Crystal, Lee, Casey & Aaron Seem the 'Class' of Idol Lineup

Catching up on American Idol.  This is the men's competition on March 10, 2010.

Lee Dewyze.  Okay, this tune "Fireflies" didn't kill me. Here's the deal with Lee.  He looks like an alt-rock recording star.  And he sounds like one in his lower and middle singing registers.  But when he tries to get into his head voice, his pitch and phrasing get pretty shaky.  Still, he's got to be among the top three male singers in this year's AI competition.

Alex Lambert....he's definitely no "Adam" Lambert.  Okay, this kid looks like a modern-day version of Peter Noone from "Herman's Hermits."  He has ABSOLUTELY NO stage presence and not much of a voice.  Here's another example of Idol's judges picking a likeable kid with very little musical singing ability.  This should get him knocked out of the competition.

Tim Urban.  Okay, I haven't liked anything this kid has sung - up 'til now.  By singing the Leonard Cohen classic, he shows he might have a future in the folk-rock genre ala a modern-day Neil Diamond.  Still needs to work on his voice and phrasing.

Andrew Garcia.  "Weinie in a Bottle."  What is a dude doing singing a song that is a stone-chick song?  This was a train wreck.  He ought to get dumped.  Too bad, cos he has some talent, although not much judgment in picking songs.

Casey Jones.  Nice looking dude.  Looks like a rock star.  Sings like somebody at a Holiday Inn karoke contest.  He really needs to get to a vocal coach and get some diaphramatic support training.  Still, his looks and affable personality probably will keep him in the competition.

Aaron Kelly.  Okay, this kid is not as polished as Crystal in the women's competition, but pound for pound, is at least the second-best potential artist in the entire contest.  His version wasn't "pitch perfect,"  but it reeked of honesty and feeling.  I think this kid is destined for stardom as a Country singer, although he also could go pop. 

Todrick Hall.  I stand corrected from my earlier assessment of Todd.  He's a dancer, and maybe a Broadway singer, but certainly not a pop or contemporary R&B singer.  He is just too dramatic to take seriously.

Big Mike Lynche.  The AI judges loved his version of the Maxwell song.  I didn't love the original and I didn't like Mike's version.  He may be a nice guy, but there's something strange about a pumped-up dude singing in a chick's range. There's something about this dude that just doesn't ring true for me.  I don't see a real singing career in the works for Big Mike, although Aaron Neville, who has a similar high weird voice pulled it off.  But I don't think Big Mike will make it more than two more rounds.

And that's our view from "The A&R Room."  We welcome your thoughts.