‘The Voice’ recap: A brisk second night of battles

“The Voice” settled into its regular scheduling groove Tuesday, airing its first hourlong show of the season on the second night of the battle rounds. Given the time constraints, Tuesday’s episode was a brisk affair, bringing us three full battles and three abbreviated ones in a quick-hit montage.

That’s not to say there wasn’t enough time for Blake Shelton to get in a few good digs about Adam Levine’s shaved pate. At one point the country coach compared his newly bald bromantic sparring partner to Sinead O’Connor. At another, he quipped, “Isn’t Howie Mandel on ‘America’s Got Talent’? Why are you even here right now?”

Yeah, good stuff. But back to Tuesday’s battles. Here’s how they went down:

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Keith Semple vs. Manny Cabo (Team Adam): In a battle of rock dudes, Levine pitted 33-year-old Chicago-dwelling Irishman Semple against 45-year-old New Jersey fashion photographer Cabo, assigning them The Who’s “Baba O’Riley.” Although he had turned only two chairs – Levine’s and Gwen Stefani’s – in the blinds, while Cabo had turned all four and been ardently courted by Levine before choosing the Maroon 5 singer as his coach, Semple emerged the winner. Levine said he’d chosen Semple because of his “beautiful” upper register and “effortless” vocal style. No one moved to steal Cabo.

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Chris Crump vs. Krista Hughes (Team Blake): Newlywed Christian pop singer Crump, 31, and small-town country girl Hughes, 22, both turned four chairs back in the blinds. Still, just by virtue of her classic country roots, Hughes may have seemed to have the upper hand in this match. Guest mentor Brad Paisley even rearranged part of his and Dolly Parton’s “When I Get Where I’m Going” to give Hughes a moment to shine, but, alas, she fluffed it. Crump, meanwhile, remained vocally solid and brought the song the emotion Shelton sought, without overdoing it. “Krista’s an incredible singer, but Chris was way more consistent,” Shelton said, after making his choice, adding that Crump’s “pop Christian background” would suit his “diverse team.” Hughes went home unstolen.

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Ivonne Acero vs. Siahna Im (Team Pharrell): Williams paired the two youngest members of his team – 17-year-old Acero, who turned two chairs (Williams and Stefani) this season after an unsuccessful previous attempt, and pixie-ish 15-year-old Im, who spun three – on the Supremes’ “You Keep Me Hangin’ On.” He wanted Im to work on her vibrato and Acero on her confidence. Yet despite the fact that Acero ferociously nailed it, Williams apparently felt Im had more potential. It all worked out for Acero, though. Stefani moved in for the steal – and then Shelton did too. And even though Stefani promised to “download” to all of her experience as a female performer to the contestant, Acero picked Shelton, with whom, she said, she had always wanted to work. Stefani was not happy that Shelton had gotten the girl, and Shelton showed uncharacteristic signs of remorse. “I absolutely mopped the floor with Gwen,” he noted, adding ruefully, “I felt a little bit bad about it.”

But apparently not that bad.

Also advancing on Tuesday were Madi Davis of Team Pharrell, edging out Sydney Rhame, and Kota Wade and Jeffery Austin of Team Gwen, besting Alex Kandel and Noah Jackson, respectively.

Next week, more battles.