String Quartet Tribute to the Red Hot Chili Peppers runs through a nice cross-section of the veteran group's catalog, performing the songs instrumentally on violin, viola, and cello. "Higher Ground" sounds better than you might think, the cello working on the rousing bassline as the violins keen on
Anthony Kiedis' vocal line. The quiet hope in "Soul to Squeeze"'s melody is brought to the surface here, and both "Under the Bridge" and "Californication" translate well. The percussion added to "Suck My Kiss" isn't necessary, and the fractured funk of "Can't Stop" doesn't translate. But in its quieter moments, this is another one of Vitamin's string tributes that does its feted group justice while bringing something of its own to the proceedings. ~ Johnny Loftus