Vitamin's
String Quartet Tribute to Oasis joins the existing canon of symphonic tributes to the Britpop bad boys (most notably from the
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra), performing a cross-section of the combo's biggest hits on two violins, a viola, and a cello. Most of
Noel Gallagher's simple, yet sweeping melodies translate capably to the string configuration, particularly on an elegiac reading of "Supersonic," the gently urgent "Wonderwall," and "Acquiesce." Some of the material isn't as strong ("Go Let It Out," for example), because the players seem to get muddled in emulating the original instead of interpreting it. But the album's still notable for
Oasis-heads, especially since it joins a wealth of similarly-styled tributes from other groups. ~ Johnny Loftus