<p>Correction: The battle rounds start next week. Tonight’s show recaps all of the blind auditions.</p>
<p>I hope Adam’s prediction for James David Carter is correct and that he is Blake’s finalist. I liked him just as much on the recap as I did the first time around.</p>
<p>Nobody is watching the Voice ?</p>
<p>It is not over but I like Taylor. </p>
<p>I just watched the last battle. Everyone was pretty good tonight, but no one really excites me all that much yet.</p>
<p>I was also a tad disappointed with the battles tonight as moonchild noted and agree with dstark on Taylor. I was somewhat surprised that no one stole Maiya. Maybe she was at a disadvantage being in the first battle of the night.</p>
<p>You know, Maya was great, but ultimately she’s another talented belter without a distinguishing presence. Sort of a born backup singer, I think.</p>
<p>I really thought it was a mistake to take Sugar over Jean (? Jeanne?). I thought her actual performance was surprisingly poor. I’m glad the latter was stolen. I’m also glad that Gwen took the long-haired guy. I like him a lot. I doubt he’ll win, but he deserves to be around longer.</p>
<p>For some reason, this season I am having a hard time remembering people’s names. :)</p>
<p>I thought choosing Sugar was a mistake but I didn’t like either one in that particular performance. Too much shouting. Sugar was out of breath at the end of most of her lines and that growl has to be shredding her cords. </p>
<p>I thought Sugar was kept on cuz of her father. She wasn’t the best.</p>
<p>I still don’t know names. The long-haired guy won’t win, but he looks good.</p>
<p>I liked the long haired guy, too, and I’m eager to see what Gwen does with his appearance. She has already said she wants to play with his hair.
I really like the two new coaches. What a sweetheart Pharrell is. And Gwen. Their personalities are toning down the other two, which is long overdue.</p>
<p>I think part of the reason it’s so hard to remember names is that so many of them have MIDDLE names included!</p>
<p>I liked the short haired college kid that Adam chose in the battle. </p>
<p>So did I. His opponent was very good, but there was something about that kid…Steve? Chris? I really have to look some of those names up!</p>
<p>The short haired kid is Troy Ritchie. He went to Mission Viejo HS and then attended Saddleback College. His family lives in the Robinson Ranch area of Trabuco Canyon, CA. I lived in Coto de Caza, which is also considered Trabuco Canyon, where he says he’s from. I don’t know him or his family but I would be curious to know where he worked as a busboy. Glad to see him move on in the competition. Best one-chair-turn performer in the entire competition!</p>
<p>I really enjoyed the opening battle between Jordy and Taylor. That was a “concert quality performance”, imo.</p>
<p>I just watched last night’s show. </p>
<p>Troy is awesome, and I’m glad he was picked, but he is not the kid I was thinking of. It must have been someone from Monday. (Can’t believe Troy was a 1-chair turn!!)</p>
<p>I really think that the quality is more uniformly high than in prior seasons. So far there isn’t a dud among them, with the possible exception of Sugar, and she was much, much better in the rehearsals.</p>
<p>I find it annoying when they skip battles and just announce results. I want to see it all. One of my faves–the Asian girl who sang Chuck E’s in Love, the Rickie Lee Jones song–was disposed of that way. Why not skip the audition recap and show more of the battles?</p>
<p>I have to say that Gwen and Pharrell are a huge addition to the show. Shakira was a sweetie, but not a good coach. Gwen seems to be a good coach with a great ear, and also very nice. I thought Usher was great, but Pharrell seems to be just an outstanding human being and sweet soul, as well as a fantastic coach. Together, they have really brought something great to the show. I am very happy to be rid of Chestina. I liked CeeLo, but there is no doubt that Usher and Pharrell are vastly superior. (And yeah, it seems to be like the SCOTUS: there’s the “female” seat and the “black” seat. 
)</p>
<p>ETA: sometimes during the battles the pairings are so great that I think they ought to go on the road as a duo. Jordy and Taylor, for example.</p>
<p>The battles this season seem to be more collaborative than combative, which is so much more enjoyable! If Taylor doesn’t make it as a “solo” performer, he should consider pairing up with Jordy. They really complimented one another vocally.</p>
<p>ack - missed it tonight :(</p>
<p>I liked how Pharrell walked off with the young man who cried. Does anyone know whether Gwen and Pharrell will be back for the spring season? Someone at work told me that Shakira is pregnant and not likely to be available.</p>
<p>Just announced today! Christina replacing Gwen for season 8. Bummer…</p>
<p>Yuck, no!</p>
<p>It’s ok. Hopefully Gwen will come back .</p>