The Voice recap: 'The Battles Premiere'

After a billion and a half blind auditions, The Voice‘s battle rounds are finally upon us. This is a very fun and nerve-wracking part of this competition series because while we do get to hear singers duet on songs that might usually trend solo, the stakes are high for the singers involved, and it’s a little sad to see almost half of them go after getting their hopes up.

That said, it’s also a pretty efficient filter because what talents do survive this round tend to be the right ones, and that’s (mostly) the case with round one. Let’s start from the beginning.

Team Jennifer: Lucas Holliday vs. Meagan McNeal
“My Prerogative” by Bobby Brown

Starting things off on a sassy note are Lucas Holliday and Meagan McNeal, who are paired together for Team Jennifer’s first battle round because they each march to the beat of their own drum and have an R&B bent.

Combined, they’re the kickiest karaoke night pairing you’ve probably ever heard; between Meagan’s soft-rock-at-the-dentist’s-office appeal and Lucas’ growly groove technique, there’s a lot happening when these two take the stage. All four coaches agree that it’s a tough call to pick who wins (and more importantly, who gets sent home) because they’re both clearly — to borrow a J. Hud Productions line — “owning their moment” tonight. But as Adam puts it, Lucas is a “leprechaun” of a singer, so that natural charisma and can-do attitude nets him the W here tonight. But Meagan is something of a standout herself, so it could’ve really gone either way.

Winner: Lucas Holliday
Steal: N/A

Team Miley: Moriah Formica vs. Shilo Gold
“American Woman” by The Guess Who

Billy Ray Cyrus, Team Miley’s adviser, makes a bold prediction that neither of these women are going home after hearing them in rehearsal. He showers them with compliments: They’re “peanut butter and jelly in the same jar” and the “female Brooks & Dunn,” which are both high praise in his book. Between Shilo’s signature rasp — which drew Miley in during the blinds — and Moriah’s sheer ferocity with guitar in hand, there’s a lot going on with these two. But the performance shakes out a little differently than the elder Cyrus predicted.

For one thing, it’s Shilo who emerges as the more flexible voice of the two singers. Although Moriah is certainly in her comfort zone with this kind of high-intensity tune, Shilo manages to be pretty radical, too, while still showcasing some tones that would be suitable elsewhere. I wanted to hear more from her outside of this scream-singing, even though Moriah was gamely rocking the house. The latter might have trouble flexing some vocal muscle outside of this particular milieu, but the coaches are basically unanimous in their enthusiasm for Moriah’s work here with this particular jam, so she emerges victorious. Easily. And, sadly, no one bothers to shed a steal for Shilo, even though she may have had something to show for herself in future sessions.

Winner: Moriah Formica
Steal: N/A

Team Blake: Keisha Renee vs. Noah Mac
“I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” by Elvis Presley

The coaches have been pretty precious about their steals up to this point, but when the contestants have culled a split decision, like Keisha Renee and Noah Mac managed to do in this round, the would-be send-away has always deserved a second shot.

Keisha Renee has a feathery, lush little voice that’s so much prettier than Noah Mac’s once she busts out with the second verse, so it’s no surprise that she walks away with the W. But Noah is no slouch himself, with a very throwback and, as Adam puts it, “diner in the ’50s”-style sound. It’s a bit too slow and low of a song to match with his motif, but he still impresses everyone, with Jennifer Hudson stamping her steal button before he can leave the stage. To my ear, he was pretty boring compared to Keisha, but then again, he is one of the few true generation-hoppers of the season, so it’s not terribly surprising they’d let him last another day.

Winner: Keisha Renee
Steal: Noah Mac to Team Jennifer

Team Jennifer: Chris Weaver vs. Kathrina Feigh
“Dangerous Woman” by Ariana Grande

It’s a lopsided competition here in this phase of the battles because Chris Weaver delivered one of the most interesting blind auditions of all, so anyone he goes against is going to have their work cut out for them. But that’s especially true for Kathrina Feigh, who simply can’t measure up to his power-packed performance.

Kathrina gives it her all and in some ways is more dynamic than her opponent, but it’s an easy decision for Jennifer Hudson to keep Chris on his team. That said, Blake Shelton sees enough of her can-do spirit to justify making a steal bid and giving her another shot over at “B. Shel Productions.” He didn’t have the benefit (read: misfortune) of hearing her ear-splitting sharpness in the rehearsals, so who knows — she could be the next Aliyah Moulden.

Winner: Chris Weaver
Steal: Kathrina Feigh to Team Blake

Team Miley: Brooke Simpson vs. Sophia Bollman
“You’re a Big Girl Now” by Bob Dylan

Brooke Simpson has got the benefit of having killed it in the blind auditions, so Sophia Bollman already has her work cut out for her before she ever sets foot on the battles stage. And although she doesn’t quite communicate the same easy composure as her competitor, she certainly earns an E for effort.

It’s not enough to get her a wave through to the next round, though, because Brooke’s got a raw skill set and oomph factor that’s already polished enough to win the day. Her solidarity as a performer is more convincing than her counterpart tonight, even though they do mesh remarkably well in the shared chorus moments.

Winner: Brooke Simpson
Steal: N/A

Team Adam: Adam Pearce vs. Whitney Fenimore
“Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” by Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty

In the blinds, Adam Pearce seemed like a perfect fit for Team Adam (for more reasons than just their shared name), and he sprinkles even more of his ’70s headbanger pastiche into this duet, which was probably taped before Tom Petty’s passing but plays as a lovely tribute to the late, great singer.

But Whitney Fenimore is the subtle hero of the song thanks to her consistent coolness and ability to sing through what could easily devolve into a screeching session. It’s what made/makes her predecessor in the number, Stevie Nicks, so interesting for the genre, and you know what? I’m digging it. I must not be the only one, because her steal availability ignites the first bidding war of the battles as both Miley and Blake tap their buttons to take her off Adam’s hands. Ultimately, it’s Miley who wins Whitney’s sophomore team allegiance because (1) Miley has already got an all-girls squad and (2) she tried to recruit her during the blinds. Oddly enough, though, it was Blake who’d have given the win to Whitney in the first place, but who’s counting.

Winner: Adam Pearce
Steal: Whitney Fenimore to Team Miley

TEAM STANDINGS:

• Team Adam: Dave Crosby, Brandon Showell, Dylan Gerard, Hannah Mrozak, Adam Pearce, Anthony Alexander, Emily Luther, Brandon Brown, Jon Mero, Michael Kight, Gary Carpenter

• Team Miley: Janice Freeman, Brooke Simpson, Ashland Craft, Addison Agen, Moriah Formica, Karli Webster, Chloe Kohanski, Illiana Viramontes, Katrina Rose, Megan Rose, Whitney Fenimore

• Team Jennifer: Chris Weaver, Shi-Ann Jones, Lucas Holliday, Maharasyi, Davon Fleming, Alexandra Joyce, Eric Lyn, Stephan Marcellus, Ignatius Carmouche, Jeremiah Miller, Noah Mac

• Team Blake: Mitchell Lee, Esera Tuaolo, Keisha Renee, Red Marlow, Adam Cunningham, Anna Catherine DeHart, Dennis Drummond, Rebecca Brunner, Natalie Stovall, Ryan Scripps, Kristi Hoopes, Kathrina Feigh