This was a test. I wanted to check out week 2 of Nashville Star without preconceptions, so this post is a reaction to that viewing. Next week, for those interested (and I hope, given what else is out there on TV, that there are a bunch of you interested), I'll set up a thread Monday so you can post your impressions as quickly as you wish, and I'll compare notes the next morning.

Anyway, I was not wildly impressed with the collective ability of this season's contestants. Nothing new there -- in the early stages NS often seems like a subpar amateur night, with talent coalescing and improving as the season moves on. (Much as it happens in some Idol seasons.)

Overall I have to question the initial selections, though. It seems to me that in the move from USA to NBC, somebody decided to go for youth at the expense of seasoned talent, and to pick a number of finalists who couldn't go country with a pickup and a hunting dog. The pop orientation of the song choices this week (and last week, from what I gathered in the recaps) was alarming for a show that's supposed to crown a new "Nashville star."

Other general observations before I get to specifics: The judging was constructive and often refreshingly candid, a pleasant contrast to the uselessness of Randy and Paula (especially this past season). But the idea of having the judges serving as mentors would seem to compromise their objectivity.

Billy Ray Cyrus seems pretty wooden as host, but if you ever saw the season with Wynonna hosting, you'll know that's something of an NS tradition. The addition of longtime Nashville cable personality Katie Cook as hypewoman is grating at best. The band is still excellent, but seems to be pushed far more into the background. Several finalists play guitars, as usual for the show, and I'm always a fan of that.

Individual performer comments, some of them less than positive (shocker!), follow.

Well, I was hoping for a group that I could say all sang better than Kristy Lee Cook, but in good conscience I am not able to make that declaration. I sure don't see any Miranda Lamberts (the best, most complete artist to come out of any recent musical talent contest, if you ask me) or even a Buddy Jewell or George Canyon (polished, mature country singers from NS's first two seasons). But it's early yet. Evaluating them in order of appearance:

1. Laura & Sophie: Painfully raw teenage duo sounded OK singing together on The Judds' Rockin' With the Rhythm of the Rain, but when there's teenaged talent on the order of David Archuleta out there, L&S aren't going to cut it.

2. Ashlee Hewitt: Her snippet of Colbie Caillat's Bubbly from Week 1 sounded ridiculous, but Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire at least was attempted country. I think she was trying too hard to sound authentically country, and the big modulation halfway through sounded forced, like an artificial device to create drama, in such a short song. Might have potential, though.

3. Justin Gaston: A lot of you dumped on him in your comments on the first show. Now I can see why. His version of Hey There Delilah by that well-known country group Plain White T's was beyond wimpy. He has absolutely nothing going for him except looks and a certain disarming manner. Ace Young without Ace's vocal ability.

4. Alyson Gilbert: Another country classic, The Police's Every Breath You Take, was probably the most adventurous, vocal-risk-taking performance of the night. Not sure I'm sold, but possibly the front-runner. Disconcerting resemblance to Reba McEntire if you discount the hair.

5. Pearl Heart: More teenagers (three of 'em), slightly less raw than Laura & Sophie, and their vocal blend was quite good on Bon Jovi's Who Says You Can't Go Home (which is sort of honorary country in that a version of it did well on the charts). Judges were correct in pointing out the tentative approach of the lead singer, who seems to be the weak link.

6. Tommy Stanley: Did what appeared to be a cringe-worthy version of Marc Cohn's pop/folk hit Walking to Memphis last week, but went country with BIg & Rich's Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy) this week, a move that apparently won judge John Rich's heart. Not mine, though -- this guy seems all mannerisms and gestures and swagger, no voice to speak of. Sort of like Taylor Hicks (whom he vaguely resembles if you discount the hair) without the charm, talent or versatility.

7. Gabe Garcia: Judge Jewel's concerns about the plodding nature of his song choice, Creedence Clearwater Revival's Have You Ever Seen the Rain (not country but works in that style), were well taken. He has a solid voice and relaxed manner, sort of reminiscent of NS first-season runner-up John Arthur Martinez, and if he improves his song choices, could be a favorite.

8. Shawn Mayer: Last week, if I gather correctly from the snippet shown, she sang a Joplinesque version of Piece of My Heart that sounded totally inappropriate for the show, especially when there's a Faith Hill version that works much better as country. This time she sang the George Jones classic He Stopped Loving Her Today, trying too hard to wring every nuance of emotion out of it and succeeding only partially. Voice has potential, but her weepy sob-sister demeanor is a turn-off.

9. Coffey (pronounced Cough-FAY, to add an extra level of pretention to the standard amount you get for going by just one name): That was a good performance -- for American Idol. John Mayer's neo-soul hit Waiting on the World to Change has nothing to do with country, and Coffey made no attempt to countrify it. What does he think he's doing?

The bottom two:

10. Melissa Larson: Again, an Idol performance, an attempted Aretha on her classic Natural Woman full of glory notes. Inappropriate song choice (though occasionally impressive). Bad outfit choice too.

11. Third Town: Still, the choice for elimination was clear. This trio, apparently featuring a refugee from Dot Dot Dot of NGAB fame, actually considered singing Bohemian Rhapsody but were mercifully talked out of it by mentor Jeffrey Steele. Instead, they went for a thin version of Alabama's Mountain Music that sounded OK when they all sang but pitiful when Dot Dot Dot boy unleashed his weedy, nasal tones alone.

Well, maybe things will improve next week. Although given the theme -- pop songs -- I doubt it. And if that's next week's theme, what would you call this week?