Cellos in Rock

The Christian Science Monitor posts an article about the increasing acceptance of cellos in "jazz, popular, and avant-garde music."

Friedlander points out that rock musicians are becoming more aware of the cello's range and see it as an alternative to the violin, with its folk fiddling or jazz associations. "Because it's not saddled with bluegrass, 'le jazz hot,' or any of those things the violin has, you can put the cello into an indie-rock situation and it doesn't have baggage," says Friedlander, who has performed with indie-rockers such as the Mountain Goats and John Vanderslice.

I quite like cellos in indie rock, where they often fill a void between bass chords and higher-register guitar notes, giving the music a fuller, richer sound. Coincidentally, during my drive to the train station this morning I was thoroughly enjoying Built To Spill's "I Would Hurt a Fly" (from Perfect From Now On), which features a lovely cello part by guest musician John McMahon, whose efforts here provide even greater depth to Built to Spill's already epic work.

(Via Largehearted Boy.)