before).

As for the vocal numbers, they're about as much of a grab-bag as you could ask for. Two dance numbers ("Bam Boogie" and the title track) get the party started, but there's also a seductive Latin number ("Haven't You Noticed"), an outstanding contemporary-R&B track ("It Feels Like Love"), a hip-shaking love song ("Everytime"), a semi-soulful soother ("Just Be There For Me"), and an energetically slinky bopper (the paradoxically titled "Relax Boy"). Six different singers are featured on the album, resulting in an enjoyable mix between male and female vocals.

Rarely has an album's title been as appropriate as this one, because this truly is a "jukebox", jumping randomly from one style of music to another. It would be perfect for a party, because all the tracks are fun and can be danced to. And I'd bet the DJ would be asked by more than a few of the partygoers: "Hey, what's that disc you were spinning?!"

Espen Lind

ESPEN LIND
"APRIL"
(Universal/Norway, 2005)


"Happy"


After taking a break from his own recording career to write and produce tracks by Beyonce (her Grammy-award-nominated single "Irreplaceable"), Chris Brown, Jessica Simpson, Ne-Yo and others, Norwegian popsmith Espen Lind returned to the recording studio in 2005 for his third album, "April". While it's not his best album thusfar (in my opinion), it's still Espen Lind, which means it's leaps and bounds above most other stuff out there.

A more understated affair than his previous album, "This Is Pop Music", Lind this time around eschews nearly all of the trippy digital trappings and layered percussive effects that made that album intriguing enough for many repeated listens. Not that this album is necessarily boring; there is something to be said for keeping things simple and straightforward. For one thing, it brings that much more attention to Lind's gorgeously flawless voice, and it makes him rely more on the strength of his songwriting ... not that he's had any problems in that area either.

Ballads are very much in the majority on this album; in fact, I have to stop and think if there's a single track whose tempo I'd call "upbeat" ... the stellar R&B-flavored "Truth Hurts" (which would sound right at home on a Chris Brown or Usher album) and the gliding mid-tempo track "Stay Away Tonight" are probably the two that come the closest. The lyrics throughout the album are often more optimistic than the music would imply, and Lind's multi-faceted talents as writer, instrumentalist and producer give the album an integrity that makes it feel like more than the sum of its parts.

Wrong, But Right...

I knew it was going to happen, but I just called it on the wrong week...




















Bye-bye, Kristy Lee Cook ... keep pursuing your dream.

On a much more positive note, HOORAY to Jillian from Maine for mentioning RECORD STORE DAY in the Q&A segment tonight! Remember, people, it's this coming Saturday, April 19th! Be sure and go to your nearest record/CD store and buy something! Anything! Hey, if you're reading this crummy blog, you've got to be enough of a music fan to have a perpetual want list, right? Well, this weekend is your chance to knock a few things off of it!! There's a good chance that the store nearest you, especially if it's participating in Record Store Day, will be having a sale -- I know the one near me is -- so I don't want to hear any excuses!!

Okay, off my soapbox now.

Idol Thoughts: The Top 7

What do you wanna bet that David Archuleta will sing "Hero"? As soon as I heard it was Mariah Carey week, I've just had a feeling that's the song he's gonna sing. It will probably be good -- hell, whatever David sings is bound to be good -- but if he does sing that song it'll mean that he's become somewhat predictable, which isn't such a good thing. But anyway, I am a bit of a closet Mariah Carey fan, I must admit ... I do like a handful of her singles, and how can one not be impressed by her vocal range? Let's see how many of the Top 7 can do justice to her songbook....

David Archuleta -- Well, whadya know! (Maybe he thought it would be predictable to sing "Hero", too, so he decided not to...!) Sheesh, Randy is right ... that boy can sing anything! A fantastic start, to be sure!!

Carly Smithson -- It was very good, but somehow I was left a bit cold by it. She's done better, unquestionably. She didn't seem to put as much power behind some of those notes as she usually does or should have. I think she might end up in the bottom three.

Syesha Mercado -- A beautifully soulful performance!! I think this is the best she's sung in the last few weeks ... solid!

Brooke White -- There's the song I was waiting for. She did a fairly good job of it, although I think she inadvertently sped up the tempo in the second half. I've heard her sing better before, too. (What the hell is with Simon's "hamburger" metaphor...?!)

Kristy Lee Cook -- Not bad at all ... one of her better performances, mostly 'cause it had a bit of a country feel to it (that's the genre that she seems to do best in). It's just too bad that it's taken her until this late in the competition to get this good.

David Cook -- I've been thinking for a couple of weeks now that the competition will come down to the two Davids in the end ... and this week keeps me thinking that. Great performance!

Jason Castro -- Wow!! An amazing take on a classic Mariah song, and he pulled it off fantastically!! Now I'm gonna have to decide who to vote for...!

Who I think ought to be in the bottom three: Carly Smithson, Brooke White, and Kristy Lee Cook.

Who I think will be eliminated: Brooke White (I just have a feeling that she's done).

Who I voted for: Jason Castro ... yeah, I just had to ... David Archuleta is doing just fine, and I think Jason edged him out ever-so-slightly this week.

On to the results tomorrow night...!

Jonny Lang

JONNY LANG
"LONG TIME COMING"
(A&M, 2003)


"Get What You Give"


Jonny Lang took the blues world by storm when he released his first major-label album, "Lie To Me", a day before his 16th birthday. Blessed with a prodigious talent for thick, smoldering guitar licks, and the voice of a grizzled blues veteran three times his age, Lang proved to be a force to be reckoned with. After taking a five-year break from recording (to, among other things, get married, and play guitar on a few tracks of Hanson's "This Time Around" album), he chose to take a more mainstream, soul/rock approach with his third album, "Long Time Coming".

The music may not be as bluesy on this album as his usual fare, but I for one don't mind at all. Lang's gravelly growl of a voice is in top form, though, and packs just as much of an emotional delivery as always, without ever seeming overwrought. From the propulsive opener "Give Me Up Again" through the breezy love song "The One I Got" and the sweet ballad "Beautiful One", to the heartwrenchingly desperate "Save Yourself" and the downright rocking "Happiness And Misery" (featuring Aerosmith's Steven Tyler on a wicked harmonica solo), the album is one heck of an emotional ride -- and a nice long one at that, with 15 tracks.

Lang got spiritual on his subsequent album, 2006's "Turn Around"; though I personally didn't care for it, it shows that he's continuing to grow as a musician and as a person. "Long Time Coming" might not be particularly profound, and might not be widely considered his best work (especially if you ask one of the blues afficionados who fell in love with his music at the beginning), but it's my personal favorite of his albums.

Abs

ABS
"ABSTRACT THEORY"
(BMG/Japan, 2003)


"Turn Me Up"


Turkish-Irish singer Richard Breen, better known by his nickname Abs (which comes not from having a well-developed six-pack of tummy muscles, but rather from his middle name, Abidin), is thusfar the only former member of UK boyband Five to have released a solo album. Given that I'm not terribly fond of rap, and that he was one of the two rappers in the group, I was not enthusiastic about picking up the album and spent over a year deliberating whether or not to do so -- despite the fact that Five are my favorite boyband of all time.

I'm glad I finally let myself be persuaded by the reviews that described the album as being much more R&B/pop than rap, and also as having plenty of enjoyable songs, because it turns out they were right. "Miss Perfect" makes a deliciously dancey joint out of the dubious idea of getting caught with another woman ... "Back To The Limbo" is the ultimate Latin-flavored party song ... "Rain" is a ballad that would make Usher proud ... "Emotional" has a sensually pulsating groove that makes it the most interesting song on the album ... and "Angel" is a simply beautiful closing track.

Abs uses samples to varying degrees on several of the tracks, which is something I normally don't care for, but I must admit he employs them effectively ... even "Shame" and "Spin" (extensive re-workings of classic songs "It's a Shame" and "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)", respectively) are quite enjoyable. Abs also knows how to choose his guest female vocalists, in this case Nodesha on "Miss Perfect" and Eve on "7 Ways", who complement his vocals quite well (which often take on the quasi-rap singing style of Craig David).

All in all, "Abstract Theory" is a thoroughly entertaining album, and Abs puts on quite a show. I should have known, since even a rap-intolerant music fan like me doesn't mind hearing him bust a rhyme every now and then.

It's Getting Brutal...

Wow ... even though I was sure he'd be the next of the guys to go, it's still kind-of a shock.


















Farewell, Michael Johns. But, as Paula said, you're gonna be a star. I just might buy your CD, even!

Idol Thoughts: The Top 8

I make no effort to find out the theme of each "Idol" round from week to week, but at the same time I make no effort to avoid finding out either; it just happens that I almost never stumble upon it until shortly before the show starts. I'm kind-of glad it happened that way this time (about an hour before airtime, in this case), because I kind-of shuddered at the description I read on the on-screen guide: "inspirational songs".

As you may or may not know, I am definitely NOT into Christian or religious music, and that's of course the first genre that comes to mind when the word "inspirational" is brought up. Besides, I thought, we had enough of the Jesus love with Dolly Parton week. But as the show started, I realized that they were, thankfully, using the word "inspirational" in its broader sense, with "dreams come true" and "believe in yourself" kind of songs. Now, that I can deal with just fine. (Not that I was going to turn away from "Idol" this week for any reason anyway.) Now, let's recap the performances:

Michael Johns -- He started out a bit shaky, but built to a great finish ... and how about those high notes! The guy's definitely got a way with a power ballad! A very solid performance.

Syesha Mercado -- Hey, another excellent high note ... that was reaching into Mariah territory! Other than that, though, I didn't get a whole lot out of this ... although Randy is a bit unfair to compare her to someone else. She did fairly well, though ... I'm a bit more than luke-warm, I guess.

Jason Castro -- Hmmm ... okay, I'm not familiar with this version of the song ... so are the lyrics Jason sang the same as the lyrics in the version done by this "ukulele guy"? If so, it was excellent (the judges seem to love it through and through), but I'm used to the original "Wizard of Oz" lyrics, so this one made me lose the connection to it. I think I'll remain neutral on it, since I do still like Jason quite a bit.

Kristy Lee Cook -- Okay, now if she'd been this good from the get-go, then I'd understand how she's made it this far. I think this was probably the best I've heard from her yet. Still, though, she's probably the female contestant I'm the least attached to ... but for the first time, I'm kind-of sorry I'm saying that.

David Cook -- Hmmm ... I find myself agreeing with the male judges, to a degree ... something didn't "click" with his performance here ... it seemed a bit forced, and in a way he kind-of looked like he was trying to keep up with the song and was going through the motions just a bit. As Randy said, it didn't seem to be one of his better weeks. But, nobody can hit the bullseye every time, right?

Carly Smithson -- If an "Idol" contestant wants to win me over, all they have to do is sing a Queen song (not my favorite group, but they did tons of kick-ass songs), and Carly did that group justice. Perhaps the best performance by a lady tonight so far.

David Archuleta -- Well, the judges basically said it all. Another stellar performance, with another awesome finish. Like Simon, I think his voice has been better ... but considering it's David Archuleta, "better" can't get much better! And, as Simon said, we all know he's gonna sail through to the next round. Yay, David!

Brooke White -- Another way to get my attention is to sing a Carole King song, and Brooke White takes care of that this week. Unfortunately, she didn't do anything new with it. I thought it was good, but not great.

Who I think ought to be in the bottom three: Michael Johns (I've thought for awhile that, of the remaining guys, he'll be the next to go), Syesha Mercado, and Brooke White.

Who I think will be in the bottom three: Michael Johns, Syesha Mercado, and Brooke White.

Who I think will be eliminated: Brooke White (for the first time, I think Kristy Lee will edge out one of the other ladies).

Who I voted for: Once again, David Archuleta.

So much for this week ... but I have to admit that it was a bit more "inspirational" than I feared it would be. Now, thanks to "Idol Gives Back", it looks like we get one extra day to agonize over who's getting the boot next. Oh, joy.

Ferras

FERRAS
"ALIENS & RAINBOWS"
(Capitol, 2008)


"Something About You"


Although I watch "American Idol", I frankly don't remember "Hollywood's Not America" making any particular impression on me, to say nothing of even knowing who was singing it. I first caught wind of Ferras from Chart Rigger, after which I called up audio clips of the songs. What I heard sounded promising, so I made myself a mental note to pick up the CD on its release date. Little did I know how much, or how quickly, I'd turn out to love it!

I'll try not to mention every single song as a highlight, but it'll be hard not to. The title track reminds me of the best of classic '70s Elton John ... "Everybody Bleeds The Same" has a bit of a Coldplay feel with its sleek, cityscape-at-night sound ... "Soul Rock" is aptly named, with a wonderfully soulful sway ... "Don't Give Up" kind-of reminds me of U2 ... and I've really gotten to like "Dear God" because it basically sums up my view of religion perfectly. The upbeat tracks are outstanding, but I'm tempted to say that Ferras shines better on the ballads, especially the pretty closing track, "Take My Lips".

At the risk of heaping on too much praise, I'm all but forced to agree with D'luv in declaring this "the first great pop album of 2008". I've been a faithful "Entertainment Weekly" subscriber ever since it began publication, but I have to say screw them for giving this gem of an album a C- review! It's probably my favorite album of the year so far ... good thing I didn't get clued in on how good it was until just before its release, otherwise I'd have been climbing the walls waiting for it! And now that we don't have to wait any more, it's time for those of you who haven't run out and bought it yet to do so ... like, now!

Landon Pigg

LANDON PIGG
"LP"
(RCA, 2006)


"Magnetism"


I've wanted to review this album for awhile, but have had trouble deciding what exactly I'd say about it. It's not that I don't like it enough -- quite the contrary. I guess it's just one of those albums that I like, but can't put my finger on why. Landon Pigg is, quite simply, a guy who has a knack for making excellent singer/songwriter pop songs.

Like Jason Mraz, he has a way with clever lyrics ... when referring to perfectionists putting their best foot forward, he surmises that "they're rather easy to detect; they'll be the only ones hopping down the streets". And like Gavin DeGraw and other contemporaries, he also seems able to create one hummable melody after another. The result is an enjoyable and even mix of upbeat tunes and ballads, from beginning to end.

I'd really like to know why Landon Pigg hasn't become as popular as DeGraw or Mraz. He really deserves to be, based on his musical talents ... and considering his Calvin Klein model-caliber good looks that grace the album cover, it's kind-of baffling why he's not. I'm just hoping that we get to see a second album from him like we've gotten from each of those other guys*.

(*or "we'll get", next month, in the case of DeGraw)

Mostly Right...

The bottom three weren't much of a surprise (except for Brooke), but I was wrong about who I thought was going to go...




















So long, Ramiele Malubay ... for as small as you are, you'll sure be missed in a big way!

Idol Thoughts: The Top 9

As soon as I found out it was "Dolly Parton Night" (which was about an hour before airtime, incidentally), I've been dreading a rendition of "9 to 5". Not that it's a bad song, it's just kind-of cliché, so I hope whoever sings it (if anyone) does something fresh with it. I'm also hesitating about how well the male singers will be able to pull off songs by Dolly. Of course, I don't know much about her discography to begin with, so I should probably just shut my yap and watch....

Brooke White -- Pretty good, I must say ... a bluegrass/country hybrid, probably keeping faithful to the original (don't know it, so I can't be sure). Good way to kick off the show ... I liked it!

David Cook -- Okay, now I'm getting a little worried. For the first time, I think someone is in the position to kick David Archuleta not only out of the Top Two (which, to this point, I've been certain he's a shoo-in for), but out of my personal #1 spot! No other way to say it, but that this guy is damn good!!

Ramiele Malubay -- Not bad ... but she kind-of left me not feeling much of anything, frankly. I'm not sure what it was ... the song itself was okay ... but her voice missed its target here and there. To my horror, I find myself agreeing with Simon. (At least Paula didn't have the lack of praise that she usually disguises with her dreaded "You look beautiful!" comment.)

Jason Castro -- Wow! Dolly was right ... that song is a perfect fit for him! He seemed so comfortable singing it ... perhaps his best performance yet, and probably the best of the night so far. And just as quickly as I find myself agreeing with Simon a few minutes ago, I couldn't disagree with him more regarding Jason.

Carly Smithson -- Beautiful! Possibly her best showing yet ... definitely her best in the last few weeks. Sheesh ... Paula is getting ready to pick serious fights with both Simon and Randy, isn't she?!?!

David Archuleta -- Oh my goodness ... what a finish!!! That's the most soaring finale I've heard, I think, since the Top 16 began! The girls are screaming their heads off for him, and for damn good reason! Gee, guess who's getting my vote this week...? (Unless someone better comes along ... fat chance!)

Kristy Lee Cook -- Well, will this be Kristy Lee's swan song? I've been expecting her to be voted off for the last few weeks now (not that I'm a pessimist, 'cause I'm not). I can't say I'm any more impressed with her this week, to be honest ... she's decent, but "decent" won't win her the title of American Idol.

Syesha Mercado -- Hmmm ... in a way, it's too bad she chose this song, 'cause even all these years after "The Bodyguard" I'm still a little sick of it ... but she did as best as she could without trying something new with it ... which is a bit of a problem. Yeah, I found it just a bit boring.

Michael Johns -- I was almost ready to give up on Michael, and here he comes, bringin' on the blues big-time ... another contestant who I'd have to say has delivered his best performance in weeks! Could the bottom three be made up of all ladies this time...?

Who I think ought to be in the bottom three: Ramiele Malubay, Kristy Lee Cook, and Syesha Mercado

Who I think will be in the bottom three: Ramiele Malubay, Kristy Lee Cook, and Syesha Mercado. Try as I might to imagine one of the guys in the bottom three, I just don't see it happening.

Who I voted for: Like, duh ... David Archuleta!

Well, I'm glad we dodged the bullet with regard to any of the contestants trying to sing "9 to 5" ... obviously someone decided that was too much Dolly's signature tune to dare attempt it. Good for them. So, I guess we'll find out how right (or wrong?) my predictions are tomorrow night.