Customer Reviews

String Quart Tribute to Disturbed

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Having collected some of the other String Tribute albums by Vitamin records, I thought I'd give this a shot. I will be honest: it's not spectacular. At times, it sounds like the lead violin can't keep up with singer David Draiman's hellfire pace (like on "Voices"). But the arrangements (which include a smattering of percussion) somehow transcend the fault of lesser string tributes--making all the songs sound the same. As for song selection, the Ya Baby! String Quartet opted to choose the most popular songs from both Disturbed albums, making this a welcome addition to the collections of both hardcore and less-than-hardcore fans.

Most people who listen to Disturbed love the heavy distortion and booming bass, but to hear it in orchestrated pieces is something new. Most would expect it to suck to high heaven, but overall the quality is decent. The chello on "Down With the Sickness" keeps true to the original, along with many of Disturbed's other hits, such as: Remember, Liberate, Prayer, Stupify, and Voices. A decent CD for everyone to enjoy.

Anyone who is a true fan of Disturbed will love this compulation. The quartet makes excellent use of all instruments to provide a very unique sound to Disturbed's music. For an added treat play this album with the other Disturbed album simulataniously. It will create an aura similar to the one from Metallica's "S & M" album. This cd is very much worth the money.

I never thought a string quartet could do Disturbed but they can. It is something you have to listen to for a little bit, let it sink in, that this is different and lacking David's voice but its pretty good.

I got two string tributes at the same time, and the interesting thing about them is that both have turned out to be the opposite of what I expected. A band like Linkin Park would seem to translate well to the string sound (and it didn't), while with Disturbed, David Draiman's vocals are front and center the star of the Disturbed show: without those you'd think a lot would be missing.

Oddly enough, "Are You Breathing? The String Quartet Tribute to Disturbed", works, and works well. Even songs like "Down With Sickness" [sic - it's actually called "The Sickness"] thrum along with a lively sound, and somehow these performers manage to convey the energy that's in Disturbed's music very well. At the end of the album is an "original composition": the song "Left" is not a Disturbed track, it's designed to get you interested in The Ya Baby! String Quartet.

Of course, putting this album up against other String Quartet albums is a bit unfair because The Ya Baby! String Quartet 'cheats': their strings are accompanied by a variety of percussion instruments, from wood blocks and triangles to subtle bongos...and yes, cowbell, which rattles its way through "Awaken". Naturally, Disturbed tracks like "Remember" work best because they are naturally melodic. "The Game" sounds like it took the most effort to get right. "Voices" is also a strong effort, though it gets a bit out of sync close to the middle.

If you like the music of Disturbed and you're wanting something to fill the gap between their last album and their next one, "Are You Breathing? The String Quartet Tribute to Disturbed" makes an interesting diversion. Fans might be a little annoyed at the misprint of Disturbed's most famous song (and album) and the short bio on the back that seems to hang off Disturbed's success instead of saying anything about this collection's performers, but then again, that's the whole idea behind this album: getting fans of another band to try this one.

I am a zealous Disturbed fan, enthusiast, and collector and I have heard and seen almost everything by or about Disturbed. I know basically anything the internet can tell you of them, and that is a lot.


Now this CD is anything an interested fan would look for in a tribute album; it stays true to the original band and adds value of its own to the music. Even people who are not fans of the band or even the heavier genre would and should enjoy this CD. The only type of person I can even imagine not enjoying this CD would be someone with no appreciation or taste for stringed instruments, and that type of person does not count.

So, listen to the sample mp3s that are so graciously provided, and if you think they sound enticing (which you should), then it is safe to assume you will enjoy the full songs.

The only possible limitation on this tribute is that the Disturbed songs that are used are only from The Sickness and Believe; but that is understandable as this tribute CD can out before Ten Thousand Fists.



My advice, buy it! Expand your passion for instrumental music and show your support for Disturbed on a new level! You have nothing to lose but the money to buy this, and that money will not be spent in vain.

What a breath of Fresh Air! Classical Music, with a dark edge! Baroque at it's best, I must say. Its intensely different from other Tributes because it Stays TRUE To the band and they're style. Very little Differation from the content of the Albums the band as released. You can also tell the FUN the Muscians in this CD had in making it!

Fans for those who not only love Disturbed, but love Hard Rock! Fans for those we are bored with Classical music and looking for something a little more modern.

Enjoy!

You will read some reviews that say that "violins + disturbed = retarted" but the simple fact is that it isn't true. If you enjoy music you will enjoy this. The quartet brings new perpective to an old favorite.

but this is pretty good. I only heard the samples given out by amazon and i want the cd now. this is a pretty cool concept. get it.

holy crap, violins plus disturbed = TOTALLY RETARDED!! geez sring quartet has been ruining other bands musics well! like staind, Linkin Park, System of a down, marilyin Mason(she deserves it) limp bizkit, and incubus to name a few. Holy crap people STOP MAKING THESE FREAKIN BAD CDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!