Woo-wee-oo, I look just like Stradivarius
Clever punk covers of popular music are not merely a novelty, are a staple of any normal person's life. Be it Saturday morning cartoon shows or 80's pop songs, everyone's favorite little tunes have been paid tribute by some punk or ska band or another.

But a string ensemble? Let's be real! But it is true. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Come on and Kick Me: The String Tribute to Weezer.

Yes, a bunch of people gathered up their string instruments and recorded all-string (mostly) arrangements of some of the best (and unfortunately, the less-best) songs that Weezer has had to offer in their four-album history.

Say it ain't so
So, how does it sound? The Rivers-worshipper in me wants to tell you it flawless. The music critic has to admit; however, that it is hit-and-miss.

I take issue with the direction of the album. The string arrangements seem to play Weezer's songs as they were written on paper, not how they are traditionally performed. I'm not entirely sure the album was actually made by people familiar with Weezer's music; most of the fan-loved, signature inflections from the originals are absent from the string-only recordings

Some of the production choices cheapen the experience as well. The version of "Undone" includes people speaking in the background (like the original) but it takes away from the elegance of the stringed instruments. The "Hash Pipe" rendition sounds sloppy and is barely recognizable. And why on earth include "Glorious Day" and "Knockdown, Dragout" over "Photograph", "Island in the Sun" or Butterfly?"

The red-head said you shred the Cello
Some of the songs translate beautifully, though. "Across the Sea" is just as touching in string-form as the original recording. (The "Pinkerton" songs are easily make the best translation to violin.) The string-arrangements for "Dope Nose" and "Buddy Holly" are delightful little novelties as well.

Yes, "novelty" is probably an accurate way to describe the entire disc. The recording, mixing and over-all production qualities are really only a hair above amateur work and I am over-all disappointed with the effort made by Vitamin records.

No Weezer fan should be without this CD… but maybe everyone else shoud be.