The String Quartet Tribute to Nirvana presents instrumental, string-quartet arrangements of nine of
Nirvana's most resonant songs. "Rape Me," "Come as You Are," and "Penny Royal Tea" are all given the treatment, with the arrangements for violin, viola, cello, and bass sticking pretty close to the originals, minus
Kurt Cobain's acerbic vocals. The songs retain their mood anyway, even if the violins can't help being pretty and the verse-chorus-verse format grows tiresome after a while. It's interesting how effective the version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is. An epochal song, it nonetheless loses more vitality with every incessant spin on modern rock radio. So it's a credit to the chamber musicians here that they are able to imbue it with a depth of feeling that's both mournful and anthemic, without sounding as hackneyed as the original often unfortunately does. ~ Johnny Loftus