Bond is an all-female string quartet that does mostly electric music with heavily produced background. They do some classics, but try to imagine Samuel Barber’s Adaggio for Strings with a disco backbeat. Ick. (They also did a Zep tune which was kind of hip but didn’t really have anything new to say.) Album covers clearly exploit their femeninity.
Well, my wife loves these girls.
I think they have marginal talent but their success is a result of marketing brilliance. Take novelty and sex and pop sounds with classic scores (Beethoven ain’t collecting royalties), and stir.
So whattaya think, talent or hype?
Hate 'em. The classics should not be disco-fied. You want hot chicks doing classical music? Try the Eroica Quartet or Sarah Chang.
I like that string players are getting more mainstream. As for Bond, well… I bought “Shine”. It wasn’t terrible. I put it on when I need ambient music, like when I’m studying. I’m not sad that I spent $11 or whatever on the CD, but I probably wouldn’t buy any of their other stuff.
The concert they did after the first album is brilliant. I saw it on BBCAmerica, but it’s out on DVD.
The first two albums are fine enough, but a bit cold and distant. The range of music is more than just classical, and many of the best cuts are written by the band members or people connected with them.
I don’t know enough about classical strings to judge them on their technique or virtuosity, but remember the huge number of rock musicians who would sound better if they banged their instruments on the ground rather than played them. Bond is more than good enough for my ears.
And their record company in fact censored a nude cover (nothing showing, of course) for the first album.
I think it would be a great trend to have more groups with real musicians making good-sounding music. I know I’m showing my age by saying that, but what the heck.
Most of their stuff is cheesy crap, but they do have a few songs that are toned down enough that I like them. Still, I prefer Apocalyptica by a huge margin.