The String Quartet Tribute To Phish Vitamin Records by Corey J. Feldman Studies claim that exposure to classical music can increase a child’s capacity to perform cognitive skills, leading to a more intellectual adulthood. One must ponder the prospective effects though, on the infant who is weaned on A String Quartet Tribute to Phish. A fresh cut from the prolific Vitamin Records, A String Quartet to Tribute Phish is just one of a boatload of instrumental retakes on classic albums.

Formed in Los Angeles in 1999 to provide music lovers with high quality string quartet tributes to major pop and rock artists, Vitamin's mission is to offer fans exciting versions of their favorite songs performed in new musical contexts. Through the label's first album, The String Quartet Tribute to Led Zeppelin, as well as through lounge tributes to Ani DiFranco and Outkast and recent electronic explorations of the music of Tool and Kraftwerk, Vitamin has offered something to everyone among the label's 185 releases to date.

I couldn’t ask for a better introduction to Vitamin’s eclectic catalogue – a compilation of songs from the legendary artists who have fueled my own musical ambition. The tribute begins with “Cavern”, the title track off Picture of Nectar. This version of the song just goes to show that lyrics don’t need to make sense: “Give the director a serpent deflector/A mudrat detector, a ribbon reflector/A cushion convector, a pitcher of nectar/A virile dissector, a hormone collector.” It’s just a melody!

After a few listens, I'm convinced that “Enjoy Myself”, “Divided Sky”, and “The Squirming Coil” were all originally meant to be string quartets. The arpeggiatic harmonies and melodies make for a soothing neo-classical experience. “Julius” and “Down With Disease”, the first two energetic tracks off Hoist, are both satisfying; yet they are darker than I expected them to be. “Billy Breathes” and “Farmhouse” seem like staples for this album, as they are both elegant and unique in their arrangement. Listeners may be more able to appreciate the brilliance of the music if they are already familiar with the original Phish songs. Nonetheless the music is an interesting experience, regardless of song identity. With little or no knowledge of the Phish repertoire, some of the songs may sound repetitive or dreary at points, though those very points are true bliss for a diehard fan.

“Rift” is the best track on the album. It begins with the same bluegrass feel as the original, but the violins sound more like square-dance fiddles. “Rift” may seem like an incredulous choice, but believe it. “Rift” made the album worthwhile for me. Only string instruments could give it the original, raw feel while still reinventing the song.

The only reservation is that the album is not mastered to perfection. I listened to Trey’s solo album Seis de Mayo in context, and I find that the Quartet’s trebles and highs are turned too far up at moments, causing the violin tone to become slightly piercing. This is not an album to be listened to with the windows closed.