It turns out to be a group called The Vitamin String Quartet, which is part of the larger Vitamin Records. Now Vitamin is an oddity…they seem exclusively to pump out reimaginings of popular music in alternate genres, such as the “String Quartet to Led Zeppelin” (containing the aforementioned songs) and “The Lounge Tribute to Eminem: Chocolate on the Inside.”
I’m conflicted about how to react to all of this.
On one hand, some of the arrangements on their products are very clever, and even enjoyable listens. On the other hand, these albums are pretty much in the same music-industrial flatus category of albums as “Now That’s What I Call Music.” I mean, c’mon! Do we really need an album full of new-agey U2 covers? This is the stuff hold music and grocery store white noise is made of.
You’ll probably get a kick out of Apocalypto – a group of classically trained Finnish cellists who have taken a liking to covering Metallica songs. They are actually VERY good, but it is just hysterical to me to see them headbanging with a cello (4 minutes in).
I think you mean “Apocalyptica” :-)Apocalypto was Mel Gibson’s movie about the Mayan people.But speaking of Apocalyptica, one of my friends (incidentally also named Chris) had the string version of “Nothing Else Matters” as his first dance at his wedding reception, because he and his new bride are both huge Metallica fans. Several of my friends and I thought it was hilarious once we finally recognized what it was.