NBC's 'The Voice' takes us all over the vocal gamut, some thoughts

By April MacIntyre Apr 27, 2011, 6:12 GMT

Sci-fi geek Tje Austin performed a dazzling rendition of Bruno Mars\' \'Just the Way You Are\' and has a white mom and dad from Texas. Love to know more backstory on him.

After resisting as much as I could, despite the distractingly teeny tiny T-Rex hands of Cee Lo and the spray-tanned Xtina, NBC's "The Voice" kicked it bigtime with some great talent who got their chance to belt their hearts out.

Let's discuss.

Coach Christina Aguilera was the weakest link for me, and Blake Shelton was the surprise breakout star who is naturally funny and totally has Adam Levine's number. Cee Lo Green looks like a well-fed, tanned Dr. Evil and his tiny Rex hands kept unnerving me every time he clasped them to make a point.

Cee Lo, Blake and Adam do have good taste, and so far I'm not a fan of Christina's picks (except for Beverly), but then I never listen to her music, so that makes sense.

Stand-outs

Jeff Jenkins, Texas soul with a rich swing at Rascal Flatt’s ‘Bless the Broken Road,’ went with Adam Levine. Interesting.

Sci-fi geek Tje Austin performed a dazzling rendition of Bruno Mars' 'Just the Way You Are' and has a white mom and dad from Texas. Love to know more backstory on him.

Vicci Martinez was awesome with her take on Rolling in the Deep.

Javier Colon drove Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Time After Time’ out of the park, was won over by Levine’s self-motivated speech: “I want to win this bleep so I really want you to pick me.” Nice family, lots of female energy around this lucky man.

Beverly Mcclellan stomped some Janis Joplin. A tatted, bald out and proud middle-age lesbian on primetime TV, love her, Adam Levine did too.

The full list of contestants are as follows:

    *  Lukas Rossi
    * Tim Mahoney
    * Jared Blake
    * Elijah King
    * Curtis Grimes
    * Cherie Oakley
    * Dia Frampton
    * Javier Colon
    * Casey Desmond
    * Tyler Robinson
    * Beverly Mcclellan
    * Rebecca Loebe
    * Julia Eason
    * Vicci Martinez
    * Sonia Rao
    * Patrick Thomas
    * Kasi Jones
    * Raquel Castro
    * Lily Elise
    * Steve Means
    * Devon Barley
    * Tje Austin
    * Frenchie Davis
    * Nakia
    * Josh and Nicole Johnson (Elenowen)
    * Emily Valentine
    * Stacey Levine

Carson Daly was outstanding as the host moderator, so glad he got this gig.

Who do you love? What's the verdict?