Rock Band Download Low-Down: Week 32
Each week we’ll run out onto our website stage like roadies and review the latest Rock Band Downloadable Content. Check back every week! (And click here for all of our previous music DLC reviews.)
*NOTE: Each of the songs in the Pixes' Doolittle album and Weezer Pack 01 costs 160 Microsoft Points ($2). Doolittle is also available as a full album for 1520 Microsoft Points ($19) and the Weezer Pack is 540 Microsoft Points ($5.50).
The Pixies -- Doolittle (15 tracks total including "Wave of Mutilation," which is included on the Rock Band game disc)
WHAT ROCKS: Drums and guitar on "Monkey Gone to Heaven" are fairly enjoyable.
WHAT SUCKS: By and large, this album is simply boring. Each of the parts is mostly uninteresting and repetitive (many of the songs even have the same basic drum pattern), capped off by the single worst track in the game, "Silver." Featuring a whopping 71 notes on Expert bass and just over 100 on drums. These parts aren't just easy, they're snooze-inducing (click the link, you've got to see it for yourself). But at least you can easily get the 100% upstrum expert bass and 100% expert drum achievements if you still need them. Oh, and the price point may seem reasonable for 14+1 tracks, but when the songs are mostly two or two-and-a-half minutes each, you're not actually getting more gameplay than any of the previously released $15 albums.
FINAL VERDICT: This disc may be on Rolling Stone magazine's Top 500 albums of all-time list, but it is the single worst one to release for Rock Band thus far. In the context of the game (always the key point to remember), none of the parts are all that fun, especially at this asking price.
--
Weezer Pack 01
WHAT ROCKS: Of the three -- "Dreamin'," "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived," and "Troublemaker" -- the latter is the highlight, featuring an easy-but-fun guitar and bass line to go along with the best vocals of the trio.
WHAT SUCKS: Like the Pixies album also released this week, the new "Red Album" Weezer songs are simply dull and repetitive -- and nowhere in the same league as the band's other tracks released for download thus far, "Buddy Holly" and "El Scorcho." Go download those instead.
FINAL VERDICT: This pack caps off an unexpectedly lousy week for Rock Band fans.
Related
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Pazuzu
July 06, 2008 at 9:49am
a great album for Rock Band would be Pearl Jam's Ten. Even Flow, Why Go, Alive, Jeremy- all great songs.
Tweaky_Chipmunk
July 03, 2008 at 6:42am
The best song (imo) for the drums in the Pixies pack is Debaser. That song was the only one I enjoyed. For the Weezer songs: I enjoyed all of them, most likely because I'm a huge fan. I liked how they changed tempo in their songs, it's fun to be surprised.
Pazuzu
July 01, 2008 at 4:51pm
again, I love the Pixies and was actually wondering who decided on this verdict in the OXM staff, so thanks Paul and Dan. Also, Weezer is alright- i really like Pork and Beans and i wish that was here.
TheGrubber
June 30, 2008 at 7:38pm
Honestly Paul, I personally agree that the Pixies are some decent music. That being said, it's not the right kind of music for rock band, in my opinion. It's too repetitive (as previously stated). Whether I like to listen to the band or not, doesn't really play into how the music is translated into an interactive video game. In this case it just doesn't do it for me. And as for Weezer. Le sigh.
Paul OXM
June 30, 2008 at 12:50pm
For me anyway, 99% of how much I enjoy playing Rock Band song comes from how big a fan I am of the tune itself.
Dan OXM (not verified)
June 30, 2008 at 12:46pm
I hate to admit it...but I was part of the crew playing these songs, and they didn't resonate with me either. I love Weezer; I have no prior experience with the Pixies. It might be fine music in an of itself, and maybe it's even better as nostalgia, but I actually do support these verdicts. I was bored playing them and wouldn't spend the money.That said, I'd like to listen to the whole album again in a non-interactive context. My qualm wasn't so much with the music as the context -- I didn't like it like this. And maybe I'll play them over at Paul's house and it will all become clear when his Pixies love bubbles over and fills the room.
And while I am an enormous Weezer fan, I would not recommend downloading "El Scorcho," either.
TTL Jericho
June 30, 2008 at 10:31am
Paul is a very wise man. For those interested in the Pixies, put loudQUIETloud (a film about the Pixies) in your netflix cue. http://loudquietloud.com/
Paul OXM
June 30, 2008 at 9:57am
We always sign these reviews as "OXM Staff"...which leaves me no choice but to remove myself from that group for this week! :) The Pixies songs are absolutely brilliant. Clearly, the "OXM Staff" should be strapped to their chairs and forced to listen to Ashlee Simpson on repeat until their musical taste corrects itself out of self-preservation.
TTL Jericho
June 30, 2008 at 7:57am
Doolittle is not just on the RS top 500, the album is one of the seminal albums in modern rock. Kurt Cobain wasn’t joking when he said Nirvana was ripping off the Pixies. Debasser is one of the most fun songs to play on Rock Band (IMO), right up there with Cherub Rock. And the chance to sing some Black Francis lyrics? Golden. Crackity Jones? Awesome sauce. Where’s my gun? Oh baby. Maybe Ryan is just too young to appreciate the Pixies. Dan, what’s your take on these?
clarkbar24
June 30, 2008 at 7:08am
Boo to your Boo! For fans of music that isn't a chip off the old black, "Doolittle" represents a breath of fresh air from the tireless metal tracks that--take about repetitive--aren't remotely interesting to anyone who truly enjoys music. Don't let these reviews get you down, Rock Band People. Let's see some more ballsy choices. The New Pornographers' "Twin Cinema" or The Hold Steady's "Boys and Girls in America." You'll find more new fans that you could ever mine released AC/DC or Zeppelin.
ill_sue_ya
June 29, 2008 at 11:18pm
well i agree with whoever said "more metal". but how could you sat earache thrash pack 01 was boring? after 30 times thrasher is still hell on guitars. metallica and anthrax would do nicely.
IHaveNoGamertag
June 29, 2008 at 6:11pm
Where the heck is 'Pork and Beans'? Like seriously, Weezer's new single is missing wtf? Though you guys seem to have forgotten the singing in the Weezer songs, whether on Rock Band or just listening those are always the parts of Weezer I like the most.
BGG001
June 29, 2008 at 2:59pm
I know I'm gonna get flamed for this but I say they need some more metal. The only 2 metal packs (other than Judas Priest's Screaming for Vengeance) was Metallica and Earache Thrash Pack...and Earache Thrash Pack couldnt have been any more boring after you play them 5 times.
Purp1eHayes
June 28, 2008 at 10:14am
Wow... just wow. I seriously thought that this weeks DLC was almost the best ever. Given the general unpredictability of the Pixies songs, along with the constant rhythm and temp changes in the Weezer songs, I don't see how they could be considered repetitive at all. In fact, "Troublemaker" and "MGTH" are probably two of the more straightfoward of the bunch. "Silver" had to be included so the album could be complete, but yeah, that one was pretty bad. Still think that this grade was wayyyy off the mark. "Hell Yes" for both packs in my book.
Pazuzu
June 28, 2008 at 9:59am
Seriously, where is Who's Next and Nevermind?? We've been waiting for these albums before Rock Band came out! Ok, Mitch.... What?
Mitch OXM
June 28, 2008 at 1:01am
@Pazuzu - Oh, hey there buddy. I haven't played the Pixies tracks, and as much as I like the Pixies - which, honestly, isn't a lot. I like them but I'm "getting in to them" - I agree that they'd be some boring ass tunes to play. The bass is super groovy on EVERY track, but it's so repetitious and simple.
Lando81
June 27, 2008 at 7:23pm
WHA?!?!? Are You Kidding Me? The Greatest Man That Ever Lived is definatly in my top five favorite weezer songs and the other songs are also good! I thought you guys liked weezer?
ill_sue_ya
June 27, 2008 at 6:46pm
buckethead! metallica! michael angelo batio! where are you!!!!????!?!?!?!?! led zepplin AC/DC plz k thx lol
CashWheel
June 27, 2008 at 3:09pm
What the crap is Ronald McDonald doing in that "El Scorcho" video?
Pazuzu
June 27, 2008 at 1:55pm
Yeah, i agree that the pixies songs can be boring to play alone, but with all four instruments they rock! Also, i love the pixies, so it's hard for me not to like these songs.
instantdeath999
June 27, 2008 at 1:28pm
I am a Pixie fan, so needless to say I enjoyed that album. As for Weezer, I thought Troublemaker was very catchy.
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