'The Voice' Blind Auditions, Episode 2: The Thrill Is (Ever-So-Slightly) Gone

The second Blind Auditions episode of The Voice Season 8 kicked off Tuesday with what host Carson Daly bragged was the fastest four-chair turnaround in the series’ history. The showman who inspired this quadruple-spin was a good singer, and an even better performer… but was he worth the hype? And more importantly, did this contestant (or any contestant) sign up with Adam Levine, who at the end of Monday’s two-hour premiere hadn’t recruited any members for his team?

Let’s find out.

Anthony Riley – This hard-working busker, who actually once won an award for being the best street performer in Philadelphia, certainly brought the pizzazz with a rousing, high-energy rendition of James Brown’s “I Got You (I Feel Good).” Still, I was surprised by how quickly all four coaches turned for Anthony; he’d barely let out a JB-style whoop before Blake Shelton, Christina Aguilera, and Adam all slapped their red buttons, with Pharrell Williams only hesitating a nanosecond longer. This turnaround was so fast, in fact, that it beat the previous record set by Season 5’s amazing Matthew Schuler. Suffice to say, Anthony Riley is no Matthew Schuler (who is?); however, the way he worked the stage and the crowd, without ever letting his dancing diminish his vocal power, was undeniably impressive, and I was digging his cool Vintage Trouble vibe. “I haven’t been so entertained all this season. I’m so glad I pushed my button when I did, so I could enjoy your performance,” said Blake. Then Adam put on his own show, getting all aggressive as he barked in a disconcertingly Fifty-Shady manner, “Say my name! You know I want it bad!” Yikes. Adam didn’t get his way, of course — it was understandable that a soulman like Anthony would prefer to work with Pharrell — but Adam’s desperate shoutiness did not help his cause.
MEMBER OF: Team Pharrell

Gabriel Wolfchild – With a name like Wolfchild, he had to be good, right? He was good, actually. Trailing feathers and fringe, Wolfchild the flower-child performed his own intriguingly and inventively arranged remake of Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice” while his free-spirited father, who goes by the equally catchy name Blue Mountain, grooved in the stage wings. (Gabriel’s bellydancer/high priestess mother couldn’t make it, sadly.) I’d assumed this would be a flighty, hippy-dippy performance, like something I might see at a Venice Beach drum circle or Bonnaroo tailgate, but Gabriel’s Dylan cover had some surprising grit and gravitas; maybe the fact that he bittersweetly (or just plain bitterly) dedicated the song to an ex helped him dig into it a little deeper. I think Wolfchild would have been a perfect fit for Pharrell, the panel’s resident free spirit; Gabriel even admitted that he would’ve joined Team Pharrell, if he’d had that option. But since Pharrell didn’t turn, I figured Adam had the best shot. I definitely didn’t think a bohemian like Gabriel would sign up with slick pop diva like Christina! But Adam was shut out again. Christina then gave Adam his own hippy stage name: Little Manchild. Ha.
MEMBER OF: Team Xtina

Brooke Adee – This mature-beyond-her-years 16-year-old immediately grabbed Little Manchild’s (um, I mean Adam’s) ear, and not just because she was singing a Bon Iver song. Her natural phrasing and pacing, perfect pitch, sense of emotional drama and overall ethereal quality made this a standout audition, especially for someone so young. But Adam wasn’t the only coach that turned; so did Blake, who told Brooke, “I’m looking at a future star.” Brooke, explaining that she admires Blake’s highly successful coaching style, picked Blake over Adam. “I used to be a contender,” Adam lamented in a thick Marlon Brando accent.
MEMBER OF: Team Blake

Tonya Boyd-Cannon – Tonya was one of several church singers who tried out Tuesday, and I was expecting her to take The Voice to church, so to speak. Considering her harrowing backstory (she works with prison choirs; she lost everything in Hurricane Katrina), I figured she’d deliver a truly passionate performance. Unfortunately, covering Pharrell’s own “Happy” didn’t allow for that, and she really didn’t rev up until the ditty’s end. Still, there was potential here. Tonya seemed a natural fit for Pharrell (she sang his song, after all) or for fellow diva Christina. But she picked… Adam, a total mismatch. What will Adam do with this woman? Why did she pick him? Was she tipped off? Did producers tell her to give poor Adam a break? Whatever the reason, I think she may soon regret her decision. For Tonya’s sake, let’s hope Pharrell makes good on his promise to steal her in the Battle Rounds. Otherwise, this Cannon may be fodder.
MEMBER OF: Team Adam

Joe Tolo – Joe won his chance to audition via something called Extra Boot Camp (sort of the Voice's equivalent of Disney World's recently shuttered American Idol Experience, I guess). Well, I hope he had a good time living out his Voice fantasies, getting his makeover and whatnot, because I doubt he’ll go much farther than this. Honestly, I was a baffled that any coach even buzzed in for his snoozy performance of the Bee Gees’ “To Love Somebody.” Joe picked Christina, but let’s face facts: We’re only two episodes into this season and Christina already has much stronger players on her team, so it’s likely that Joe won’t be her priority and he’ll end up as Battle Rounds fodder.
MEMBER OF: Team Xtina

Mia Z – For age 15, this blues girl from a musical family did extremely well. But I still think she needs to find her real voice; her performance felt a little forced. That being said, it was easy to understand why the crazy high note she hit, about halfway through “The Thrill Is Gone,” seized Pharrell’s attention. (“Your range is insanity,” he told her.) And it’s certainly nice to see someone so young who not only knows who B.B. King and Muddy Waters are, but actually genuinely loves the blues. I could envision Pharrell crushing on Mia, the way he did last season with the bluesy Sugar Joans, so if there’s any coach who can give Mia guidance and help her define her sound, it’s him.
MEMBER OF: Team Pharrell

Blaze Johnson – I was rooting for Blaze after I heard his sob story (he moved here from the Bahamas as a kid, then faced all sorts of bullying and discrimination at school). But I just couldn’t get jazzed about his wobbly lower register, lack of charisma, or ho-hum song choice (the Fray’s “How to Save a Life”). Blaze signed up with Adam over Blake, which of course made Adam gloat. But Blaze will not bring glory to Team Adam in the long run. Adam would have been better off getting another rejection in this case.
MEMBER OF: Team Adam

Deanna Johnson – This rodeo singer tried out in Season 5 and failed to turn any chairs; I don’t even remember her audition, but apparently she was so traumatized by this very public rejection that she temporarily gave up singing altogether. Good for her, then, that she faced her fears and returned to the show — because this time, she didn’t just get a chair to turn, she got four chairs to turn with her cover of Kodaline’s “All I Want.” It was a lovely performance — affecting, but never affected. Adam actually scored with this one, and finally, he was really in the game.
MEMBER OF: Team Adam

So for those of you keeping track, or trying to, Team Adam now consists of Tonya Boyd-Cannon, Blaze Johnson, and Deanna Johnson; Team Pharrell has Anthony Riley, Mia Z, and Monday recruits Lowell Oakley, Meghan Linsey, and Sawyer Fredericks; Team Christina has Gabriel Wolfchild, Joe Tolo, and Monday’s Rob Taylor and Treeva Gibson; and Blake only picked up one new singer this Tuesday, Brooke Adee, adding to his earlier lineup of Sarah Potenza, Cody Wickline, and Joshua Davis.

Overall, I think Tuesday’s episode was weaker than Monday’s season premiere; there weren’t any contestants that excited me quite the way the previous night’s Sawyer Fredericks or Rob Taylor had, and there were a couple contestants that didn’t excite me at all. I suppose it make sense that NBC would want to frontload the premiere with some of the best talent, but I hope that when the Blind Auditions resume next week, the season picks up a little more steam. See you then.

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