Oh, Hell(o)—It’s Songs From Tonight’s Episode Of ‘Glee’ (Plus A Flash Mob!)

Tonight brings the first new hour of Glee to air since the award-winning Fox series‘ mid-season break began in December. Gleeks’ ears will be privy to the cast taking on five songs—”Hello,” “Gives You Hell,” “Hello, Goodbye,” “Hello, I Love You” and “Highway To Hell”—in the aptly titled episode “Hell-O.” So which of these jams have us dancing in the aisles, and which have us wanting to send the cast to detention?

Now, sure—we’re making basic judgments on these cast recordings without having seen the actual episode yet. But it’s music. We have ears. And we’re feeling like high school bullies. So let the judging begin.

[wpaudio url=”//idolator.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/01-Hello-Goodbye-Glee-Cast-Version.mp3″ text=”Glee – Hello, Goodbye” dl=”0″] Now, maybe we’re still reeling from last week’s lackluster Lennon-McCartney-themed episode of American Idol, but something about this Glee cast rendition of The Beatles'”Hello, Goodbye” sounds a bit off. And that something is Cory Monteith (Finn). Why does he sound like he’s wounded here? (And don’t give us any line about his heart being wounded by Quinn and Rachel!)

[wpaudio url=”//idolator.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/01-Hello-Glee-Cast-Version-feat.-Jo.mp3″ text=”Glee – Hello” dl=”0″] Kudos to the rest of the cast, but Cory needs to mellow out a bit. Still, it’s not as much of a snoozefest as newcomer Jonathan Groff (as Jesse St. James) and Lea Michele’s (Rachel) duet on “Hello.”

[wpaudio url=”//idolator.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/01-Gives-You-Hell-Glee-Cast-Version.mp3″ text=”Glee – Gives You Hell” dl=”0″]

[wpaudio url=”//idolator.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/01-Hello-I-Love-You-Glee-Cast-Vers.mp3″ text=”Glee – Hello, I Love You” dl=”0″] Perhaps when we actually see them make googly sparkle eyes at each other, it’ll jazz things up a bit? (They apparently sing the tune in a book store.) Livening things up a bit, Rachel scolds Finn with All American Rejects’ “Gives You Hell” after he belts out the Doors’ “Hello, I Love You” (while sounding far less like he’s in pain).

[wpaudio url=”//idolator.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/01-Highway-to-Hell-Glee-Cast-Versio.mp3″ text=”Glee – Highway To Hell” dl=”0″]

That brings us to New Directions’ rivals Vocal Adrenaline taking on AC/DC’s “Highway To Hell”—ironically, what we feel like we’re barreling down at 90 mph while listening.

Don’t try to get too edgy, Glee—you’re best when you choose melodies over stunt-singing.

Our pick of the bunch: “Hello, I Love You”

Anyway, bring on the actual episode—because then we’ll probably change our minds entirely on some of these songs, based on the visuals. (After all, you know what they say about opinions…)

And to tide you over till tonight, here’s a Glee flash mob that went down in Seattle on Saturday, April 10: