Joshua Ledet

"idol"

This week's song:

'She's Got Away'

A subtle vulnerability

His stiffly spread-legged posture in a chair was a weird way to start, but there's an endearingly understated quaver in Ledet's voice that hit like a soothing wave (particularly after the paint-peeling assault of Skylar Lane). And while his performance's addition of a backing choir initially looked like an ambush, it shifted his voice into a higher place. — Chris Barton

Play performance

Elise Testone

"idol"

This week's song:

'Vienna'

The brassy belter

The only singer of the week to be backed by an accordion, Testone's voice is framed by the raspy howl of a barroom belter. She doesn't need the lounge act trappings of evening gowns and the zig-zagging flourishes that drifted into her closing, but her ability to wring emotion from "Vienna" lifted her above the week's flashier outings. — Chris Barton

Play performance

Phillip Phillips

"idol"

This week's song:

'Movin' Out'

Growling in gray

Like a rumpled hybrid of Jack Johnson and Dave Matthews engineered in some lab outside Ithaca, N.Y., Phillips' mumble-mouthed rebel shtick will grow tiresome eventually. But even with that curious six-stringed contraption and a delivery reminiscent of an overbearing light-rail busker, his cathartic take on "Movin' Out" stood out. — Chris Barton

Play performance

Elise Testone

"idol"

This week's song:

'Vienna'

A versatile performer

By tackling a lesser-known Billy Joel song in "Vienna," Testone chose a cut that allowed her to show off her range and versatility. At the start, she had the poise of a jazz vocalist, and built it to a rock 'n' roll rasp that seemed to come surprisingly natural. Whereas others try to growl themselves silly, Testone prevailed largely because one still had the sense she was holding back. — Todd Martens

Play performance

Heejun Han

"idol"

This week's song:

'My Life'

Welcome comic relief

Diddy said he didn't know if Han was an actor or a con man, but a good pop artist is probably a little of both. That doesn't mean Han is - gasp - good (let's not get carried away here), but his clean vocals are better than he seems to be getting credit for, especially since he seems planted here largely for comic relief. For now, he brings much-needed life and levity to these ballad-heavy proceedings. — Todd Martens

Play performance

Phillip Phillips

"idol"

This week's song:

'Movin' Out'

What's not to love?

His earnest smile, scruffy good looks, the way he punches out each lyric with his whole body, his humble confidence: All of that and more came through when Phillips moved in — growl and all — on Billy Joel's "Movin' Out." — Amy Reiter

Play performance

Jessica Sanchez

"idol"

This week's song:

'Everybody Has a Dream'

Turning the beat around

After semi-stumbling last week, Sanchez came back strong with Billy Joel's "Everybody Has a Dream." She also proved she could control her vibrato, holding it in check and then unleashing its fury at the right moment. — Amy Reiter

Play performance

Elise Testone

"idol"

This week's song:

'Vienna'

Gaining some respect

Though she has seemed like the Rodney Dangerfield of "Idol," she showed vocal nimbleness and onstage confidence in "Vienna" that we had not previously seen from her.
— Amy Reiter

Play performance

Colton Dixon

"idol"

This week's song:

'Piano Man'

Tailor-made

I can appreciate his musical talent, but his performances generally leave me cold. Still, sitting at that shiny red grand piano this week, Dixon slid into Billy Joel's "Piano Man" as if it were a bespoke hipster jacket with military-ish details (and natty buttons on the sleeves).
— Amy Reiter

Play performance

Jessica Sanchez

"idol"

This week's song:

'Everybody Has a Dream'

'Nailed it again'

"Jessica Sanchez sang the roof off this week," Dion Richardson via latimes.com

"Jessica Sanchez IS theee Voice and the American Idol all in one. No one can touch her skills. Pure Natural Talent....Star in the making :)," Aileen Cyndee via latimes.com

Play performance