Some I agree with, most I don’t. You decide…GameSpy.com: A few days ago, GameSpy brought you the news that MTV planned to have a whopping 5000 songs available for download in the Rock Band store by the end of 2009. While that claim has since been dismissed and debunked by the folks at Harmonix, it got us thinking about the songs we’d most like to see the next time we decide to pop into Rock Band’s virtual storefront. Keep in mind that all of these entries are simply the opinion of the editor that wanted them and that, as you’ll see as you read on, we generally have terrible taste in music.
After reading our suggestions, be sure to head into the forums or down to the comment section to let us know what tunes you’d want to play!
Iron Maiden: “Hallowed Be Thy Name” — You could easily do two or three albums from the metal legends, but for now, I’d be thrilled with this epic.
Our Lady Peace: “One Man Army” — How is it possible that Rock Band still has no OLP? You could do entire albums from these guys.
Dixie Chicks: “Lubbock or Leave It” — Who’s got two thumbs and knew “Sin Wagon” would be a huge hit with the Rock Band crowd? This guy. “Lubbock” needs to be next.
David Lee Roth: “Tobacco Road” — “Eat ‘Em And Smile” really needs a full album release, but this would be both a great party song as well as a challenging expert guitar tune with all of Steve Vai’s shredding.
Muse: “Absolution” — Yes, the whole album. We don’t have anywhere near enough Muse in either Rock Band or Guitar Hero and “Absolution” would be the best place to start.
Will Tuttle, Console Editor in Chief
The Band: “The Weight” — When playing Rock Band, I love to sing more than anything, and I don’t think it gets any better than this.
Radiohead: “Jigsaw Falling Into Place” — If I have to hear someone sing “Creep” again, I’m going to jam a pencil in my ear. I’d love to sing to just about any Radiohead song (”No Surprises” in SingStar is awesome), but I’ve listened to this song at least once a day since In Rainbows was released.
Priestess: “I Am The Night, Colour Me Black” — It was great to see “Lay Down” in Guitar Hero III, but this song rocks so much harder, and I hope the day comes when I can shred my vocal cords trying to pull off Mikey Heppner’s howl.
Pearl Jam: “Corduroy” — For my money, lead singers don’t get much better than Eddie Vedder. This song is a perfect example of his voice’s range, alternating between a gravelly howl and a mellow simmer. If I can’t get this, how about “Elder Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town.” Hearts and thoughts they fade, fade awaaaaaay…
Styx: “Renegade” — I honestly have no idea why I love this song so much, but I would sing it every day for the rest of my life if I could. Maybe it’s because I’m in fear for my life from the long arm of the law.
Public Enemy featuring Anthrax: “Bring the Noize” — Bass! How low can you go? How low indeed, Chuck?
The Smiths: “How Soon is Now” — I was so sure that Bryn was going to include this song on his list that I originally left it off. Since he didn’t for some reason, I’m going to pounce on it. There’s something cathartic about wailing “I am human and I need to be looooooooooved, just like everybody else does.”
The Rolling Stones: “Bitch” — Okay, so this is just about the only song on my list that I’d rather play instruments to, rather than singing. This hook is just too amazing to pass up.
Queens of the Stone Age: “First It Giveth” — Although “Go with the Flow” is by far my favorite song on Songs for the Deaf, I’d love to sing and play guitar on this one. Also excellent: “Feel Good Hit of the Summer” off of their Rated R album. C-c-c-c-c-c…
The Misfits: “All Hell Breaks Loose” — Some Misfits songs might just inspire me to take the plastic guitars out of storage. I Love “All Hell,” but I’d be hyped to see any, really, so long as they’re not post-Danzig Misfits.
The Dead Boys: “Sonic Reducer” — I found that I only typically play Rock Band when I’m, how should I say, a little outside of myself. Knowing what I like when I’m in the “Rock Band state,” I think this Dead Boys classic fits the bill perfectly.
Iggy and the Stooges: “Gimme Danger” — This achy, strung-out ballad is one of my all-time favorite songs. I’d pick up a plastic guitar to play it, so long as it isn’t a cover!
Black Flag: “Clocked In” — I just think the irony of EA being involved in publishing the anthem to workplace rage and corporate alienation would be pretty brilliant.
Joy Division: “Shadow Play” — The spare, yet omnipresent bassline and haunting guitar would probably make this fun to play. Also, it would be fun to see Bryn moaning out the lyrics.
Gerald Villoria, Console Editor
Stan Bush: “The Touch” — Is this the greatest movie theme ever from the greatest movie ever? Quite possibly. There’s not much that will get me more pumped than listening to this classic from the 1986 “Transformers” movie. You got the touch! You got the poweeeeeeeeeeeeer! Best of all, Stan Bush actually wants to get the original master recording of his biggest hit into the hands of the Rock Band or Guitar Hero teams. Make it happen!
Muse: “Time is Running Out” — This song was absolutely made for Rock Band. The funky, infectious bass line should be a blast for me to play when I’m paired up with a superior little plastic guitarist. Hysteria was great, but it’s time for some more Muse, and their breakthrough hit is the perfect choice.
Iron Maiden: “Caught Somewhere in Time” / “Aces High” / “Hallowed Be Thy Name” — If there’s a Guitar Hero: Metallica edition, then there would be no justice in this world without a similar game that pays homage to Iron Maiden. I’d like to see Rock Band compete for the heavy metal audience, and offering up these three tracks (three of my favorites) would be a great place to start.
Bryn Williams, Editorial Manager
Bauhaus: “Ziggy Stardust” — This classic Bowie tune was pwned by my favorite goth legends and gives ample opportunity to bust out some great guitar solos and vocals.
Jimi Hendrix: “All Along the Watchtower” — The incredible psychedelic guitar work in this awesome tune has had me begging for this to be added to the archives for a long time.
The Macc Lads: “Sweaty Betty” — Being a Brit, there’s nothing I’d like to see more than Britain’s most hideously offensive ’80s rock band get some love. It’ll never happen in a million years, but if it did, I’d be stoked. Not safe for work.
Creedence Clearwater Revival: “Looking Out My Back Door” — My personal associations with this awesome choon and “The Big Lebowski” make this an absolute must-have for Rock Band. The dude abides.
Faith No More: “Woodpecker from Mars” — You can never have enough FNM, and this bass-slapping rock-fest would be perfect for those crazy-long note streaks.
Sterling McGarvey, Console Editor
The Misfits: “Hybrid Moments” — One of my favorite punk tunes of all time, and thanks to its short length, it’s party-perfect. You know how someone calls “next” on some instrument, but they’re suddenly stricken with a bathroom trip? Three minute-songs are a solution I can get behind to keep the fun moving.
Jefferson Airplane: “White Rabbit” — Your girlfriend can take on Grace Slick. It’s a classic. Seriously, do you need any more explanation for this one?
Blur: “Girls & Boys” — To paraphrase the Sith Lord, “I find your lack of Blur disturbing.” Years after the war between Blur and Oasis ended, those Gallagher wankers have way too many songs in both Rock Band and Guitar Hero World Tour. There’s no justice in the world, I tell you.
The Roots feat. Cody ChestnuTT: “The Seed 2.0″ — Here’s an opportunity to put some non-Beastie Boys hip-hop into Rock Band without using some shitty nu-metal band. If you ask me, The Roots are long overdue for at least one track in these games, and this one’s perfect. For God’s sake, Cody ChestnuTT says he’d name his daughter Rock n’ Roll!
The Darkness: “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” — It’s the sonic equivalent of cheesecake. I hope it shows up soon.
Nothing from Nickelback. Ever. I don’t care if people think I’m a music snob. I don’t care if it’s millions on potential lost revenue. Fallout Boy was bad enough. No.
Allen Rausch, PC Associate Editor
Led Zepplin: “Immigrant Song” — The prospect of watching people tie themselves into knots trying to sing this monstrously difficult song just thrills me to no end. We come from the land of the ice and snow to rip your throat raw.
Isaac Hayes: “Truck Turner” — Lots of stuff going on here for everyone to play and sing and, really, who couldn’t use more funk in their lives? It’s also way less obvious than the theme from “Shaft.”
Eagles: “Hotel California” — While this isn’t a song that would require intricate drum or bass work, this is just a fun song to sing — as evidenced by the hordes of people who do so really loudly in their cars.
Alabama 3: “Woke Up This Morning” — The “Sopranos” theme song is a great track in its own right with a fun bass groove, but it’s also a real challenge to sing with lots of little asides and a sort of pseudo-rap segment right in the middle.
Rush: “Xanadu” — Okay singers, sit your butts down for a good five minutes — and when you do get back in, it’s a pretty simple song. There’s lots of great stuff for the instrumentalists to go off on for the 12 minutes or so this song can last.
Austin Lounge Lizards: “Highway Cafe of the Damned” — A great lead guitar track (actually a banjo so get ready to twist your fingers into knots) and absolutely hilarious lyrics.
Austin Lounge Lizards: “Put the Oak Ridge Boys in Prison” — Another fun song to sing that mocks a troupe of “musical criminals” both lyrically and musically, with lots of great stuff for lead guitar. Heck, there’s a ton of great bluegrass music out there that’d be awesome for Rock Band.
Elvis Presley: “Jailhouse Rock” — One of the King’s zippiest little numbers that’s a ton of fun to play and sing. “Bugs turned to Henny and he said Nix Nix. Gonna stick around. I’m gonna get my kicks!”
Living Colour: “Cult of Personality” — Easily the best song ever sung by a man wearing neon yellow bicycle shorts. Okay, maybe the fashions of the ’80s should be forgotten, but this is still a great song.
The Trashmen: “Surfin’ Bird” — Don’t you know that the bird is the word? Just ask Peter Griffin.
James Brown: “Say it Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud)” — Wow. Every time I hear this I realize how utterly irreplaceable James Brown really was.
