Customer Reviews

Strung Out On U2 : The String Quartet Tribute

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

 

 

This CD is an interesting illustration of the difficulties some music has when jumping genres. As a U2 fan with a collector's personality I am not unhappy to have this CD on my shelf but it only rarely comes down and usually only to ask someone to "name that tune."

Some of the songs on this CD cross over relatively well (Sunday Bloody Sunday) but others are simply painful to hear (Desire) and for that reason I give this CD 2.5 stars. Technically good but artistically lacking.

Have let this CD sink in on me for the last week, being a fan of U2 and classical string composition I felt that I could get into it. Let me say that this is not one that will remain in the CD rotation, but rather one that will come out when you are in a special mood...if you have a gift certificate pick it up...otherwise hard nosed U2 fans only! s_dennis@hotmail.com

Tribute albums always represent a risk for both the artists involved and the prospective purchaser. Too much interpretation will destroy the connection with the original music and musicians; not enough interpretation and the musicians are simply regurgitating someone else's work. This album straddles that fine line, only slipping occasionally. These are strong, well-educated musicians executing music that is for many of us the backdrop tapestry that has added a painfully and sublimely rich texture and color to our lives. The trouble often comes, in translating pop music through a classically trained musician's hand, when the artists don't have enough experience with the extreme way pop music breathes in time. Occasionally their phrasing sounds stilted, too tight, really, but at others this quartet nails the essence of what drives the music of our Irish brothers. As both a pop and classically trained musician, I applaud their efforts. It's worth a listen, at least, and for those of us whose tastes span the great divide of music, worthy of adding to the collection.

I was intrigued when I saw this CD at the record store and a little apprehensive about the material on it. I was pleasantly surprised by some of the renditions on it. Although some of the songs don't translate well as they could have such as Desire and Bad; I feel they did a phenomenal job on capturing the spirit of the original U2 recordings on Where the Streets Have No Name, With or Without You, Mysterious Ways. The musicians on the album are truly talented and worth a listen to. Definitely better than the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's tribute album, that's much better suited to a performance in your local department store or elevator.

I liked this disc the first time I listened to it. Then it got old. Has no "feeling" in it. Technically good, though.

This album is a wonderful instrumental tribute to U2. The blend of balads, such as "With or Without You" and "All I Want is You" is complemented by powerful versions of "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "New Year's Day." Using only string instruments and occasional percussion, this album does many interesting rendtions. Check out "Desire", which is both funky and passionate, there's some great stuff here.

I thought it was great. I play this album all the time because it mellows me out and the U2 sound just makes me feel even better when it's like this. Where the Streets have no name is the best song on the album. some songs are a little jarring since some of Bono's vocals are dissonant and the violin sound makes it almost earsplitting. but I only experienced discomfort once!

I'd reccomend it anyday!

I love u2, and would consider myself a die hard fan. i have read many reviews, and the general consensus is that it was terrible. i on the other hand, loved it. i thought it was very fun, and quite interesting. the cd is one that i, as well as my whole family, can listen to. if you love u2 or hate u2, there is still a lot of talent on this cd, and it is very good.

Some music does not translate well. For instance, the triumphant marches of John Phillip Souza do not sound good when played on the harp. And the songs from the soundtrack of Barbra Streisand's Yentl lose a certain something when performed by second-graders equipped with nothing but bones and soup.

Yet this sort of infallible logic has been lost on the dunderheads who decided to play the driving rock of U2 on classical string instruments.

For the same reason you don't want to hear La Boheme performed by Yngwie Malmsteen and a heard of famished yaks, believe me, you don't want to hear this album.

Having listened to the symphonic tribute to U2 (and being thoroughly disappointed) I almost didn't pick this up. But I did, and I was not nearly as disappointed. Actually, I was pleasantly surprised. While this CD is definately not for everyone (I imagine there's a lot of U2 fans who will get this simply because they are U2 fans and will only listen to it once), it was not bad. Not bad at all. The string quartet arrangements of the familiar songs had a strange effect -- very eery, weird.

If you like the mood set by Elvis Costello's "Juliet Letters", you'll like this CD.