Rock Band Download Low-Down: Week 34
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 this week is only available as a single download. Each costs 160 Microsoft Points ($2).
"Closer to the Heart" by Rush
WHAT ROCKS: Finally, a master track from Rush. Yes! Better still, this is an excellent choice for the game, with an engaging drum chart, steady guitar, and reasonably challenging bass. And great vocals to top it off. It's not an overly difficult song on any instrument, but it is great fun for all four players.
WHAT SUCKS: It may be a bit too easy for those Rock Band players accustomed to being tested by their favorite prog-rocking Canadians.
FINAL VERDICT: "Closer to reality...closer to being bought!" :-)
"Working Man (Vault Edition)" by Rush
WHAT ROCKS: This bad boy is epic. A master studio cut of the Rush opus that's never been released in any form, it features a different guitar solo than its studio counterpart. After taking a few turns on this version, we started calling it "Working Man: The Hardcore Edition," as the alternate guitar solo is a blast but noticeably tougher than its fraternal twin, while drums are also more challenging, with a different, tougher section near the end. It's still one of the best drum songs in the game, though, and Geddy Lee's bass is still a finger-aching bastard (in a good way). Combined with great vocals, this is one of the overall best songs in the game.
WHAT SUCKS: Odds are, you bought this already when it was first put out as a cover.
FINAL VERDICT: It's different from the cover that was already released, but not so radically different that it's worth buying again if you're satisfied with what you've got and you're not a huge Rush fan, like our own Corey Cohen. So it's a must-buy if you didn't already buy the cover, but if you did, it's probably not worth another $2.
"Snow (Hey Oh)" by Red Hot Chili Peppers
WHAT ROCKS: Killer vocals, and an even more murderous guitar chart. Seriously, in OXM's band (Undead Unicorn), lead guitarist Dan Amrich got slaughtered within the first 8% and eventually had to step down to Hard difficulty. It's not the kind of challenge that makes you want to throw your guitar through your TV, however.
WHAT SUCKS: The axe play may be too difficult for some.
FINAL VERDICT: Another great RCHP tune that gives everyone something to do.
"Tell Me Baby" by Red Hot Chili Peppers
WHAT ROCKS: Flea! Bored bass players had better wake up for this one. Easily one of the toughest -- but best -- bass lines in the game is found here.
WHAT SUCKS: Pretty straightforward on guitar.
FINAL VERDICT: What a week! Four songs, and all of them are good enough on all four instruments to give wholehearted recommendations to.
Related
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FrivolousFry
August 28, 2008 at 11:43pm
This was probably the best week so far for DLC so far. Two of my favorite bands (Rush being my all-time favorite) and a good selection of songs. Now soon as they put "The Spirit of Radio" in Rock Band, I'll be set. Also can't wait for the "Moving Picture's" album. Finally a master of Tom Sawyer and Limelight!
shorty101089
July 15, 2008 at 8:56pm
What's with all of the RHCP haters? I think they're great, and along with Rush for this week's releases, These are four songs that I will easily be picking up. Not to mention that Snow and Tell Me Baby are both fantastic songs in their own right. I think the best part about these releases is that I was just talking to my buddy a couple of weeks ago after Hammerhead was released (which is kick-ass) and I said that they should totally have Snow and Tell Me Baby on here. Lo and Behold! OXM, keep up the great work with reviewing the content, I love your guys' magazine and agree with pretty much everything you put out. On a side note, the little subtitles that you guys have for the pictures in your magazines are the best in the business. They're hilarious. Keep on Rocking guys!
mikefat
July 13, 2008 at 4:59pm
Why aren't they adding new clothes and guitars or even premade dudes so you look like you're playing with the dudes in the bands you're playing with. I mean for the amount of money I've dumped into this game I should get some cool crap with my songs... COME ON ROCK BAND GIVE ME MORE STUFF FOR MY POINTS! mikefat
ill_sue_ya
July 10, 2008 at 6:23pm
rush is great. red hot chili peppers :(. i h8 RHCP. as always i shall end this comment with flaming rockband for having no dragonforce or buckethead and agreeing woth terr0r inc. WHERES DRAGONFORCE?!?!?!?! WHERES BUCKETHEAD?!?!?!?!?! I AGEE WITH TERROR INC!!!
NBA Kirkland
July 10, 2008 at 9:03am
I love Rush and "Closer to the Heart," but I was disappointed that you don't get to play the bells (the ding, ding, ding, ... part of the song) on the drums. Why not? It makes perfect sense and would be very cool.
New Gunslinger
July 09, 2008 at 8:58pm
I can't STAND RHCP. Every song they have boils down to either a faux rap song or a smooth, "jazz" song to entice the ladies. Basically they have two different songs that they wrote multiple lyrics too. Snow (Hey Oh) does rock (and hurt) on guitar though. Rush, on the other hand, ROCKS! Working Man (Vault Edition) in my opinion is totally worth it (if only because the cover sounds nothing like Geddy Lee's awesome Rock howl)! I'll be buying the Rush tracks for sure. Snow may also steal some of my points later on.
yetiman27
July 09, 2008 at 4:01pm
RHCP for life. I can play Snow and Tell me Baby on my real guitar so it was a pleasure to see it in the game, nice.
theanimal58
July 09, 2008 at 3:39pm
I need to go out and get some microsoft points because i am a huge rush fan and this is awesome
zaar757
July 09, 2008 at 3:00pm
Not a big RUSH fan, but original master cuts - gotta love that. The Chili Peppers songs are awesome! I can't handle Snow on anything but Medium...that challenging enough for the rythymically-challenged like me. I'll be saving some points for some classic songs from The Who next week
Allanon6666
July 09, 2008 at 2:55pm
Have to agrre with the guy below me, Youthanasia would be a great choice for the next album, or at least they could give us some tracks from em. And how awesome is the new master tracks of Rush (ok, one master track and one vault edition, but, eh same thing). I can't wait to get home from band camp (3 more weeks, but at least it's fun) so i can download the Rush songs.
Terr0r Inc
July 09, 2008 at 2:41pm
Finally some decent songs. Not the best songs, but very decent. BRING OUT YOUTHANASIA - Megadeth for next album. Simple AND awesome!!
Mitch OXM
July 09, 2008 at 2:30pm
I loathe me some Chili Peppers, but hot damn, do I love Rush! 'Natch.
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