Downloaded the MP3 files for this week's performances and the two that come across better with just the audio than they did on the show are Paris's(yeah, she oversings it, but it's still damned impressive) and Taylor's(very rough start but not too bad from the middle onward even though the song was wrong for him.)
I always watch the show again and close my eyes the second time. I totally agree with you on Taylor and Paris - their vocals were far better than the judges allowed. Taylor's lighting was horrible and Paris looked a little funny too, so I think it cannot help but sway us visually, subconsciously or not.