M2G2
Music to Game to - Shine On
|If you've ever said to yourself, "Man, I wish I could play that song on Rock Band!" you're in the right place. This is a regular article dedicated to putting the spotlight on musicians, specific songs, or even genres so far absent from the music game industry (notably Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and their many-numbered sequels.) I'm absolutely open to suggestions either in comments or messages as well.
You know, I'm surprised that this band is allowed to play at all given the crazy attempts at censorship of other media in Australia. For a place that spawned AC/DC, I have to wonder if the country's trying to make up for the sheer filth and utterly awesome music they fostered. …But this isn't about AC/DC, though this week's band is often compared to them. You probably know them from one or two songs a few years ago that were quite popular, but they've got plenty more that would go well into a music game. It's Jet!
Music to Game to - I'm on the Nightrain!
|If you've ever said to yourself, "Man, I wish I could play that song on Rock Band!" you're in the right place. This is a regular article dedicated to putting the spotlight on musicians, specific songs, or even genres so far absent from the music game industry (notably Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and their many-numbered sequels.) I'm absolutely open to suggestions either in comments or messages as well.
There's just not enough filth in Rock Band. Especially with Lego Rock Band last year, there's been a lot of focus on the more family-friendly music and groups. While it's certainly no active censorship, I get a little twinge whenever I see albums being divided into the "clean" tracks and the dirty. What we need is a band that can go above and beyond the call of duty. A band that can contain music about corruption of youth, alcoholism, escape from police, heroin addiction, the porn industry, masturbation, and various sexual positions. A band that can do all this on a single album with the gall to put in a sincere, loving power ballad to boot. Who else could provide but Guns N' Roses?
Music to Game to - Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood
|If you've ever said to yourself, "Man, I wish I could play that song on Rock Band!" you're in the right place. This is a regular article dedicated to putting the spotlight on musicians, specific songs, or even genres so far absent from the music game industry (notably Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and their many-numbered sequels.) I'm absolutely open to suggestions either in comments or messages as well.
I suppose you're just supposed to trust that indie singers know what the hell they're singing about. Normal people get criticized for using cryptic language and never explaining their metaphors or meaning. Maybe I'm just not hip enough, but I don't think that's fair. Oh well. Anyway, this week's band is a suggestion by a Mr. Altaco of Flaming Lips fame, and goes a step farther towards the abstract. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!
Music to Game to - Ain't That a Shame
|If you've ever said to yourself, "Man, I wish I could play that song on Rock Band!" you're in the right place. This is a regular article dedicated to putting the spotlight on musicians, specific songs, or even genres so far absent from the music game industry (notably Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and their many-numbered sequels.) I'm absolutely open to suggestions either in comments or messages as well.
Ever watched That 70s Show? How about The Colbert Report? I know I like(d) both shows. When they come on, their intro theme songs are really catchy, aren't they? I wonder what group performed them… I'm sure it wouldn't have anything to do with today's musical group. Yeah, probably completely unrelated. Did you take a guess? The group even did a little something for a Super Bowl ad last week. Allow me to remind you: it's Cheap Trick!
Music to Game to - You Got Me In Stitches
|If you've ever said to yourself, "Man, I wish I could play that song on Rock Band!" you're in the right place. This is a regular article dedicated to putting the spotlight on musicians, specific songs, or even genres so far absent from the music game industry (notably Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and their many-numbered sequels.) I'm absolutely open to suggestions either in comments or messages as well.
I know what you're thinking. "Dude, what kind of band is so badass that it gets an image rendered of its members?" I was going to wait until either more information was released about the Left 4 Dead 2 DLC or for a week when I had no time to write a M2G2 (joking), but I want to go on the record for this. I'm going to predict the future here, folks. Gather 'round, gather 'round. Okay, look into the crystal ball. …I'm seeing great success in your future… I'm seeing happiness… I'm also seeing… a fictional band… being imitated with plastic peripherals? It's the… Midnight Riders? Who the hell are they?
Music to Game to - Success, Vol. 1
|If you've ever said to yourself, "Man, I wish I could play that song on Rock Band!" you're in the right place. This is a regular article usually dedicated to putting the spotlight on musicians, specific songs, or even genres so far absent from the music game industry (notably Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and their many-numbered sequels.) I'm absolutely open to suggestions either in comments or messages as well.
Today is a special day for M2G2, because I'm going to be taking note of some of the songs recently put onto both Guitar Hero and Rock Band DLC. What songs, you ask? Oh, I dunno, maybe ones I suggested? I think it's pretty obvious that Neversoft and Harmonix have started listening to my every word and in no way had these tracks lined up before I even started writing. Definitely not. Anyway, thanks Guitar Hero and Rock Band makers for putting up great, new songs! Let's take note of some of the music these guys clearly agree would go great in their games, shall we?
Music to Game to - She Talks to Angels
|If you've ever said to yourself, "Man, I wish I could play that song on Rock Band!" you're in the right place. This is a regular article dedicated to putting the spotlight on musicians, specific songs, or even genres so far absent from the music game industry (notably Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and their many-numbered sequels.) I'm absolutely open to suggestions either in comments or messages as well.
Given that I'm born and raised in the South, I suppose it's a natural affinity to appreciate what is commonly considered "Southern rock". Gregg Allman once said he viewed this as a redundant term, though, like calling it "rock rock". I smile when I hear that, repeating it tongue-in-cheek, but there are certainly strong ties between the roots of rock and the South. I've covered a couple of other groups from this genre, but sometimes it's hard to tie them down with this label. ZZ Top is sometimes considered Southern, but what about Creedence Clearwater Revival? Molly Hatchet, at least, absolutely fits the bill, as do this week's band: The Black Crowes!
Music to Game to - You Gotta Go!
|If you've ever said to yourself, "Man, I wish I could play that song on Rock Band!" you're in the right place. This is a regular article dedicated to putting the spotlight on musicians, specific songs, or even genres so far absent from the music game industry (notably Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and their many-numbered sequels.) I'm absolutely open to suggestions either in comments or messages as well.
I've done another ska band, Less Than Jake, in this series of articles. The genre's top groups have remarkable similarities. Every music video I've seen of this week's group or anything ska has always involved a bunch of people dancing, partying, and having an awesome time! It must be the nature of the music and the sound. In some ways, more ska could be a very good thing, reminding us that a Mighty Mighty Bosstones song in a music game just has to be played for fun!
Music to Game to - Free Radicals
|If you've ever said to yourself, "Man, I wish I could play that song on Rock Band!" you're in the right place. This is a regular article dedicated to putting the spotlight on musicians, specific songs, or even genres so far absent from the music game industry (notably Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and their many-numbered sequels.) I'm absolutely open to suggestions either in comments or messages as well.
You know the bands that are classified as just "rock" only because nothing else can describe them? I always appreciate people sending me ideas, but I'm starting to think I should be a bit wary of what bands you guys suggest for me. I had nothing to go on for this group but their name, and boy did they blow my mind with the zany substance of their music. I have to concede, certainly, that if Rock Band 2 and many games before it can house the like of That Handsome Devil, these guys can play, too. Altaco is the guy behind this suggestion, so I hope he's happy! If you've never heard of them, like me, or even if you do, prepare to be dazzled by The Flaming Lips!
Music to Game to – Best of (the latter half of) '09
|If you've ever said to yourself, "Man, I wish I could play that song on Rock Band!" you're in the right place. This is a regular article dedicated to putting the spotlight on musicians, specific songs, or even genres so far absent from the music game industry (notably Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and their many-numbered sequels.) I'm absolutely open to suggestions either in comments or messages as well.
If you've read at least a few of these articles, you've likely got a few opinions yourself on the groups I selected. I'm sure some were liked more than others, and different people appreciated varying choices. For this edition, I'm picking my absolute favorites from the already filtered selections since I started. These are to represent the very best music that rhythm games have yet to (or are unable to) fully take advantage of. Hopefully we can all appreciate the three songs below as fun additions to any current music game…
