Rock Band Download Low-Down: Week 46
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 this week’s selection costs 160 Microsoft Points ($2). They are also available as a full album download for 1,600 points ($20).
Blood Sugar Sex Magik by Red Hot Chili Peppers (1992, 16 download tracks)
WHAT ROCKS: There's precious little funk in Rock Band, and the Chilis' funk/rock hybrid of thumping basslines, swinging rhythms, and percussive guitar attacks is as close as you're going to get -- and a good choice to introduce rockers to the genre. Guitarists won't find too many manic solo runs (there are a few), but they will have their hands full with tricky stoccato chord stabs — it's a rhythm player's paradise. Flea's lengendary basslines sparkle even on lower skill levels. For drummers, Hard and Expert offer some delicious complexity, particularly on tracks like "Breaking the Girl" and "Naked in the Rain." Also, it's nice that the album's hit single, "Give It Away" — available on the RB2 disc — slots right in to where it should be when you choose to play the whole album. At 17 tracks, playing the album in order is a hefty setlist!
WHAT SUCKS: On Easy and Medium, drums are largely a snooze. But funk is, by its nature, repetitive; the point is to get into a groove and stay there for a while, exploring the musical space. That makes slower tracks like "Sir Psycho Sexy" absolutely drag in a gameplay setting; "Really?" asked one of our players at the fourth reprise of the ending riff. Tracks like "I Could Have Lied" — cool to chill to when just listening — went nowhere interesting. Even "Under the Bridge" lacked that special something for everyone but the bass player.
FINAL VERDICT: Bassists, you absolutely want this album. Drummers, you only want this if you're good. And since some of the slower jams drag on too long, a full album purchase isn't necessarily the wisest call; you might be better off picking and choosing the tracks that tickle your funky fancy.
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Ministry4390
October 09, 2008 at 5:44pm
Rush DLC has already been reviewed here: http://oxmonline.com/article/features/music-dlc-reviews/rock-band-download-low-down-week-46
revchristj
October 09, 2008 at 8:21am
Why does everyone complain about no reviews, just accept what they give you. If your such a dragonforce fan, buy the darn dlc. I would much rather see a preview of whats to come like I would have waited on RHCP if I knew Offspring and static X were this week. Now i have to wait til next pay day to get "push-it" plus what ever comes out next week. I enjoy the reviews but they don't make or break the dlc, think for yourselfs sheep!!! Praise Manson!
ill sue y4
October 06, 2008 at 7:28pm
put out a review for the rush and dragonforce dlc! you made a big deal about the rush dlc, and then you dont review it. thats ridiculous!!!
Terr0r Inc
October 06, 2008 at 7:13pm
How come it says the album as released in 1992 when it was released on September 24, 1991?
MrMittenz
October 05, 2008 at 1:09pm
found an amazing rock band dlc review site here's link http://www.rbdlc.com/index.php
xpects the xpctd
October 04, 2008 at 1:02pm
I won't bug you about the missed two weeks. I almost bought "Suck my Kiss", but decided to save my few remaining points. I'm waiting for smaller track groups that I like a lot more. Three albums just like that is a little much for my bank account.
ConnorSmith123
October 04, 2008 at 11:20am
I would rather get guitar hero 4 but it's realy expensive :~( If It Moves...Shoot It. http://www.bebo.com/XxSuper_GeekxX http://www.youtube.com/MovieRazor123
MrMischief66
October 04, 2008 at 9:42am
Yeah, where are the missing reviews. They also never reviewed the Dragonforce pack for Guitar Hero 3.
MrMittenz
October 04, 2008 at 5:30am
u guys actually skipped over 2 weeks the megadeth album the rock band live tour pack and then moving pictures and the singles
MrMittenz
October 04, 2008 at 5:27am
why did u skip over moving pictures and all the other singles tht came out on week 44 you just skipped to week 45
DelishusSeagull
October 04, 2008 at 3:03am
why didn't you guys review RUsh's album "Moving Pictures"? week 43 was All that Remains and this is week 44
Allanon6666
October 03, 2008 at 6:48pm
Red Hot Chili Peppers aren't my thing, but just out of curiosity, how come you guys missed like a month of Rock Band DLC?
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