Customer Reviews

The String Quartet Tribute to A Perfect Circle

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

 

 

I'll start by saying that there are parts of this CD that shine. 3 Libras is probably one of the most beautiful songs ever written. Orestes is right up there with it. It would be pretty difficult to screw these up when arranging them to a string quartet, so these are just wonderful. Songs like "The Outsider," however, just sound butchered. The performers try to make it loud and in doing so, it's out of tune and it sounds like a beginner hacking away at their violin. The sound is just ugly and isn't musical at all. Other tracks like "Weak and Powerless" sound like the violin needs to be taken down about two octaves. If you want to know what I'm talking about, think of Mariah Carey singing it. One other thing that drives me nuts on this CD is how the backbeats are replaced. The backbeats, for those of you that are unfamilliar with music terms, is where you would clap your hands to the song. These are replaced by single, loud notes on the cello, and sound like the hacking I mentioned earlier. Overall, though, I absolutely love the idea, but it just has a few shortcomings that make this unpleasant to listen to.

The first time I popped this CD into my player, I was expecting something amazing, being the owner of both of Tool's String Tributes as well as both Mer de Noms and The Thirteenth Step. I was so excited when I found out about this I ran to Circuit City ASAP to see if they had it - of course they didn't so I ordered here. Well, to put it bluntly, it is an amazing album; true thought and ingeniuty must have been put into these arrangements that don't leave out a single instrument - including the drums which are rendered by the contrabass and the violins as snares in songs such as The Outsider and Weak and Powerless. Even the original composition, Tangent, is a good arrangement.

However, there are a few small things that I didn't enjoy. The Noose is ruined by the electronics that can barely be heard on the first verse. The original was such a great song and it was probably the one song I wanted to hear the most, but I was disappointed with it. Also, in Weak and Powerless, after it gets quiet and starts up again, a mild phaser and panner effect are used - not that it doesn't sound neat, but it just kind of takes you by surprise, and for me it was a negative surprise. It does grow on you though.

Other than those two small things, it is an excellent album. Definately buy it if you're hardcore into APC, or even if you're just a casual listener with a keen ear for traditional arrangements.

I've always liked A Perfect Circle. This has got to be one of the best CD's i've heard in a long time. The instrumentation is very precise and is very well done. Hearing my favorite songs through strings is one of the coolest things i've ever heard.
If you don't like classical music, give it a shot anyway. I highly recommend it.

At first, i was hesitant on how i was going to enjoy this cd, but before i knew it, i was singing all the words along..and opera-style at that!
This is a really great cd, it's so beautiful, and delicate, you can feel every ounce of passion, the strings are amazing!
I highly recommend this cd, especially if you are a big fan of the band.

dont know where to start, this album is incredible. i own both a perfect circle albums and this is just as good if not better than the original compositions. the strings are so amazing and bring out the true ambience of this band. just brilliant and worth every penny.

I like the idea of Vitamin String Quartet. I really do, but most of their albums are of the same quality in my opinion each and every time: Their aim for faithful remakes of each artist makes for an awkward listening situation at times.

Granted, there are jewels in this. Orestes, being slow enough for chamber music to begin with, is golden on this album. While I'd redo the beginning of The Hollow on this album with a cello without any accompaniment all the way up to the first lyric measure, I feel with the chorus they got it spot on.

There are songs that have that same problem: they really could work if they'd only subtract and not insist on all four seats blasing. Blue, Judith, and Gravity could do with some subtraction as well. We don't need to hear all four instruments every second.

Unfortunately, songs like The Noose, Magdalena, and The Outsider, even with their desire to be faithful to the source material are far from listenable. These tracks would have done better with more preparation and care. Sometimes you have to break a song to pieces to make it work, and there's not a whole lot of risk on this CD.

If you feel like taking my earlier suggestion (on this as well as VSQ's other albums), use the demo files on Amazon to pick and choose what tracks sound clear to you as preferable songs. (Other ones they shine on: Staind's "Home", Arcade Fire's "Neighborhood #3 (Power's Out)", etc.) If you can pick out what you like, they make a very enjoyable mixtape.

In fact, I recommend they consider that over their whole catalog of tribute CD's... a well-picked CD of their best work could make them a success.

The CD arrived in a cracked case and appeared to have some scratches on it. This may have been from previous use, or it could have been from shipping. However the CD did work correctly after some light cleaning.