Search - Tribute to Guns N'roses :: String Quartet Tribute to Guns N'roses

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grmpysmrf | California | 11/21/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"If your expecting complete GnR songs you are going to be disappointed, like myself. All the covers just take the lyrical medley and some of the key riffs from the songs and then improvise the rest.

Since I had heard other quartets like Torn Tally (TOOL COVERS) and Apocalyptica (METALLICA COVERS) the bar was set extremely high, especially after hearing Apocalyptica blaze through the solos on Metallica's song ONE! I don't think Angry String Orchestra covers any GnR solos completely.They play the parts of the solos they can and then just improvise for the parts they can't play. It's very disappointing.

For Example they sort of get the first solo down for November Rain but then come to the second solo and they just repeat the first solo instead of playing the notes that are supposed to be played and finally at the end of November Rain the end solos are SLOWED WAAAAAAAAY down. Come to think of it, I think the tempo of all the songs covered are slowed waaay down. There is NO solo for Don't Cry and the solo for Sweet Child O' Mine is the Viola player just running the same scale over and over again.

I bought this album because I'm a big GnR fan and because when I saw the guy in the video "The Making of November Rain" with his viola jam the end solos to November Rain on it, I knew orchestral versions of GnR songs would sound badd-ass. Unfortunately, this group didn't recruit that guy with his viola to play on this album. This album falls WAAAAY short of what it could be.

Maybe GnR Fans will get lucky and Apocalyptica or Torn Tally will cover some GnR Songs (especially November Rain) and play them correctly instead of just following the lyrical medley and some of the keys riffs. I think the Sweet Child O' Mine solo would sound incredible on a viola or cello. Until then one can only hope.

Sincerely,

grmpysmrf"

Good CD That Only Empowers The Essence Of The Great Band

Slica | 01/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Very Interesting CD. I was worried when someone surprised me with it, that it would be cover songs with some modern punk rock band ruining these songs. To my surprise, it only added to the legendary band's legacy, by emphasizing on the music behind each song. I will warn you though...Guns N Roses is my 3rd favorite band (behind Nirvana and Faith No More), and I also like classical music...



Let me go over each song...and for the record, none of these songs had pieces cut out like some people mentioned in previous reviews...and the CD totals 1 Hour and some odd seconds, so these songs are pretty much extended versions of the original versions.



1. Welcome To The Jungle - Very interesting track, very strange at first, but once it hits the 'In the jungle...welcome to the jungle' part, it makes the early part blend very well...this is by no means the viscious song we're used to hearing, but its well done, and very smooth.



2. Sweet Child O Mine - Beautiful, like the usual version...pretty much the regular version without words, and using violins...but its very addictive...I love this one.



3. Knockin On Heaven's Door - Easily my least favorite on this CD, despite the fact I love this song's real version...this just proves that this particular song was carried by Axl's voice, because I sorely missed it.



4. Paradise City - Interesting, and high pitched...kinda like Welcome To The Jungle---Violins with pizazz---I honestly don't know how to describe this one...my favorite part of the original version is the 'So far away' part, which is done even better on here...but as a whole, its ok...im not obsessed with the real version of the song anyways



5. Dont Cry - Beautiful. Fantastic. This song could melt, and still be a fine sculpture. This is my favorite Guns N Roses song, and just as good on this cd. It plays so awesome that you really can just feel the words going along with it, despite the lack of singing.



6. November Rain - Overall very well balanced. I prefer the real guitar solos over the violins, but its still well done...and definitely not disappointing. Another song you can just feel the words playing along with it...#5+6 easily capture the emotions of their originals.



7. Live And Let Die - A little tourette's to me...has a little jump in the famous guitar riff (or violin riff in this case)...honestly dont care for it on the cd...and its merely ok to me original-wise. This song doesn't get hurt or anything, so if you like the original, imagine it slower...simple as that.



8. Mr. Brownstone - Very odd choice, IMO (You Could Be Mine, Rocket Queen, Its So Easy probably should of took its spot)...but still well done. Again, not obsessed with the original version...but this is still well done and rivals it...I would prefer this version a little more, because it adds a little pizazz (or jumpyness...hyperness...i dunno)



9. Yesterdays - Beautiful. This version mainly has the music replacing the words (another words you dont hear that basketball bouncing type of sound or whatever) They dont overdo it, and once again, its one you could feel the words along with it...



10. Patience - I miss the whistling, but they try to replace it...another song where the music replaces the words (or another words the music plays as if it were the words to the song)...very well done, but i didnt care for the little jump to end the song (imagine the three stooges for a second...and after the theme song is over it has a little 'dunhhh'...thats what I mean by a little jump)...I still like this version though



11. 14 Years - Awesome. It has a spiffyness that kinda gives you a little adrenaline or motivation to do something while listening to it. I dunno...I just like it. The speed transition from being upbeat to slowing up is done perfectly...I love it.



12. Civil War - Another one where you could sing alone easily...slowed up, but has the most emotion of the cd put into it. On paper it wouldn't look like a perfect song to end the cd with, but it actually works really well.



Overall, I love this CD



Top 5 Would Be:

1. Dont Cry, 2. 14 Years, 3. Yesterdays, 4. Sweet Child O Mine, 5. November Rain



No weak song, and none that are clearly dusted by their originals...but I do feel Live And Let Die and Knockin On Heavens Door were not as good...the rest are right up there, if you feel like listening to them, but dont feel like headbanging...I realize a lot of people love Guns N Roses for their viscious rock (Welcome To The Jungle being the obvious song)...if thats what you're looking for...it aint happening here...this is just an upbeat CD that captures emotions from these songs...great to listen to int he daytime while driving"

Left a lot to be desired

S. Ward | Tampa, FL United States | 12/11/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Love GNR, would love alternative versions of their music but this is a wimpy attempt. And dont be snookered into buying both CDs -- they share a handful of the same songs. November Rain is the best of the bunch -- no duh -- it was already an orchestral piece. Very disappointed.

"