‘The X Factor’ UK review: Next of Kin, Kingsland, Ropy Copy, Brick City top group-heavy hour
“The X Factor” UK returned to the audition rooms this week, and in turn gave us one of the stranger shows we have seen so far. There were some great acts (especially the groups), some really delusional people, and overall a few great Gary Barlow zingers that make us want him to be a judge on every other talent show on the planet.
Let’s just put it this way: If the American version of the show had half of the talent that we are seeing across the pond this year, we would be extremely pleased. This was by far our favorite episode of the season, and it’s not even close.
Advancing acts
Kingsland – This was just a bit of fun, wasn’t it? These boys are a little silly, and they don’t feel like the same sort of One Direction group that we have already heard a dozen times already. These guys are going to be loved by the ladies, and should be dangerous if they make it to the live shows.
Brick City – Soulful, and a little bit like a barbershop quartet. Sharon Osbourne had some great advice, though, to loosen it up a little bit and have more fun.
Rough Copy – These guys may have actually made the live show last year were it not for the issue related to them getting a visa. If they have sorted that out, they could go rather far.
Giles Potter – We wrote about Giles in our preview article earlier this week, and we genuinely feel as though he may be our favorite contestant of the entire season so far. Not only does he have a great voice for only being 16, but he’s just so likable. It’s almost like if you take a picture of what the ideal contestant would be, it’s him.
Lydia Lucy – We didn’t really see enough of her to know what the judges’ feedback about her not knowing who she is was really merited. All we can say is that she gave a pretty solid audition, and that gives us hope of what she could do the rest of the way.
Nicholas McDonald – Clearly, this is the new Jahmene Douglas. He doesn’t have same range, but he takes on the same sort of classical songs with the right amount of power and emotion.
Stephanie Woods – We don’t know if she has auditioned since 2006, but she originally tried out for this show when she was 14 back in 2007, only to be sent home by Sharon at judges’ houses.
Souli Roots – We also wrote about Souli earlier today, who wrote a song about … recession. Seriously. We can’t imagine why nobody wanted to hear this exciting song! (Cue sarcasm.) We thought for sure that this was going to be a dud audition, but we can’t see her going past tomorrow.
James McDonald – The bus driver delivers! Usually this is the sort of audition that you expect very little of.
Louise Harper – We dig the country / folk-rock sound here, and her hair actually is the same color as Sharon Osbourne’s.
Next of Kin – One of the more interesting acts of the night. These three brothers were once groomed to be the British version of Hanson, and they have since been forced to try and find themselves after that dream did not exactly pan out. Their voices are not perfect, but we get the impression that they will work at this.
Horrendous acts
Liddia & Ryan – This was like a really bad corporate team-building exercise with a summer camp theme … one that you are probably going to enjoy a whole lot more if you are drunk during it. What a perfect little meltdown to end it, huh? We kind loved that the show kept it on here that they were going to try out for “The Voice” next.
Samantha Harper – This was the strangest reverb that we have ever heard. It wasn’t good; it was just strange.
J-Koda – The best part of this audition was that there was actually no singing in it at all.
Aron Dale – Okay, this guy really does look like Harry Styles, but we already have a Harry Styles … and he’s much better than this one.
Who was your favorite act from tonight’s “X Factor” UK series? Be sure and share your thoughts below!
Photo: ITV