The String Quartet Tribute To Elton John

String Quartet Tribute to Elton John picks 13 selections from the songwriter's lengthy career and reinterprets them with violin, viola, cello, and guitar. It's interesting that there's no piano here -- like when the violins handle the hesitating chorus of "Bennie and the Jets," or the sighing cello that makes up for the lack of tinkling high notes in "Candle in the Wind." "Tiny Dancer" is a highlight here, as is "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" with its loping pop updating of a blues rhythm. Other standouts include the stately violin lead of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and the weird, almost country arrangement of "Bitch Is Back." The intriguing oddness of the latter makes you wonder what Vitamin's stable of string players could do with "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting." ~ Johnny Loftus, Rovi