First is Jenni Schick (24), who is very energetic and hyper, she works as a music teacher for Kindergarten through Sixth Grade. How fitting! Looks like this is going to be a bad audition, she sings "Heartbreaker" by Pat Benatar. It's surprisingly not terrible, she can sing but doesn't have Idol potential. The Judges like her and send her to Hollywood.



Next we see is Curtis Grey (28), who plays in a 5-piece band, singing "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" by Boyz II Men. He's a nice singer but really boring. The Judges, however, love the hell out of him and unanimously send him to Hollywood. Next is a montage of a few more singers that make Hollywood. First Richie Law (19), who is basically another Scotty McCreery, only more boring. Then Devan Jones (26) singing "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" by The Script, really nice voice and excellent falsetto. Kinda makes me think he's like a Javier Colon- lite but I really like him. Then Mathenne Trego (25) singing "Hey Jude", he looks like a joke contestant but actually sings pretty nicely, especially the high parts. Unfortunately, his look is annoying.



Up next is Haley Smith (18), her personality and 1970's look is cute but again I think this is a joke contestant. She's a vegetarian working in a meat factory. She sings "Tell Me Something Good" by Chaka Kahn. Her voice is amazing, lovely falsetto and phrasing and a really interesting spin on Chaka Kahn. This is one of my favorite auditions of the entire season, Steven recognizes her talent, saying she's right out of his era and he is honored to be there listening to her. The Judges quickly give her a golden ticket.



Now we see Shelby Tweten (17), she has bipolar disorder and has struggled with depression since 4th Grade (wtf). Lulzy quote of the season: "American Idol has given me a reason to stay on my meds." Okay... Wow. Singing makes her symptoms go away. She sings "Temporary Home" by Carrie Underwood, she has a nice voice and can definitely sing but it's nothing incredibly special. The Judges rave and approve her to Hollywood.



Next is Jairon Jackson (19), who is taking a risk and auditioning with an original song called "So Hard". "I have a lot of faith in this song" he says. The song is really nice for being an original, he has a great R&B sound and reminds me a bit of Chris Brown. The Judges give applause for his song. They love him and his song and send him to Hollywood. On the way out, he breaks the light above the door. rofl



Last is Angie Zeiderman (25), who is a strange cross between Lady Gaga and vintage musicals. "It's time for a vintage glitter queen on Idol" she says. She sings "If You've Got It Flaunt It" from The Producers, I will never understand why she thought this was a good choice for an audition song. She sounds nice but again, she's singing Show Tunes. Randy does not like it, J-Lo does and asks her to perform a second song. She sings "Blue Bayou" by Linda Ronstadt, it's a lot better and she makes a complete turnaround. Randy changes his mind, they all love her now and she is quickly sent to Hollywood.

The first good audition of the episode is Skylar Laine (17), who is a bit of a backwoods tomboy. Flooring ATVs through mud and shooting deer. Her family runs a restaurant in Jackson and has done so for 71 years but the recession gave the store a rough year in 2010. She sings "Hell On Heels" by Pistol Annies. I am all countried out from last year... or so I think. This is really good! Obviously, some may want to compare her to Lauren but Skylar is a lot more confident and mature as an artist and as a person for this game. Skylar has a strong voice, while it has it's country roots, I can see her being surprisingly versatile. The Judges send her to Hollywood.



Next is Baylie Brown (21) from season 6 and ended up being a casualty in group round. She comes back after 5 years with a lot more maturity and she's definitely improved her voice, she's definitely ready this time around. She sings "Bed of Roses" by Bon Jovi. Again, I think I'm countried out from last year but I like this quite a bit. What is wrong with me? She has a great voice, the high notes are strong and the performance is just entrancing in general. She's definitely advancing.



Now we see Kristine Osorio (28), who put her singing career on hold to raise a family. She is now a newly-single mother of 3. She took out a loan that was supposed to be for the divorce lawyer but instead bought a plane ticket to audition (omg). She sings "One and Only" her high notes are a bit shrill and raspy but I really like it, she seriously reminds me of Pink. She could use some work but definitely deserves a ticket, which they give her.



After seeing 3 singers J-Lo really likes get axed, Linda Williams (24) is next to enter the audition room and sings "Falling in Love" by Alicia Keys. This starts off really bad, get's pretty good in the middle and then falls apart again toward the end. The runs are very sloppy and not even in key but I do like the middle part, which showed the potential. J-Lo hates her, the other 3 overrule her and send her to Hollywood.



Next is Cortez Shaw (20), he grew up in a single-parent household and he was homeless for 2 years. He chooses to sing "Someone Like You" by Adele, he starts uptempo and fast like the dance remix. My first thought is why the bloody hell would you sing this version of this song? I unfortunately recall Melanie Amaro's clusterfuck version of SLY and think this is going to be really bad. Thank God I'm wrong, this is great! His voice is awesome, pitch is good and he makes "Someone Like You" work in his favor. They unanimously send him to Hollywood.



Last of the day is Ramiro Garcia (28), who, of course, has a sad story. He was born without ears and the doctors told his parents that he was not going to be able to hear or speak but after several surgeries, he has beaten the odds. He sings "Amazing Grace", he's a good singer, there is no doubt about that. But it's uninteresting and not really what Idol is looking for. His vibrato sounds a little strained and forced. Obviously, the Judges are not going to turn down this one. He gets the Hollywood stamp of approval.

I finally muster up enough enthusiasm to write the last remaining audition cities, we begin with Brittany Zika (21), a.k.a. Tripster the Hipster. She holds true to the name and immediately trips on the audition platform. She sings "The Story" by Brandi Carlile. She's got a bluesy/ indy vibe, decent tone but nothing special. The Judges LOVE her, she's put through to Hollywood.



Next is Jermaine Jones (24), the 6'8" mama's boy sings "Superstar" by Leon Russell. He's incredibly nice and gentle. He has a strange baritone, the lower notes are good, higher notes are straining. Again, I'm not crazy about it but the Judges love it and put him through.



Britney Spears lookalike Britnee Kellogg (27) goes next, she is now a single mother of twin boys. Her husband never supported her dreams so now is her chance. She sings "You're No Good" by Linda Ronstadt, she has a nice soulful voice with raspiness but not much of a range. Totally on-key though, 3 yeses to Hollywood.



Next is Romeo Diahn (22). His family fled the civil war of Liberia in the early '90s and spent a few years in a refugee camp in Ghana before they finally arrived in America. Romeo has great appreciation and gratitude for making it here and being given another chance. He sings "Is This Love" by Bob Marley and the Wailers. He has a great reggae sound, his voice is simple but it captures my attention. I agree with Jennifer that he may have issues being versatile in Hollywood. The Judges put him through.



Next up is Naomi Gillies (22), she sings "Cryin" by Aerosmith. Quite the feat to accomplish in front of Steven Tyler, she has a nice, smooth, belty voice and stays on key. Really good job on the high notes. The Judges all immediately say yes.



Last of Portland is Jessica Phillips (25), who has a really sad story. Her boyfriend suffered a massive stroke last year, after he woke up from a long coma, he did not remember her and has mental disabilities now. One of the saddest stories I've seen on this series, she sings "Again" by Faith Evans. She's got a really nice tone, the falsetto, vibrato, runs, everything is done really well. The Judges put her through to Hollywood.

First up is Johnny Keyser (22), it's just him and his dad. He's a server at an Italian restaurant. After the background story, he sings "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke. It's very soulful and smooth, nice falsetto and runs. The Judges don't want him to stop singing, combined with the charming personality, he just knocks their socks off and he goes to Hollywood.



Next is Rachelle Lamb (26), who has a similar sob story of my husband held me back, I'm a single mom, etc. Same story, different girl. Getting a bit exhausting. She sings "Find Somebody New" by Faith Hill, and to my surprise, she's really good. Great Country voice and "a great sense of melody" like Steven said. The Judges, impressed, give her a golden ticket.



Now we see Reis Kloeckener (20), he was bullied in highschool and almost dropped out. One of the teachers heard him singing and suggested he sing in the choir, which helped him tremendously in the long haul. He sings "Lean On Me' by Bill Withers, he has an interesting tone. Perhaps best described as similar to Season 7 runner-up David Archuleta's. I really enjoyed it, it almost makes Steven cry. The other two judges love him too, Reis is overwhelmed with the positive response. They send him to Hollywood immediately.




Next up is Ethan Jones (22). He cut his forehead by accident because of nerves. lol. He dropped out of school to become a full-time musician with extended family, which included his dad, who had to go on a hiatus and receive drug rehabilitation. He sings "I'll Be" by Edwin McCain. Nice raspy tone, a bit generic but I really like him. The Judges send him to Hollywood, he calls his dad to tell him the news. Touching.



Last of the auditions but certainly not least is Lauren Gray (22). Employee at family owned wedding shop by day, singer in southern rock band with dad by night! She sings "One and Only" by Adele, she has a nice bluesy tone, the raspiness in her voice needs some work, her voice cracks at a point or two in an unpleasant way and she seems to be straining throughout the song. I see the potential but I don't think she was that good. The Judges, however, go completely batshit for her, saying she is one of the best voices they have EVER heard. And so, they send another overrated girl named Lauren to Hollywood and the auditions are officially done with... Good riddance! See you all in Hollywood, where things shall get very interesting...