It's not been that long since I did a Tenology post but it's been an entire year since I did one of these specific posts! 2016 was a shitshow and let's face it, 2017 wasn't that much better. It may have been an amazing year for video games (the best since 2009, in my opinion) but it's been a bit weak for Rock/Metal albums. Most of the albums I've reviewed from this year have been average or weak with only a few standout strong entries but fortunately, there have been several brilliant album tracks and singles to list here.
As I've done in the past, this post isn't a reflection of the Top 10 songs of the year ranked according to sales, fan reception or even my personal opinion. Yes, I've chosen these songs based on my opinion and taste but I'm not listing them in any particular order. They're just ten songs I liked more than anything else I heard this year. If I've missed anything that you think I'd like or should at least draw attention to in the Honourable Mentions section later on, feel free to leave a comment or message me via Twitter.
But now it's time to find out which songs I enjoyed this year in between playing video games and being depressed!
1. "La Dee Da" - Foo Fighters
One of the big album releases this year was Concrete And Gold - Foo Fighters. If you didn't read my review of it, all you really need to know is it's terrible. It's a tepid affair full of bland, easily forgettable material...except the one track that stands out. "La Dee Da" is a fast paced proper Rock song that blows all the cobwebs of boredom formed by the gloomy Alternative dirge away. Granted it comes in the middle of the album so those cobwebs form again pretty quickly but it's still the highlight of the record and, in a year where great music was somewhat lacking, it's enough to make this list.
2. "She's $$$" - Kenny Wayne Shepherd
I feel like each year has to have at least one really good Blues Rock number and 2017 is no exception. Kenny Wayne Shepherd provided us with a track that took the rhythmic foundations of "Call Me The Breeze" - J.J. Cale and added some fancy instrumental sections, heavier percussion and new lyrics before presenting us with a catchy tune to tap your feet to. I'll even excuse the seemingly pointless use of "$$$" in the title when "She's Money" would've looked much better!
3. "Nowhere" - Cheap Trick
No, this isn't a track off Cheap Trick's mediocre Christmas album. It's off another album they released this year entitled We're All Alright that I neglected to review or even listen to. There may be better songs off the album but this one's not half bad. It's a punchy number that harks back to their early days as a rough-edged Rock outfit before they turned up the charm and churned out Dream Police. It's only a short tune but it's still an enjoyable one!
4. "Heavy Fire" - Black Star Riders
Whilst my favourite song off the latest Black Star Riders album came out last year, "Heavy Fire" is a close second which makes it number one for this year. It opens up with a thunderous riff before the rest of the band explode onto the scene and it only gets better from there. This is the kind of song that opens live shows with all guns blazing and I don't just mean shows promoting this album; this could be one of the band's most badass songs! It's just a shame they had to slow things down with an awkward middle section before bringing it back around with a heavy reprise but hey, at least they got 2/3 of the song spot on!
5. "Who's The (Bat) Man" - Patrick Stump
I'm not sure whether this technically counts (as it was a track on the soundtrack for The Lego Batman Movie) but since it functions as a song, I'm including it. Plus it's arguably heavier/more awesome than the majority of tracks in this post! If you haven't seen The Lego Batman Movie, it opens with an action scene involving Batman fighting all of his villains whilst rocking out to his Let's Go Nuts mix, featuring this song that he sings and apparently plays the guitar solo for too. It amplifies everything great about the scene in a way that's not only hilarious but also pretty damn epic, if you'll pardon the term. But here's the biggest surprise: the song is credited to Patrick Stump, lead vocalist/guitarist for Fall Out Boy. Yeah, the frontman for Fall Out Boy had this material up his fucking sleeve but instead resorts to whiny Emo shite for fake tattoo-sleeve wearing twelve year olds.
6. "The Last Song For My Resting Place" - Black Country Communion
I've heard a few decent Black Country Communion tracks but I'm making the active decision to not get into them on account of my personal hatred for Glenn Hughes. From what I hear, it's not just me who has a problem with him as Black Country Communion previously called it quits after a dispute between Glenn and guitarist, Joe Bonamassa. However, since then, they've decided to patch things up and record another album which speaks volumes about Joe's ability to forgive as there's no reason he needs to pause his solo career just to appease an egotistical tosser who's desperately trying to prove he's as talented as he thinks he is. Anyway, I listened to the album recently and it's passable at best. There are a couple of solid tracks including "The Crow", a song that shamelessly rips off "Bulls On Parade" - Rage Against The Machine but gets a pass from me purely because they made that RATM track better. However, "The Last Song For My Resting Place" is easily the highlight. It's an eight-minute emotional powerhouse that puts Glenn exactly where he needs to be; right at the back propping up a much more talented vocalist/musician (Joe Bonamassa) with bass and backing vocals.
7. "The Way You Used To Do" - Queens Of The Stone Age
The Foos weren't the only big American Rock band to release a new album this year! Queens Of The Stone Age delivered a new record with heavy Pop influences but still firmly in the Rock genre (review here). This song was the lead single and is probably the most enjoyable track out of the bunch, even if there are other tracks that are decent too. Josh Homme's guitarwork is relatively simplistic but when paired with the catchy rhythm, it's enough to carry the song from start to finish. I was torn between this track and "The Evil Has Landed", as that's another strong tune from Villains, but I went with this purely because I've found myself wanting to listen to it more than anything else off the album this year.
8. "(She Don't) Gimme No Lovin'" - King King
OK, this song would never top conventional Best Rock Songs Of 2017 lists on account of it being a little uninspired compared to some of the singles released this year but that's part of what makes it enjoyable. It's a good old fashioned Hard Rock track that sounds like it's cherry picked elements of Rock's biggest artists from the 70s and 80s, much like the song from School Of Rock that combined elements from AC/DC tracks to make an all-round crowd pleaser for kids and adults alike. This song feels like that without becoming tame so here it is!
9. "Taking The Blame" - Inglorious
From a paint-by-numbers "Rock" song to this hellraiser, Inglorious have good track record with fast paced, high octane Hard Rock so I wasn't surprised to hear another belter from them this year. I should really check their two albums out but for now, we're all presumably in the same boat of not really knowing an awful lot about them. Fans of my blog will know I'm a sucker for Riff-Based-Rock that doesn't take prisoners so "Taking The Blame" well and truly belongs on my list, although I'd like to give a special shout out to Phil Beaver for some cracking percussion in this song.
10. "Buccaneers Of Hispaniola" - The Darkness
Well shit, I've done it again. I've left my favourite song until last even though I said I wasn't going to do any kind of ranking. Pinewood Smile was easily my favourite album of the year and out of all the songs I loved on it (believe me, there were several I was tempted to include), "Buccaneers Of Hispaniola" is the one I played most of all. Opinions on falsetto singing and comical lyrics aside, The Darkness have proven in the last couple of years that they know how to record a bitchin' tune when they want to and that's exactly what this song is. It's loaded with heavy riffs, sweet solos and awesome vocals. It's the kind of song that wouldn't sound out of place blasted from the heavens as you stormed into the most epic of battles and even though I would probably prefer it a little more if I could slightly tweak the outro vocals (where Justin sings "BUUUH, BUUUH, BUH-BUH, BUH, BUH BUUUUUCCANEERS!"), I doubt I will ever get tired of listening to this, the shining jewel of 2017's contribution to Rock/Metal.
So that's it for 2017...OR IS IT? Of course it fucking isn't! There are still Honourable Mentions to plough through! Here are five songs I almost included before they fell at the last hurdle...or in this immediate case, the first:
"Friends Are Family" - Oh, Hush feat. Will Arnett & Jeff Lewis
Another song off the soundtrack for The Lego Batman Movie. This is played during the closing credits and whilst you could argue that it may fall into the Pop Rock category, I decided to omit it from the main list because I felt like it was a little too close to Pop. However, I still love it to bits. It pisses all over "Everything Is Awesome" from The Lego Movie and actually does a solid job of echoing one of the film's main themes through a catchy chorus and a neat solo played by Alfred the butler...what, it is. Go watch the film and see!
"Head Like A Haunted House" - Queens Of The Stone Age
Yeah, I know I said I was torn between the dancey one and "The Evil Has Landed" but remember, these are Honourable Mentions, not an extension of my ten choices. I've already mentioned that song so now I'm mentioning this one! Villains had an eclectic mix of styles but this song stood out as one with a bit more character than the rest. It's wacky, sure, but it reminds me of 70s Punk what with the amplified bass and kooky sound effects. It's also a fun title, which is somewhat of an anomaly on a QOTSA album. I didn't include this in the main list for the same reason I didn't include "The Evil Has Landed"; I preferred "The Way You Used To Do". Plain and simple.
"Heartland" - Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown
This one's a bit of a late entry but it just made it in at the last minute. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite good enough for me to make the main list but it's still got some strong attributes such as the heavy fuzz and talented Mr Bryant. I don't know if I like the vocals during the chorus to say whether this song will make a stronger impression on me than some of the other songs I've heard this year but at the current time of writing this post, I like the track.
"Southern Trains" - The Darkness
As I said earlier, there were several tracks from Pinewood Smile that could've made this list but only one that I felt deserved an Honourable Mention. For those of you reading this in the UK who have ever been burdened by delayed trains, wasted hours in shitawful stations, disgusting toilets and cramped conditions due to annoying passengers you'd rather stab repeatedly than stand up for, this is the song for you. It's a celebration of everything terrible about the Southern train service in this country packaged as a fast paced Hard Rock/Heavy Metal number in vintage Darkness fashion. Enjoy!
"Thunder Child" - The Bad Flowers
Lastly, we have what I would describe as a solid filler track out of all 15 songs included here. It's got a good riff and a fun rhythm but it just doesn't land as well as the others for me. Maybe that's because I haven't given it as much of a chance as the others on this list although you could argue that songs like "Buccaneers Of Hispaniola" and "Heavy Fire" did more to grab me by the short and curlies straight away, therefore having my full attention for the rest of the track. It's not a bad song and it might even be one of your favourites if you like standard Rock but for now, it's only worthy of an Honourable Mention from me.
And THAT is it for this blog in 2017. We've had some fun moments now and then (ABCs of Producers was a personal highlight) but the next time you'll be reading anything new on here will be 2018...unless you're spending your New Year's Eve going back over some of my older posts that you haven't read yet. If that is the case, I can't say I blame you; NYE is fucking shit and my blog's pretty underrated so it's only natural that you'd rather spend your last day of 2017 reading my unchained opinions on Rock/Metal instead of spending it partying with friends and family.
See you all on the other side!
Sunday, 31 December 2017
Wednesday, 27 December 2017
Lego Rock Band
Since we've just had Christmas and Christmas is all about toys, I figure the next Rock Band/Guitar Hero title to discuss should be one that incorporated one of the most popular toy franchises on the planet into the game; Lego. In 2009, Harmonix released Lego Rock Band, an expansion to the Rock Band series that was based heavily around the Rock Band 2 build but with Lego avatars/stages and a more family friendly soundtrack. In other words, no System Of A Down and Tenacious D but plenty of Queen and modern Pop Rock.
I personally think Lego Rock Band is one of the most fun Rock Band games for the gameplay elements alone and the fact that you can play select family friendly DLC tracks throughout the game in case the main setlist isn't to your liking only adds to the game's quality. However, we're not here to review the game. We're here to look at each individual song in the setlist (just like previous posts such as Rock Band 3, Guitar Hero: World Tour, The Beatles: Rock Band and Guitar Hero: Van Halen) by considering whether it's a good song, whether it's fun to play on guitar and whether it's appropriate for the game. Once I've done this, I'll give it a Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down before tallying all votes up for a final verdict on whether the game's soundtrack is good.
"A-Punk" - Vampire Weekend
To me, this will always be the song from The Inbetweeners but it was also used in Guitar Hero 5. It's a popular song with a catchy sounding guitar riff but other than that, there's not really much to it. Also, the slider gem notes in Guitar Hero are used for the string section in the middle and at the end whereas LRB has standard notes/chords. As a result, the guitar chart is probably more fun in GH5 BUT the song definitely feels more at home in a family friendly music game rather than a main title GH one. THUMBS UP.
"Accidentally In Love" - Counting Crows
Since the game has a soundtrack mostly aimed at kids and their parents, there are several songs that come from films in the setlist such as this one from Shrek 2. Shrek films have had some great tracks used throughout but if you had to pick one to play in RB, I'm glad this was one of them. It's a fun little song with plenty of fun guitar sections too. Totally appropriate for the game and easy worthy of a THUMBS UP.
"Aliens Exist" - blink-182
Oh yeah, there was that awful phase in GH/RB where they just kept licensing blink-182 songs over and fucking over again. This was one of the many casualties of this decision; a bland Pop-Punk track that isn't even one of their iconic ones, picked purely to fit in with the alien plot of the game and let's be honest, it's hardly like the subject matter is untouched in the world of Rock. Boring chart, boring song, should've been DLC and if they had to pick a song by this band, maybe "All The Small Things" would've been the less inspired but more suitable pick. THUMBS DOWN.
"Breakout" - Foo Fighters
Obligatory Foo Fighters choice, yes. Fun choice, hell yes! It's one of their many popular tracks and it has a fairly solid guitar chart too. Maybe I'm just biased because you play this during a level where you have to free frozen explorers with the power of Rock (yeah, that happens in LRB) and if you play well, you get a caption reading "The penguins are going wild"...because I like penguins. Where was I going with this? Oh right, THUMBS UP even if the screechy bit ruins a perfectly fine guitar riff.
"Check Yes Juliet" - We Three Kings
There must be some kind of fucking law stating that every uninspired band or artist that released a song after the Dire Straits one has to reference Romeo & Juliet in their love songs if they're ever going to not be taken seriously. This time, it's the turn of low rate emo whiners We Three Kings in a song as forgettable as this sentence with a chart full of chords and strumming just to add to the tedium. There are more fun songs that idiot children will like with decent guitar charts so it has to be a THUMBS DOWN.
"Crash" - The Primitives
The next song popularised through film (Dumb And Dumber, to be precise). It's not a track I would've ever requested to be in Rock Band but it's still pretty fun to play on guitar, provided you like the main riff. It's a harmless bit of 80s Pop Rock with a bog standard chart that probably wouldn't have been made DLC if it wasn't in this game. I'm tempted to say THUMBS UP although it's only just making it through because it's a catchy song.
"Crocodile Rock" - Elton John
One of my favourite songs from the game, not just in terms of the song itself but the guitar chart's pretty damn fun too. Of all the Elton John songs, this is probably the best choice for the entire family too. Sure, he has bigger hits like "Rocket Man" and "Tiny Dancer" but those are primarily piano based and a little too serious compared to the party classic "Crocodile Rock". It's infinitely more fun to sing along to and did I mention the guitar chart? I did? Well, it's great and worthy of a THUMBS UP.
"Dig" - Incubus
I'm slowly getting into Incubus a bit more now, although I feel like I'm always saying that whenever I mention Incubus. However, this is one of the songs that kickstarted the process of "getting into" a band. It's off the Light Grenades album which also contains "Anna Molly" and the track is built around a HOPO riff that's quite fun to play. If you don't dig the song (pun intended), you might find it a little dull when it comes to playing the riff for the 90th time but fortunately, I like it. It's a softer tune to counter balance all the energetic Pop Rock and even if the solo's a bit naff, it's still a solid choice for the game. THUMBS UP.
"Dreaming Of You" - The Coral
I'm pretty sure this has been used in a few films and TV shows too although it's generally a catchy little tune so I'm not surprised it was used in this game. For the most part, it's just the odd chord now and then...until you get to the solo. The solo has a bit of life in it that might catch inexperienced players off guard but if I'm judging these based on how well they fit in the game, how fun they are to play and whether or not they're enjoyable tracks, I'm gonna say THUMBS UP.
"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" - The Police
The Police have had hits and misses with guitar charts in rhythm music games but this is probably the most fun out of all of them. It starts off a little slow but it's somewhat of a sleeper hit, seeing as how there are fun little HOPO moments throughout and the tempo increase at the end contains guitar melodies that you probably didn't realise existed until you heard them in this game. THUMBS UP for finding a belter of a Police song for the game.
"The Final Countdown" - Europe
Another fucking classic for this game. It might be a little overplayed in conventional media but as far as RB charts go, it's awesome! Chugging guitar gallops, a fairly challenging solo (for LRB standards) and the first thing you play is the iconic synth intro. It was the band's biggest hit and it's become synonymous with 80s Hard Rock, much like "Jump" - Van Halen only not as shite. Whilst this song would've fit right into any RB game, I feel like Lego Rock Band is probably the most sensible choice. Everything about this song's inclusion is spot on so THUMBS UP.
"Fire" - The Jimi Hendrix Experience
So, a bit of context. The Hendrix estate has a bit of a history with rhythm music games dating all the way back to the first Guitar Hero in 2005. GH1 was allowed to use a Hendrix track but only on the condition that there weren't any vocals in the WaveGroup Sound cover as they didn't want anyone who wasn't Jimi Hendrix performing a Hendrix song (hence why you could only play as Jimi Hendrix during any of the Hendrix tracks playable in GH:WT, and why the DLC wasn't forwards compatible). Flash forward to 2009 when this game was released and a studio version of a Jimi Hendrix track was playable without any kind of Hendrix avatar. Rock Band then released most of Hendrix's back catalogue as DLC over the next couple of years whilst GH got nothing. But hey, it's amazing what decisions you're willing to go back on when you're running low on cash and have absolutely zero integrity.
But you're not here to read me bitching about the Hendrix estate; you're here to read about the songs you've heard of and to ignore the ones you haven't. If you've heard of "Fire", you'll know it's a fast paced Hendrix number with a great riff and some fancy guitar fills throughout. Perfect for Rock Band, not sure it's the best choice for this game when many of Jimi's other classics are more recognisable. However, if you're after a tricky song for the difficulty curve, there aren't many better choices than this one. THUMBS UP.
"Free Fallin'" - Tom Petty
Ah Tom, R.I.Fuckin'.P. I may not be a big fan of this track in particular but as far as catchy Rock songs go, it's a fine choice for this game. Most of Tom's tracks are probably more for the parents but this is probably one of his songs that younger players would get some joy out of, even if it's mostly just chords and strumming. However, it's certainly a song that belongs in RB and I suppose this is a better place for the song than as DLC. Whilst I personally prefer "Running Down A Dream", that feels more like a DLC (or Guitar Hero 5) song than this one so THUMBS UP, even if it's a wee bit tedious to play.
"Ghostbusters" - Ray Parker Jr.
Fun little story: I've always wanted to play this song in Guitar Hero ever since I realised that there's guitar running all the way through it but it took the song's inclusion in Lego Rock Band to convince me that I wanted the game. Aside from not charting the main synth melody at any point, this chart is everything I hoped it would be. It's got plenty going on and it feels fucking awesome rocking out to the Ghostbusters theme. I've seen complaints that this song doesn't really fit in with the typical Rock Band soundtrack but after some of the shite we've had as DLC over the last few years, that complaint is well and truly fucked now. THUMBS UP for being quite possibly my favourite song in the game.
"Girls & Boys" - Good Charlotte
Some more Pop Punk for the kiddies, which is understandable. It's a standard tune but the main question is: is it fun to play? Yeah, sort of. It's not your typical strumfest and even when it is just chords and strumming, the chorus is good enough to just listen to as you're playing each note on auto-pilot. A more fun song by Good Charlotte probably would've been "The River" but I doubt that that would've been as sensible a choice as this song so I'm gonna give it a THUMBS UP. It's not a song I personally like playing but it's one I don't recall objecting to at the time.
"Grace" - Supergrass
Another fairly challenging guitar chart for LRB standards. It's also the game's theme and it definitely suits the more casual, family friendly vibe. Granted there are more obvious picks for family friendly or Rock Band themes like "Alright" or "Richard III" respectively but this song sits firmly between both ends of the suitability spectrum, making it ideal for this game. THUMBS UP.
"I Want You Back" - Jackson 5
There are two Jackson 5 songs in Rock Band. This and "ABC" and let me tell you, I'm glad they picked this for LRB instead of that other shite. Granted that was an on-disc track for Rock Band: Unplugged (another game I'll have to write about!) but this one's certainly more active on guitar. However, that doesn't change the fact that it's a bit of a rubbish song that should've just been DLC with the other Jackson 5 track. If you want some 70s Pop Rock or Funk in the game, there are plenty of cracking Stevie Wonder tracks that could've made it. THUMBS DOWN.
"In Too Deep" - Sum 41
I remember this song mostly from the octopus battle in-game where characters are literally running around in circles when the line "we're running in circles again" is sung. Mamma-Mia level cringeworthy interpretations aside, this song totally belongs in this game. Superb guitar chart with a challenging solo perfect for inexperienced players wanting something to grind and seasoned pros looking for something fun, a classic song by the band and one of the better Pop Punk songs to fill this game with. THUMBS UP.
"Kung Fu Fighting" - Carl Douglas
Hey everyone, remember "Kung Fu Fighting"? Remember "those cats were fast as lightning"? Isn't it fun to sing catchy songs everyone knows? Ugh, this song's way too overplayed but I can understand why it was chosen for this game. It's somewhat a classic that kids will probably enjoy, even if it's a right ballache on guitar. At least the Band Hero version charted the Kung Fu melody on slider gem notes to mix up the chart a little bit but this is just wrist-knackeringly accurate to the point that it stops being fun as soon as all the other instruments kick in, which is also when it starts being fun. From fun to shit in the blink of an eye, now THAT's fast as lightning! THUMBS DOWN for the song and my shit joke just then.
"Let's Dance" - David Bowie
OK, I can understand including a Bowie track in the game...but this?! It's so fucking dull! Once again, Band Hero had to add slider gems to the chart to make it somewhat playable but the LRB version is just so fucking tepid. The solo at the end brings some life back to the song but by then, it's too little and way too fucking late. I mean, come on, it's not like Bowie was lacking in suitable songs for the game. "The Jean Genie", "Ziggy Stardust", "John, I'm Only Dancing", a bunch of his other popular tracks that I don't care about, anything but this...this and "Ashes To Ashes" or "Sound And Vision", I fucking hate that song. THUMBS DOWN.
"Life Is A Highway" - Rascal Flatts
Wasn't this song used in the film Cars? If so, definitely a solid choice for kids. Not only that but it's a pretty fun chart too! It may have a few awkward little chord HOPO bits but honestly, it's a delight to play more or less from start to finish. Much like the song by The Police, it's one of those sleeper tracks that you don't expect to be fun but surprises you in the best way. As for the song itself, I think it's a fine track that I would happily listen to in a casual capacity but never feel the need to purchase just to listen to. THUMBS UP all the same.
"Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)" - Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
OK, this is definitely one for the parents. I'm actually surprised this made it as an on-disc track as I can't imagine it being popular with anyone outside of England under the age of about 40 but there we have it. It's a cracking song although the rapid strumming in the solo's a bit of a bitch. That aside, it's definitely one I enjoy playing and always love to listen to for its sheer feel good tone (even if lyrically it is essentially a "Fuck You" to the people Steve Harley used to work with). THUMBS UP.
"Monster" - The Automatic
I never got into this song. Not once. I remember it was hugely popular around 2006 but I always thought it was an annoying earworm with godawful backing vocals and a chorus that fuckwits couldn't help but sing along to. Anyway, I'm sure The Automatic are happy that they produced one song in their illustrious career as an Indie Band and managed to get that one song onto a video game in a level where you're chased by a dinosaur. As for the chart, it's not bad but it does also contain a rapid strumming solo that makes the previous song look like a HOPO wet dream. THUMBS DOWN.
"Naive" - The Kooks
Ugh, this fucking band. We must be into the "annoying voice" section of the game's setlist now but as far as the guitar goes, it's not bad. It's a solid chart so I can't fault it there but I can fault it for being an annoying song from that similar point in time where UK Indie/Alternative bands collectively gave teens the wrong impression of what Rock is. If I had to pick a song by The Kooks for the game, I would've gone with "She Moves In Her Own Way" or "Sofa Song". They're both well known tracks from the same album and they aren't as annoying as this one; plus, they probably would've given us better guitar charts (especially the latter). THUMBS DOWN.
"The Passenger" - Iggy Pop
Ah, now THIS is one I was surprised by! Having heard a song a bunch of times before this game came out, I was expected a repetitive chart that I'd have to suffer through. Turns out there are several guitar fills, melodies and sections throughout that HMX helpfully alternated between to keep the variety up and the end result is a cracking track for the game. It also helps that it's Iggy Pop's most well known yet safely family friendly single, although "Lust For Life" also would've worked, especially if it was the studio original and not the shitawful live version we got in GH5. THUMBS UP.
"Real Wild Child" - Everlife
From actual Iggy to fake Iggy! Actually, that's not true. Iggy covered the song but I think it's fair to say he's made it his own. For some reason, HMX included a cover of a song made famous by Iggy Pop by [INSERT GENERIC GIRLBAND HERE] instead of an original song by a talented female group. Hell, I would've taken a Paramore song over this. Failing that, I would've accepted a popular tune by a terrible artist; something like "Girlfriend" - Avril Lavigne would've fit in better than this non-entry. Guitar chart's not bad but it doesn't stop this song from getting a THUMBS DOWN.
"Ride A White Swan" - T. Rex
Yup, you did it! You found the perfect T. Rex song for the game! Short enough for the kids, classic enough for a parents and fun enough for RB enthusiasts. Great little guitar chart with a solid solo and it's possibly one of the best recordings of the song I've heard. The only other song I would say could've been better is "I Love To Boogie", as that's a catchy number from a film (Billy Elliot) that would be very fun on guitar. Still, this song's still a great choice and there's always hope for DLC...although it's fucking dwindling. THUMBS UP.
"Rooftops (A Liberation Broadcast)" - Lostprophets
I believe I've talked about this song in the GH:WT post but my opinion on the song is pretty straightforward. I hated it before we found out the vocalist was a nonce. THUMBS DOWN.
"Ruby" - Kaiser Chiefs
Yeah, I'm OK with this choice. It was a bonus song in GH3 for some reason (although that inclusion did help get me into GH!) and it was a hit single of theirs in 2007 so it probably made for a better choice than anything off their debut, especially since I believe "I Predict A Riot" was already DLC at the time. It's one of their best songs and even if the chart's a little average, it's still great to listen to as you play it. THUMBS UP.
"Short And Sweet" - Spinal Tap
Soooo...this song...uhh...yeah. Was it a contractual obligation? Did they have to include it to get Spinal Tap DLC in the future? It's not a bad song but come on, it was released on the band's 2009 revival album, not in the original This Is Spinal Tap one. You'd have thought a song like "Stonehenge" would've been the logical choice, hence my theory about them having to include a new song in order to get the classics later on. Ah well, at least they picked a track with some fierce shredding, although maybe a little too intense for this game. On the basis that it's not really a favourite of mine and that it feels like an odd choice for this game as opposed to future DLC, I'm gonna say THUMBS DOWN.
"So What" - P!nk
Not a big fan of P!nk but I have to say, I really enjoyed playing this song. It has a relatively fun chart (rapid strumming section aside) and the use within the game felt neat too. I recall this being the song used in the first trailer for the game without feeling out of place so it definitely fits in there although the sound of the song isn't too offensive either. It's modern Pop Rock so younger listeners will know it and it's a proper Rock song so it ticks all the boxes. THUMBS UP.
"Song 2" - Blur
Another song from GH5 that made it into this game. It's only a short track but it's instantly recognisable with that guitar riff and the "WOO HOO" based chorus. A solid choice although we need to discuss the chart; it sucks. The chorus consists entirely of yellow notes even though I'm pretty sure the rhythm guitar would've been much more fun to play. As a result, the chart's a bit shit but I can't knock HMX for including this song. THUMBS UP.
"Stumble And Fall" - Razorlight
There's only one Razorlight song I can tolerate and that's "Golden Touch". Anything else is terrible so it's an automatic THUMBS DOWN, even if the guitar chart's quite good. Fuck Razorlight.
"Suddenly I See" - KT Tunstall
Lego Rock Band got this one and Band Hero got the other KT Tunstall song anyone gives a fuck about. Either way, I'm glad this song got some representation. It's a great vocally driven track with fun guitar throughout for kids and parents who frequently heard this song on the radio and would go on to say "Oh, it's THIS song" when their kid picked it in LRB. Similar to most of this game's setlist, it's not a track I would have ever wished to be in GH/RB but if you had to pick a contemporary female driven Country inspired Rock track, I'm glad it was this. THUMBS UP.
"Summer Of '69" - Bryan Adams
Fuck this song and everything about it. I can understand why it was picked but the fact that this song got representation in Rock Band and, at the time of typing this, "Run To You" is still missing makes me angry. This song is basically the retro clubbing dickhead's anthem and even if it does have some mildly fun guitar sections, it's fucking horrible to listen to from start to finish so it's a pretty solid THUMBS DOWN from me. It might fit into the game's feel and it might not be a total bore to play through but they could've picked plenty of other 80s Rock "anthems" for kids and mums to enjoy without ever touching this.
"Swing, Swing" - The All-American Rejects
I can't hear this song without also hearing the intro to the US version of The Office. The chord sequence is too damn similar, I tell you! Anyway, the song's your basic strumfest with a tidy little solo that will introduce inexperienced players to the joys of Rock Band. My familiarity with this band goes as far as the tracks that were picked for GH/RB games and based on what I've heard of them so far, this is probably the best song out of the lot...yes, even beating "Dirty Little Secret". THUMBS UP for being tolerable Emo music!
"Thunder" - Boys Like Girls
When this soundtrack was first revealed, I thought they'd licensed a song by Thunder for the game. Then I realised that was the song name instead of the artist name and after that, I proceeded to get this confused with the Good Charlotte song for several years. Now I simply use this handy little trick to remember the difference: the Good Charlotte track has some fun to it and is quite fun on guitar whereas the Boys Like Girls song is a puddle of piss, both emotionally and physically. Also, Boys Like Girls, your band name certainly hasn't aged well. Boys can like who or whatever the fuck they want to like in 2017. THUMBS DOWN.
"Tick Tick Boom" - The Hives
I think this was the first time I'd ever actually heard this song. Now I know it's one of their big songs but at the time, I was confused as to why they didn't go with "Hate To Say I Told You So", as that was the song I'd heard on TV more often. It's hard to say whether it's the more exciting song with the better riff as it's a song by The Hives and let's face it, their back catalogue sort of blends together when it comes to hit singles. However, I don't hate this song. It was pretty good in GH:WoR but I vaguely recall this chart being annoying due to the rapid strumming section, lack of variety in comparison to the GH:WoR chart and the funny little not-trill section before the first chorus. Eh, gonna give this one a THUMBS DOWN for not being the better Hives song to pick.
"Two Princes" - Spin Doctors
Another one of those "Oh, THAT song" songs. Yeah, I prefer the RB4 Spin Doctors track in just about every sense although I can understand why they chose this for the game. It's a well known song with a solid guitar chart, making it perfect for the game's demographic and their average ability level. It's hard to argue with its inclusion as I feel like "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong" definitely belongs in RB4 over LRB yet I can't think of a better 90s Alternative Rock song for this game in particular. With that in mind, THUMBS UP on a technicality.
"Valerie" - The Zutons
No, no, no, no, I can't stand this song. Overrated as fuck, even for The Zutons. "Why Won't You Give Me Your Love" and "Hello Conscience" are far superior as Rock songs and if anyone knows this song at all, it'll be because of the Amy Winehouse cover. The original is a fucking grey colour swatch in comparison to that and even then, I wouldn't want the cover in Rock Band. THUMBS DOWN.
"Walking On Sunshine" - Katrina & The Waves
Uhhhh, sure? I guess this works in the game as it's a fun 80s tune with plenty of guitar throughout. The guitar might be repetitive but this is one of those vocally driven songs for kids to sing along to whilst the older brother plays another instrument. It's not the worst song in the world so I can tolerate it being in this game for the sake of having a larf with the family. THUMBS UP. Incidentally, this song was used in Lego City Undercover during the opening cinematic. I'm kinda disappointed they didn't have radio stations featuring more real music, seeing as how it was basically the GTA of Lego games. Ah well, the game was still fun.
"We Are The Champions" - Queen
Got to have some Queen in there and out of all the band's hits, this was probably the most sensible choice. It might not have a lot going on outside of vocals but if you're going to include a Queen song that's got something happening on each instrument that isn't really as action packed as some of their other singles, this has to be near the top of the list. THUMBS UP.
"We Will Rock You" - Queen
Oh, another Queen song...and it's that song. Again, if you have to include this in RB, this game is probably the best place for it as it wouldn't really work with the BOOM-BOOM-CLAPs charted to guitar outside of this game. Since both Queen songs are connected, I can understand licensing both of them for this game although I'm still giving it a THUMBS DOWN for being kinda dumb and not really having anything fun until the outro solo...and even then, it's not great.
"Word Up!" - KoRn
Uhhhhh...why? Why license a KoRn song for the family friendly game? Why not just get the original Cameo version or a different song altogether? It's not even the best cover of this song, Gun do a version that has a proper guitar solo and would've been fucking amazing in GH/RB. Dumb choice. THUMBS DOWN.
"You Give Love A Bad Name" - Bon Jovi
Final song and it's a belter. Whilst it might not rank highly on my personal list of great Bon Jovi tracks, it's certainly one that needed its own place on a game's setlist rather than just being DLC. Since RB2 had "Living On A Prayer" and RB1 had "Wanted Dead Or Alive", that left this game to get the final song of the BJ Trifecta. I seem to remember the guitar chart being a complete ballache due to the terrible chord HOPOs but aside from that, it was alright. Just a shame the LRB engine wasn't great but if you're looking at it from a soundtrack perspective, it's an easy THUMBS UP.
It's 28 Thumbs Up against 17 Thumbs Down, confirming my suspicions that Lego Rock Band does indeed have a decent soundtrack.
Looking back on the game, I really think LRB didn't get the praise it deserved at the time when ATVI was pumping out a GH title every couple of months. Since this game came out in October/November, it's easy to pass it off as just another rhythm music game but the fact is it had more heart and effort put into it than arguably any other release that year...except The Beatles: Rock Band...and Guitar Hero: Metallica, but definitely more than GH5, GH:OTMH, GH:VH and GH:SH. If you own a PS3/XBox 360 and can get your hands on this game (along with suitable instrument controllers), I recommend it as it's a fun little treat and you can't export the soundtrack to RB4 if you don't own it already so it's your only chance to experience the joy that is Lego Rock Band.
COMING SOON: The last blog post of the year!
I personally think Lego Rock Band is one of the most fun Rock Band games for the gameplay elements alone and the fact that you can play select family friendly DLC tracks throughout the game in case the main setlist isn't to your liking only adds to the game's quality. However, we're not here to review the game. We're here to look at each individual song in the setlist (just like previous posts such as Rock Band 3, Guitar Hero: World Tour, The Beatles: Rock Band and Guitar Hero: Van Halen) by considering whether it's a good song, whether it's fun to play on guitar and whether it's appropriate for the game. Once I've done this, I'll give it a Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down before tallying all votes up for a final verdict on whether the game's soundtrack is good.
"A-Punk" - Vampire Weekend
To me, this will always be the song from The Inbetweeners but it was also used in Guitar Hero 5. It's a popular song with a catchy sounding guitar riff but other than that, there's not really much to it. Also, the slider gem notes in Guitar Hero are used for the string section in the middle and at the end whereas LRB has standard notes/chords. As a result, the guitar chart is probably more fun in GH5 BUT the song definitely feels more at home in a family friendly music game rather than a main title GH one. THUMBS UP.
"Accidentally In Love" - Counting Crows
Since the game has a soundtrack mostly aimed at kids and their parents, there are several songs that come from films in the setlist such as this one from Shrek 2. Shrek films have had some great tracks used throughout but if you had to pick one to play in RB, I'm glad this was one of them. It's a fun little song with plenty of fun guitar sections too. Totally appropriate for the game and easy worthy of a THUMBS UP.
"Aliens Exist" - blink-182
Oh yeah, there was that awful phase in GH/RB where they just kept licensing blink-182 songs over and fucking over again. This was one of the many casualties of this decision; a bland Pop-Punk track that isn't even one of their iconic ones, picked purely to fit in with the alien plot of the game and let's be honest, it's hardly like the subject matter is untouched in the world of Rock. Boring chart, boring song, should've been DLC and if they had to pick a song by this band, maybe "All The Small Things" would've been the less inspired but more suitable pick. THUMBS DOWN.
"Breakout" - Foo Fighters
Obligatory Foo Fighters choice, yes. Fun choice, hell yes! It's one of their many popular tracks and it has a fairly solid guitar chart too. Maybe I'm just biased because you play this during a level where you have to free frozen explorers with the power of Rock (yeah, that happens in LRB) and if you play well, you get a caption reading "The penguins are going wild"...because I like penguins. Where was I going with this? Oh right, THUMBS UP even if the screechy bit ruins a perfectly fine guitar riff.
"Check Yes Juliet" - We Three Kings
There must be some kind of fucking law stating that every uninspired band or artist that released a song after the Dire Straits one has to reference Romeo & Juliet in their love songs if they're ever going to not be taken seriously. This time, it's the turn of low rate emo whiners We Three Kings in a song as forgettable as this sentence with a chart full of chords and strumming just to add to the tedium. There are more fun songs that idiot children will like with decent guitar charts so it has to be a THUMBS DOWN.
"Crash" - The Primitives
The next song popularised through film (Dumb And Dumber, to be precise). It's not a track I would've ever requested to be in Rock Band but it's still pretty fun to play on guitar, provided you like the main riff. It's a harmless bit of 80s Pop Rock with a bog standard chart that probably wouldn't have been made DLC if it wasn't in this game. I'm tempted to say THUMBS UP although it's only just making it through because it's a catchy song.
"Crocodile Rock" - Elton John
One of my favourite songs from the game, not just in terms of the song itself but the guitar chart's pretty damn fun too. Of all the Elton John songs, this is probably the best choice for the entire family too. Sure, he has bigger hits like "Rocket Man" and "Tiny Dancer" but those are primarily piano based and a little too serious compared to the party classic "Crocodile Rock". It's infinitely more fun to sing along to and did I mention the guitar chart? I did? Well, it's great and worthy of a THUMBS UP.
"Dig" - Incubus
I'm slowly getting into Incubus a bit more now, although I feel like I'm always saying that whenever I mention Incubus. However, this is one of the songs that kickstarted the process of "getting into" a band. It's off the Light Grenades album which also contains "Anna Molly" and the track is built around a HOPO riff that's quite fun to play. If you don't dig the song (pun intended), you might find it a little dull when it comes to playing the riff for the 90th time but fortunately, I like it. It's a softer tune to counter balance all the energetic Pop Rock and even if the solo's a bit naff, it's still a solid choice for the game. THUMBS UP.
"Dreaming Of You" - The Coral
I'm pretty sure this has been used in a few films and TV shows too although it's generally a catchy little tune so I'm not surprised it was used in this game. For the most part, it's just the odd chord now and then...until you get to the solo. The solo has a bit of life in it that might catch inexperienced players off guard but if I'm judging these based on how well they fit in the game, how fun they are to play and whether or not they're enjoyable tracks, I'm gonna say THUMBS UP.
"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" - The Police
The Police have had hits and misses with guitar charts in rhythm music games but this is probably the most fun out of all of them. It starts off a little slow but it's somewhat of a sleeper hit, seeing as how there are fun little HOPO moments throughout and the tempo increase at the end contains guitar melodies that you probably didn't realise existed until you heard them in this game. THUMBS UP for finding a belter of a Police song for the game.
"The Final Countdown" - Europe
Another fucking classic for this game. It might be a little overplayed in conventional media but as far as RB charts go, it's awesome! Chugging guitar gallops, a fairly challenging solo (for LRB standards) and the first thing you play is the iconic synth intro. It was the band's biggest hit and it's become synonymous with 80s Hard Rock, much like "Jump" - Van Halen only not as shite. Whilst this song would've fit right into any RB game, I feel like Lego Rock Band is probably the most sensible choice. Everything about this song's inclusion is spot on so THUMBS UP.
"Fire" - The Jimi Hendrix Experience
So, a bit of context. The Hendrix estate has a bit of a history with rhythm music games dating all the way back to the first Guitar Hero in 2005. GH1 was allowed to use a Hendrix track but only on the condition that there weren't any vocals in the WaveGroup Sound cover as they didn't want anyone who wasn't Jimi Hendrix performing a Hendrix song (hence why you could only play as Jimi Hendrix during any of the Hendrix tracks playable in GH:WT, and why the DLC wasn't forwards compatible). Flash forward to 2009 when this game was released and a studio version of a Jimi Hendrix track was playable without any kind of Hendrix avatar. Rock Band then released most of Hendrix's back catalogue as DLC over the next couple of years whilst GH got nothing. But hey, it's amazing what decisions you're willing to go back on when you're running low on cash and have absolutely zero integrity.
But you're not here to read me bitching about the Hendrix estate; you're here to read about the songs you've heard of and to ignore the ones you haven't. If you've heard of "Fire", you'll know it's a fast paced Hendrix number with a great riff and some fancy guitar fills throughout. Perfect for Rock Band, not sure it's the best choice for this game when many of Jimi's other classics are more recognisable. However, if you're after a tricky song for the difficulty curve, there aren't many better choices than this one. THUMBS UP.
"Free Fallin'" - Tom Petty
Ah Tom, R.I.Fuckin'.P. I may not be a big fan of this track in particular but as far as catchy Rock songs go, it's a fine choice for this game. Most of Tom's tracks are probably more for the parents but this is probably one of his songs that younger players would get some joy out of, even if it's mostly just chords and strumming. However, it's certainly a song that belongs in RB and I suppose this is a better place for the song than as DLC. Whilst I personally prefer "Running Down A Dream", that feels more like a DLC (or Guitar Hero 5) song than this one so THUMBS UP, even if it's a wee bit tedious to play.
"Ghostbusters" - Ray Parker Jr.
Fun little story: I've always wanted to play this song in Guitar Hero ever since I realised that there's guitar running all the way through it but it took the song's inclusion in Lego Rock Band to convince me that I wanted the game. Aside from not charting the main synth melody at any point, this chart is everything I hoped it would be. It's got plenty going on and it feels fucking awesome rocking out to the Ghostbusters theme. I've seen complaints that this song doesn't really fit in with the typical Rock Band soundtrack but after some of the shite we've had as DLC over the last few years, that complaint is well and truly fucked now. THUMBS UP for being quite possibly my favourite song in the game.
"Girls & Boys" - Good Charlotte
Some more Pop Punk for the kiddies, which is understandable. It's a standard tune but the main question is: is it fun to play? Yeah, sort of. It's not your typical strumfest and even when it is just chords and strumming, the chorus is good enough to just listen to as you're playing each note on auto-pilot. A more fun song by Good Charlotte probably would've been "The River" but I doubt that that would've been as sensible a choice as this song so I'm gonna give it a THUMBS UP. It's not a song I personally like playing but it's one I don't recall objecting to at the time.
"Grace" - Supergrass
Another fairly challenging guitar chart for LRB standards. It's also the game's theme and it definitely suits the more casual, family friendly vibe. Granted there are more obvious picks for family friendly or Rock Band themes like "Alright" or "Richard III" respectively but this song sits firmly between both ends of the suitability spectrum, making it ideal for this game. THUMBS UP.
"I Want You Back" - Jackson 5
There are two Jackson 5 songs in Rock Band. This and "ABC" and let me tell you, I'm glad they picked this for LRB instead of that other shite. Granted that was an on-disc track for Rock Band: Unplugged (another game I'll have to write about!) but this one's certainly more active on guitar. However, that doesn't change the fact that it's a bit of a rubbish song that should've just been DLC with the other Jackson 5 track. If you want some 70s Pop Rock or Funk in the game, there are plenty of cracking Stevie Wonder tracks that could've made it. THUMBS DOWN.
"In Too Deep" - Sum 41
I remember this song mostly from the octopus battle in-game where characters are literally running around in circles when the line "we're running in circles again" is sung. Mamma-Mia level cringeworthy interpretations aside, this song totally belongs in this game. Superb guitar chart with a challenging solo perfect for inexperienced players wanting something to grind and seasoned pros looking for something fun, a classic song by the band and one of the better Pop Punk songs to fill this game with. THUMBS UP.
"Kung Fu Fighting" - Carl Douglas
Hey everyone, remember "Kung Fu Fighting"? Remember "those cats were fast as lightning"? Isn't it fun to sing catchy songs everyone knows? Ugh, this song's way too overplayed but I can understand why it was chosen for this game. It's somewhat a classic that kids will probably enjoy, even if it's a right ballache on guitar. At least the Band Hero version charted the Kung Fu melody on slider gem notes to mix up the chart a little bit but this is just wrist-knackeringly accurate to the point that it stops being fun as soon as all the other instruments kick in, which is also when it starts being fun. From fun to shit in the blink of an eye, now THAT's fast as lightning! THUMBS DOWN for the song and my shit joke just then.
"Let's Dance" - David Bowie
OK, I can understand including a Bowie track in the game...but this?! It's so fucking dull! Once again, Band Hero had to add slider gems to the chart to make it somewhat playable but the LRB version is just so fucking tepid. The solo at the end brings some life back to the song but by then, it's too little and way too fucking late. I mean, come on, it's not like Bowie was lacking in suitable songs for the game. "The Jean Genie", "Ziggy Stardust", "John, I'm Only Dancing", a bunch of his other popular tracks that I don't care about, anything but this...this and "Ashes To Ashes" or "Sound And Vision", I fucking hate that song. THUMBS DOWN.
"Life Is A Highway" - Rascal Flatts
Wasn't this song used in the film Cars? If so, definitely a solid choice for kids. Not only that but it's a pretty fun chart too! It may have a few awkward little chord HOPO bits but honestly, it's a delight to play more or less from start to finish. Much like the song by The Police, it's one of those sleeper tracks that you don't expect to be fun but surprises you in the best way. As for the song itself, I think it's a fine track that I would happily listen to in a casual capacity but never feel the need to purchase just to listen to. THUMBS UP all the same.
"Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)" - Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
OK, this is definitely one for the parents. I'm actually surprised this made it as an on-disc track as I can't imagine it being popular with anyone outside of England under the age of about 40 but there we have it. It's a cracking song although the rapid strumming in the solo's a bit of a bitch. That aside, it's definitely one I enjoy playing and always love to listen to for its sheer feel good tone (even if lyrically it is essentially a "Fuck You" to the people Steve Harley used to work with). THUMBS UP.
"Monster" - The Automatic
I never got into this song. Not once. I remember it was hugely popular around 2006 but I always thought it was an annoying earworm with godawful backing vocals and a chorus that fuckwits couldn't help but sing along to. Anyway, I'm sure The Automatic are happy that they produced one song in their illustrious career as an Indie Band and managed to get that one song onto a video game in a level where you're chased by a dinosaur. As for the chart, it's not bad but it does also contain a rapid strumming solo that makes the previous song look like a HOPO wet dream. THUMBS DOWN.
"Naive" - The Kooks
Ugh, this fucking band. We must be into the "annoying voice" section of the game's setlist now but as far as the guitar goes, it's not bad. It's a solid chart so I can't fault it there but I can fault it for being an annoying song from that similar point in time where UK Indie/Alternative bands collectively gave teens the wrong impression of what Rock is. If I had to pick a song by The Kooks for the game, I would've gone with "She Moves In Her Own Way" or "Sofa Song". They're both well known tracks from the same album and they aren't as annoying as this one; plus, they probably would've given us better guitar charts (especially the latter). THUMBS DOWN.
"The Passenger" - Iggy Pop
Ah, now THIS is one I was surprised by! Having heard a song a bunch of times before this game came out, I was expected a repetitive chart that I'd have to suffer through. Turns out there are several guitar fills, melodies and sections throughout that HMX helpfully alternated between to keep the variety up and the end result is a cracking track for the game. It also helps that it's Iggy Pop's most well known yet safely family friendly single, although "Lust For Life" also would've worked, especially if it was the studio original and not the shitawful live version we got in GH5. THUMBS UP.
"Real Wild Child" - Everlife
From actual Iggy to fake Iggy! Actually, that's not true. Iggy covered the song but I think it's fair to say he's made it his own. For some reason, HMX included a cover of a song made famous by Iggy Pop by [INSERT GENERIC GIRLBAND HERE] instead of an original song by a talented female group. Hell, I would've taken a Paramore song over this. Failing that, I would've accepted a popular tune by a terrible artist; something like "Girlfriend" - Avril Lavigne would've fit in better than this non-entry. Guitar chart's not bad but it doesn't stop this song from getting a THUMBS DOWN.
"Ride A White Swan" - T. Rex
Yup, you did it! You found the perfect T. Rex song for the game! Short enough for the kids, classic enough for a parents and fun enough for RB enthusiasts. Great little guitar chart with a solid solo and it's possibly one of the best recordings of the song I've heard. The only other song I would say could've been better is "I Love To Boogie", as that's a catchy number from a film (Billy Elliot) that would be very fun on guitar. Still, this song's still a great choice and there's always hope for DLC...although it's fucking dwindling. THUMBS UP.
"Rooftops (A Liberation Broadcast)" - Lostprophets
I believe I've talked about this song in the GH:WT post but my opinion on the song is pretty straightforward. I hated it before we found out the vocalist was a nonce. THUMBS DOWN.
"Ruby" - Kaiser Chiefs
Yeah, I'm OK with this choice. It was a bonus song in GH3 for some reason (although that inclusion did help get me into GH!) and it was a hit single of theirs in 2007 so it probably made for a better choice than anything off their debut, especially since I believe "I Predict A Riot" was already DLC at the time. It's one of their best songs and even if the chart's a little average, it's still great to listen to as you play it. THUMBS UP.
"Short And Sweet" - Spinal Tap
Soooo...this song...uhh...yeah. Was it a contractual obligation? Did they have to include it to get Spinal Tap DLC in the future? It's not a bad song but come on, it was released on the band's 2009 revival album, not in the original This Is Spinal Tap one. You'd have thought a song like "Stonehenge" would've been the logical choice, hence my theory about them having to include a new song in order to get the classics later on. Ah well, at least they picked a track with some fierce shredding, although maybe a little too intense for this game. On the basis that it's not really a favourite of mine and that it feels like an odd choice for this game as opposed to future DLC, I'm gonna say THUMBS DOWN.
"So What" - P!nk
Not a big fan of P!nk but I have to say, I really enjoyed playing this song. It has a relatively fun chart (rapid strumming section aside) and the use within the game felt neat too. I recall this being the song used in the first trailer for the game without feeling out of place so it definitely fits in there although the sound of the song isn't too offensive either. It's modern Pop Rock so younger listeners will know it and it's a proper Rock song so it ticks all the boxes. THUMBS UP.
"Song 2" - Blur
Another song from GH5 that made it into this game. It's only a short track but it's instantly recognisable with that guitar riff and the "WOO HOO" based chorus. A solid choice although we need to discuss the chart; it sucks. The chorus consists entirely of yellow notes even though I'm pretty sure the rhythm guitar would've been much more fun to play. As a result, the chart's a bit shit but I can't knock HMX for including this song. THUMBS UP.
"Stumble And Fall" - Razorlight
There's only one Razorlight song I can tolerate and that's "Golden Touch". Anything else is terrible so it's an automatic THUMBS DOWN, even if the guitar chart's quite good. Fuck Razorlight.
"Suddenly I See" - KT Tunstall
Lego Rock Band got this one and Band Hero got the other KT Tunstall song anyone gives a fuck about. Either way, I'm glad this song got some representation. It's a great vocally driven track with fun guitar throughout for kids and parents who frequently heard this song on the radio and would go on to say "Oh, it's THIS song" when their kid picked it in LRB. Similar to most of this game's setlist, it's not a track I would have ever wished to be in GH/RB but if you had to pick a contemporary female driven Country inspired Rock track, I'm glad it was this. THUMBS UP.
"Summer Of '69" - Bryan Adams
Fuck this song and everything about it. I can understand why it was picked but the fact that this song got representation in Rock Band and, at the time of typing this, "Run To You" is still missing makes me angry. This song is basically the retro clubbing dickhead's anthem and even if it does have some mildly fun guitar sections, it's fucking horrible to listen to from start to finish so it's a pretty solid THUMBS DOWN from me. It might fit into the game's feel and it might not be a total bore to play through but they could've picked plenty of other 80s Rock "anthems" for kids and mums to enjoy without ever touching this.
"Swing, Swing" - The All-American Rejects
I can't hear this song without also hearing the intro to the US version of The Office. The chord sequence is too damn similar, I tell you! Anyway, the song's your basic strumfest with a tidy little solo that will introduce inexperienced players to the joys of Rock Band. My familiarity with this band goes as far as the tracks that were picked for GH/RB games and based on what I've heard of them so far, this is probably the best song out of the lot...yes, even beating "Dirty Little Secret". THUMBS UP for being tolerable Emo music!
"Thunder" - Boys Like Girls
When this soundtrack was first revealed, I thought they'd licensed a song by Thunder for the game. Then I realised that was the song name instead of the artist name and after that, I proceeded to get this confused with the Good Charlotte song for several years. Now I simply use this handy little trick to remember the difference: the Good Charlotte track has some fun to it and is quite fun on guitar whereas the Boys Like Girls song is a puddle of piss, both emotionally and physically. Also, Boys Like Girls, your band name certainly hasn't aged well. Boys can like who or whatever the fuck they want to like in 2017. THUMBS DOWN.
"Tick Tick Boom" - The Hives
I think this was the first time I'd ever actually heard this song. Now I know it's one of their big songs but at the time, I was confused as to why they didn't go with "Hate To Say I Told You So", as that was the song I'd heard on TV more often. It's hard to say whether it's the more exciting song with the better riff as it's a song by The Hives and let's face it, their back catalogue sort of blends together when it comes to hit singles. However, I don't hate this song. It was pretty good in GH:WoR but I vaguely recall this chart being annoying due to the rapid strumming section, lack of variety in comparison to the GH:WoR chart and the funny little not-trill section before the first chorus. Eh, gonna give this one a THUMBS DOWN for not being the better Hives song to pick.
"Two Princes" - Spin Doctors
Another one of those "Oh, THAT song" songs. Yeah, I prefer the RB4 Spin Doctors track in just about every sense although I can understand why they chose this for the game. It's a well known song with a solid guitar chart, making it perfect for the game's demographic and their average ability level. It's hard to argue with its inclusion as I feel like "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong" definitely belongs in RB4 over LRB yet I can't think of a better 90s Alternative Rock song for this game in particular. With that in mind, THUMBS UP on a technicality.
"Valerie" - The Zutons
No, no, no, no, I can't stand this song. Overrated as fuck, even for The Zutons. "Why Won't You Give Me Your Love" and "Hello Conscience" are far superior as Rock songs and if anyone knows this song at all, it'll be because of the Amy Winehouse cover. The original is a fucking grey colour swatch in comparison to that and even then, I wouldn't want the cover in Rock Band. THUMBS DOWN.
"Walking On Sunshine" - Katrina & The Waves
Uhhhh, sure? I guess this works in the game as it's a fun 80s tune with plenty of guitar throughout. The guitar might be repetitive but this is one of those vocally driven songs for kids to sing along to whilst the older brother plays another instrument. It's not the worst song in the world so I can tolerate it being in this game for the sake of having a larf with the family. THUMBS UP. Incidentally, this song was used in Lego City Undercover during the opening cinematic. I'm kinda disappointed they didn't have radio stations featuring more real music, seeing as how it was basically the GTA of Lego games. Ah well, the game was still fun.
"We Are The Champions" - Queen
Got to have some Queen in there and out of all the band's hits, this was probably the most sensible choice. It might not have a lot going on outside of vocals but if you're going to include a Queen song that's got something happening on each instrument that isn't really as action packed as some of their other singles, this has to be near the top of the list. THUMBS UP.
"We Will Rock You" - Queen
Oh, another Queen song...and it's that song. Again, if you have to include this in RB, this game is probably the best place for it as it wouldn't really work with the BOOM-BOOM-CLAPs charted to guitar outside of this game. Since both Queen songs are connected, I can understand licensing both of them for this game although I'm still giving it a THUMBS DOWN for being kinda dumb and not really having anything fun until the outro solo...and even then, it's not great.
"Word Up!" - KoRn
Uhhhhh...why? Why license a KoRn song for the family friendly game? Why not just get the original Cameo version or a different song altogether? It's not even the best cover of this song, Gun do a version that has a proper guitar solo and would've been fucking amazing in GH/RB. Dumb choice. THUMBS DOWN.
"You Give Love A Bad Name" - Bon Jovi
Final song and it's a belter. Whilst it might not rank highly on my personal list of great Bon Jovi tracks, it's certainly one that needed its own place on a game's setlist rather than just being DLC. Since RB2 had "Living On A Prayer" and RB1 had "Wanted Dead Or Alive", that left this game to get the final song of the BJ Trifecta. I seem to remember the guitar chart being a complete ballache due to the terrible chord HOPOs but aside from that, it was alright. Just a shame the LRB engine wasn't great but if you're looking at it from a soundtrack perspective, it's an easy THUMBS UP.
It's 28 Thumbs Up against 17 Thumbs Down, confirming my suspicions that Lego Rock Band does indeed have a decent soundtrack.
Looking back on the game, I really think LRB didn't get the praise it deserved at the time when ATVI was pumping out a GH title every couple of months. Since this game came out in October/November, it's easy to pass it off as just another rhythm music game but the fact is it had more heart and effort put into it than arguably any other release that year...except The Beatles: Rock Band...and Guitar Hero: Metallica, but definitely more than GH5, GH:OTMH, GH:VH and GH:SH. If you own a PS3/XBox 360 and can get your hands on this game (along with suitable instrument controllers), I recommend it as it's a fun little treat and you can't export the soundtrack to RB4 if you don't own it already so it's your only chance to experience the joy that is Lego Rock Band.
COMING SOON: The last blog post of the year!
Sunday, 17 December 2017
Tenology: Valuable Vocalists In Rock/Metal
Here we are! The end of this four-part Tenology collection looking at impressive musicians who take on the four main roles of any great Rock/Metal outfit. We've covered guitarists, drummers and bassists so far so vocalists are finally getting their time in the spotlight...you know, apart from all the time when they're on stage.
As I feel obliged to mention whenever I write a Tenology post, this is not the equivalent of posts proclaiming that Vocalists 1-10 are THE best in Rock and/or Metal, nor is it my personal top 10 list of all time. There are almost certainly going to be talented vocalists that I overlook when writing this (I'm still kicking myself for completely missing a fucking awesome bassist in my last post. I might go back and edit it soon) but as the name suggests, this is merely a 10-person list of vocalists whom I would place on a pedestal.
If I've missed any shining stars that you believe deserve a space more than some of my other entries, feel free to let me know in the comments or via Twitter. However, if they've appeared in previous blog posts for their talents as a different musician (e.g. Geddy Lee of Rush) then you won't find them here, although chances are I value them as a vocalist if they can play and sing simultaneously. Also, be aware that there are some vocalists I have intentionally left out because I personally believe that when it comes to singing, they're a bit shit (or at best, overrated). Here are some of them!
Ozzy Osbourne
Mick Jagger
Bruce Springsteen
Janis Joplin
Bob Dylan
Serj Tankian
Blaze Bayley
Axl Rose
Right, now that we've got that unpleasantness out of the way, let's look at the valuable vocalists!
1. Paul Rodgers
I don't usually write these posts in order of personal ranking but I felt like I had to start this list off on a strong note, so to speak. Paul Rodgers has been in quite a few groups over the years (notably Free and Bad Company, although he also recorded an album with Queen) but I'm mostly counting Paul's contributions as the Bad Company frontman for his placement here. The man's voice is simply incredible; smooth and soulful but able to fully Rock at the drop of a hat. Some of the bands big hits such as "Feel Like Makin' Love" and "Electricland" showcase his ability to flawlessly flip between two different singing styles but if you need even more proof, go and see him perform live. The fact that the man can still belt out the classics after four decades as if he were in the studio laying them down for the first time is the sign of an incredible vocalist.
2. Klaus Meine
Compared to some vocalists, Klaus Meine probably isn't the first choice for a list of undeniably talented Rock/Metal frontmen but to me, there is no Scorpions without Klaus Meine. His raw vocals are synonymous with the band's own blend of Heavy Metal, whether it's in the band's iconic anthems ("Rock You Like A Hurricane", "Wind Of Change") or lesser known deep cuts ("Catch Your Train", "Another Piece Of Meat"). To me, the sign of a strong Rock/Metal vocalist is the ability to use the sound of their singing voice as its own instrument unique to that band. Some of the vocal melodies sung by Klaus give the songs that extra push that separates them from generic material by other 70s/80s Metal bands, hence his inclusion here.
3. Sean Harris
It's hard to compare the works of former Diamond Head vocalist Sean Harris to the rest of the entries on this list when you factor in that most iconic and well respected Rock/Metal vocalists have had many, many albums to hone their ability and make a splash on the music scene. However, the fact that Sean's only had a couple of albums worth of decent material to show how great he is only adds to my admiration of the man. There was a time when he was hailed as the next Robert Plant and after listening to such tunes as "It's Electric" and "Trick Or Treat", I can understand why. I'm hesitant to describe his singing as "wailing" because it sounds like criticism but if you've ever listened to the band, you'll know what I mean. His vocal work isn't as harsh or aggressive as you'd expect from a Metal band but it still works incredibly well. It's a shame these guys didn't get a bigger break as I imagine we only scratched the surface of what Sean Harris would've been truly capable of.
4. Steve Perry
Whilst I'm not the biggest Journey fan on the planet, I would defend Steve Perry's inclusion on this list for one song and one song alone. Naturally he's a great vocalist on a wide range of Journey's material but whenever I think of his work, I always find myself drawn to one clear example of what I would consider his finest hour: "Keep On Runnin'". It's the kind of song that would inspire me to learn to sing just so I could blast it out without sounding like a completely tone-deaf wannabe although I doubt any amount of practise would make me capable of matching his vocals. The verses Rock extra hard because of his singing and the chorus is driven by the sheer power of his voice alone. Your average music fan will probably be impressed by his work on "Don't Stop Believing" and "Open Arms" but seriously, listen to "Keep On Runnin'" if you haven't already and tell me that this guy doesn't have pipes of fucking gold.
5. Stevie Nicks
The first woman to appear on these Tenology posts although she's not the only one worthy enough to grace this list (hint hint). Fleetwood Mac has had a few vocalists but none as significant as Stevie Nicks. Stevie's stage presence and, most importantly, her voice gave the band a specific image; one of mysticism without going into full weird territory like some Prog Rock bands. Female vocalists like Lizzy Hale and Ann Wilson succeed in bringing power to songs through conventional means but Stevie Nicks achieves that same level of pure Rock through her haunting, raspy vocals that were easily responsible for putting Fleetwood Mac on the map. The whole Rumours album is essential listening if you want to hear some of her best work but there's also signature songs from her solo career, even if you think "Edge Of Seventeen" is a bit dull when it comes to the structure.
6. Phil Lynott
I know I mentioned Phil Lynott in the honourable mentions of the bassist blog post BUT he didn't make the main cut so technically he's still a contender for this one. The main reason I didn't give Phil a proper place in the bassist post is because I believe he was a much greater vocalist than a bassist, hence his inclusion here. I mean, his voice was just so fucking cool! When he sung about "the boys" (and let's face it, he sung about 'em quite a bit!), you got the impression that he was not just one of them but one of the more badass ones. At the risk of sounding repetitive, Phil was also skilled at adapting his voice to suit softer or less powerful Rock songs ("Sarah", "Don't Believe A Word") and heavier, fast paced powerhouses ("Cold Sweat", "Angel Of Death"). His voice was so unique, so irreplaceable that his death effectively killed Thin Lizzy once the rest of the band realised there would be no Thin Lizzy without him. Granted they then formed Black Star Riders but if Phil didn't have his incredible voice, you can bet that they would've stuck with the original band name.
7. Biff Byford
It's no secret that Saxon are one of my favourite bands of all time AND that I feel they're one of the few proper Rock/Metal bands in existence that have only improved with age. If you listen to rerecordings of their classics, they sound so much heavier without losing part of what made Saxon incredible and the main reason for that is Biff Byford's raw vocals. Some of the vocalists here will never be able to recreate the magic they captured in the recording studio all those years ago but to actually surpass it many, many years later is a talent that Biff deserves way more credit for. And yes, his voice is awesome in every single Saxon song that I've heard so far; the perfect Heavy Metal vocals for a band as great as Saxon. I recommend checking out some of the rerecordings on the Heavy Metal Thunder compilation as well as the original recordings to hear how Biff's voice has remained incredible since the early 80s.
8. James Hetfield
Whilst Hetfield may have gone down in my books on a personal level due to his refusal to flat out denounce Trump (claiming that politics separates people and indirectly stating that he's totally OK with Nazis and shitheads getting joy out of his music), he's still right near the top on a professional level. To me, any vocalist who can play an instrument whilst singing without fucking up either task has a great amount of skill but the fact that James can shred out some pretty fucking heavy riffs from Metallica's back catalogue whilst belting out each line is something I will always admire. James Hetfield is also notable for being one of many singers to be affected by puberty in the 90s, as the rage filled vocals from Metallica's first four Thrash albums gradually sunk into a deeper (but still powerful) tone. However, if you listen to live footage, it's clear that James still has the ability to keep up with his past self so at the very least, he's not the worst member of his own band...aaaand that's all I'm gonna say about that on this post!
9. Eddie Vedder
I'll admit, I wasn't sure if I was going to choose Eddie Vedder or Chris Cornell for this post. Whilst I like both vocalists a great deal, I think I had to give it to Eddie purely because I'd rather belt out Pearl Jam tracks than Soundgarden ones. Both vocalists have a similar 90s Grunge style to their voice but to me, Eddie's classic drones make for more pleasurable listening than Chris' passionate shouting. I also admire Eddie for adapting his voice with the band's sound from typical Grunge based vocals to modern Alternative ones without compromising the overall quality. There's something uniquely primal about some of his vocals in tracks like "Animal" and "Jeremy" that encapsulates exactly what Rock is about; releasing the beast. That's why Eddie's here!
10. Bruce Dickinson
If you've been keeping up with these Tenology posts so far, you'll know I've listed at least one member of Iron Maiden in each post so far and with bloody good reason. They are my number one favourite band and I firmly believe that each member brings their own skills to the table to create a unified, incredible sound. However, if you have to single out one driving force behind the band's success (and you don't know about Steve Harris), you'll probably pick Bruce Dickinson due to his operatic, screeching vocals that propelled the band away from the Punk sound they were dangerously close to solidifying with in their first two albums. Bruce has a supreme vocal range, great songwriting talents and knows how to be a top notch (if not slightly outspoken) frontman. Final cherry on top? The guy had throat cancer not long ago and kicked it right in the fucking cunt before releasing a brand new Iron Maiden studio album AND going on tour to promote it. Top bloke indeed.
So those are the ten vocalists I've selected but that's not to say there aren't other great vocalists who leapt to the front of my mind as I was thinking about great voices in the world of Rock/Metal. Here are some slightly fleshed out Honourable Mentions along with reasons why I didn't choose them to be listed up above.
Ronnie James Dio
Arguably the greatest voice in all of Metal and quite possibly one of the most talented, considering he's been in three iconic Rock/Metal bands (Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio) along with several smaller outfits. Out of the three main bands he's been a part of, I'd rate his tenure with Black Sabbath at number one simply because his vocals had all the power with none of the...hmmm, how should I put this...pomposity? There's something a bit ridiculous about some of his vocals in Rainbow and Dio tunes as if he took himself a little bit too seriously. It takes me out of the music when I hear him trying to vocally simulate the sound of a door slamming or shouting "NO! NO!" over and over again. He was a great vocalist but a little too absurd at times.
Chris Cornell
I've already gone into a bit of detail about why I chose Eddie Vedder over Chris Cornell for the main list but come on, I couldn't just completely ignore him. I wrote a Rapid Fire post looking at three albums by three bands/projects Chris Cornell sung in after he died where I praised his voice and songwriting abilities as half the reason why Audioslave are worth listening to. The guy's influence is peppered throughout modern Rock (notably Shinedown) and similar to Anthony Kiedis, Chris' vocals are much better when he's singing softer songs. However, since I prefer Soundgarden to his solo work, I feel like I never got the best out of the guy based on what I've heard.
Brad Delp
Boston definitely aren't one of my favourite bands but their debut is easily one of my all-time favourite albums. I've talked about why various times but I feel like I haven't really focused too much on Brad Delp's contributions to it. Sure, he had a sweet sounding voice but there's some genuine talent buried beneath the music. Take "More Than A Feeling" and that section before the final chorus where Brad hits that high "slipped away"; that's fucking impressive, especially with how long he holds it for. The main reason he isn't in the list above is simply that I feel other vocalists deserved it more with their wider selection of records and talents that were showcased, but I still think Brad Delp deserves a shout out here.
Grace Slick
Similar to Fleetwood Mac, Jefferson Airplane also had shared vocalist duties that most people will probably agree was easily dominated by the sheer talent of the female artist. However, whilst Stevie Nicks rocked the mystic, Classic Rock oriented vocals, Grace Slick locked down the psychedelic style and I wouldn't be surprised to learn that she helped inspire Stevie's stage presence too. Overall, I couldn't deny that Stevie was the superior vocalist but tracks like "White Rabbit", "Somebody To Love", "Law Man" and even backing vocals in "Volunteers" showcase an incredible voice at work, I felt like this voice didn't quite match some of the others in the list above.
Roger Taylor
Yeah, I picked one of the OTHER band members who shared vocalist duties from Queen. There are two reasons for this. 1) We all know Freddie Mercury was an amazing vocalist, probably one of (if not THE) best in this list. I didn't feel the need to place him here when I felt like other vocalists deserved more recognition or my personal take on why they're great although yes, I do think Freddie was a fantastic frontman. 2) Some of you may not know that Queen's drummer, Roger Taylor, took the helm for a few tracks and did a pretty fucking great job. Songs like "I'm In Love With My Car", "Rock It (Prime Jive)", "More Of That Jazz" and (my personal favourite) "Fight From The Inside" all feature Roger on lead vocals and whilst Freddie will always be instantly more recognisable as a vocalist and frontman, I personally believe Roger successfully held his own and provided a more aggressive side to the Rock band that Freddie could never quite pull off to the same degree. However, since Roger isn't exactly the band's main vocalist in the same way that everyone else in the post is, I felt Honourable Mention was the best place to shine a light on Roger Taylor's vocal work.
So that's my list of valuable vocalists in Rock/Metal! I hope you enjoyed reading and waiting two months at a time for each Tenology related to band members. Next year, I might revisit these in some format but for now, all four key band members have been accounted for!
COMING SOON: I dunno, maybe something Christmassy. Probably not though.
As I feel obliged to mention whenever I write a Tenology post, this is not the equivalent of posts proclaiming that Vocalists 1-10 are THE best in Rock and/or Metal, nor is it my personal top 10 list of all time. There are almost certainly going to be talented vocalists that I overlook when writing this (I'm still kicking myself for completely missing a fucking awesome bassist in my last post. I might go back and edit it soon) but as the name suggests, this is merely a 10-person list of vocalists whom I would place on a pedestal.
If I've missed any shining stars that you believe deserve a space more than some of my other entries, feel free to let me know in the comments or via Twitter. However, if they've appeared in previous blog posts for their talents as a different musician (e.g. Geddy Lee of Rush) then you won't find them here, although chances are I value them as a vocalist if they can play and sing simultaneously. Also, be aware that there are some vocalists I have intentionally left out because I personally believe that when it comes to singing, they're a bit shit (or at best, overrated). Here are some of them!
Ozzy Osbourne
Mick Jagger
Bruce Springsteen
Janis Joplin
Bob Dylan
Serj Tankian
Blaze Bayley
Axl Rose
Right, now that we've got that unpleasantness out of the way, let's look at the valuable vocalists!
1. Paul Rodgers
Largely responsible for one of the best live shows I've ever been to
I don't usually write these posts in order of personal ranking but I felt like I had to start this list off on a strong note, so to speak. Paul Rodgers has been in quite a few groups over the years (notably Free and Bad Company, although he also recorded an album with Queen) but I'm mostly counting Paul's contributions as the Bad Company frontman for his placement here. The man's voice is simply incredible; smooth and soulful but able to fully Rock at the drop of a hat. Some of the bands big hits such as "Feel Like Makin' Love" and "Electricland" showcase his ability to flawlessly flip between two different singing styles but if you need even more proof, go and see him perform live. The fact that the man can still belt out the classics after four decades as if he were in the studio laying them down for the first time is the sign of an incredible vocalist.
2. Klaus Meine
No, this isn't Ronnie James Dio
Compared to some vocalists, Klaus Meine probably isn't the first choice for a list of undeniably talented Rock/Metal frontmen but to me, there is no Scorpions without Klaus Meine. His raw vocals are synonymous with the band's own blend of Heavy Metal, whether it's in the band's iconic anthems ("Rock You Like A Hurricane", "Wind Of Change") or lesser known deep cuts ("Catch Your Train", "Another Piece Of Meat"). To me, the sign of a strong Rock/Metal vocalist is the ability to use the sound of their singing voice as its own instrument unique to that band. Some of the vocal melodies sung by Klaus give the songs that extra push that separates them from generic material by other 70s/80s Metal bands, hence his inclusion here.
3. Sean Harris
In an alternate universe, this guy is as popular as everyone else on this list
It's hard to compare the works of former Diamond Head vocalist Sean Harris to the rest of the entries on this list when you factor in that most iconic and well respected Rock/Metal vocalists have had many, many albums to hone their ability and make a splash on the music scene. However, the fact that Sean's only had a couple of albums worth of decent material to show how great he is only adds to my admiration of the man. There was a time when he was hailed as the next Robert Plant and after listening to such tunes as "It's Electric" and "Trick Or Treat", I can understand why. I'm hesitant to describe his singing as "wailing" because it sounds like criticism but if you've ever listened to the band, you'll know what I mean. His vocal work isn't as harsh or aggressive as you'd expect from a Metal band but it still works incredibly well. It's a shame these guys didn't get a bigger break as I imagine we only scratched the surface of what Sean Harris would've been truly capable of.
4. Steve Perry
Not sure if this guy counts as "underrated" but if there's a tier just behind that, this guy's in it
Whilst I'm not the biggest Journey fan on the planet, I would defend Steve Perry's inclusion on this list for one song and one song alone. Naturally he's a great vocalist on a wide range of Journey's material but whenever I think of his work, I always find myself drawn to one clear example of what I would consider his finest hour: "Keep On Runnin'". It's the kind of song that would inspire me to learn to sing just so I could blast it out without sounding like a completely tone-deaf wannabe although I doubt any amount of practise would make me capable of matching his vocals. The verses Rock extra hard because of his singing and the chorus is driven by the sheer power of his voice alone. Your average music fan will probably be impressed by his work on "Don't Stop Believing" and "Open Arms" but seriously, listen to "Keep On Runnin'" if you haven't already and tell me that this guy doesn't have pipes of fucking gold.
5. Stevie Nicks
From Steve to Stevie. If Aerosmith were a bit better, I could've had the hat trick
The first woman to appear on these Tenology posts although she's not the only one worthy enough to grace this list (hint hint). Fleetwood Mac has had a few vocalists but none as significant as Stevie Nicks. Stevie's stage presence and, most importantly, her voice gave the band a specific image; one of mysticism without going into full weird territory like some Prog Rock bands. Female vocalists like Lizzy Hale and Ann Wilson succeed in bringing power to songs through conventional means but Stevie Nicks achieves that same level of pure Rock through her haunting, raspy vocals that were easily responsible for putting Fleetwood Mac on the map. The whole Rumours album is essential listening if you want to hear some of her best work but there's also signature songs from her solo career, even if you think "Edge Of Seventeen" is a bit dull when it comes to the structure.
6. Phil Lynott
Photography 101: black and white makes everything better
I know I mentioned Phil Lynott in the honourable mentions of the bassist blog post BUT he didn't make the main cut so technically he's still a contender for this one. The main reason I didn't give Phil a proper place in the bassist post is because I believe he was a much greater vocalist than a bassist, hence his inclusion here. I mean, his voice was just so fucking cool! When he sung about "the boys" (and let's face it, he sung about 'em quite a bit!), you got the impression that he was not just one of them but one of the more badass ones. At the risk of sounding repetitive, Phil was also skilled at adapting his voice to suit softer or less powerful Rock songs ("Sarah", "Don't Believe A Word") and heavier, fast paced powerhouses ("Cold Sweat", "Angel Of Death"). His voice was so unique, so irreplaceable that his death effectively killed Thin Lizzy once the rest of the band realised there would be no Thin Lizzy without him. Granted they then formed Black Star Riders but if Phil didn't have his incredible voice, you can bet that they would've stuck with the original band name.
7. Biff Byford
Now THAT's a name and a half!
It's no secret that Saxon are one of my favourite bands of all time AND that I feel they're one of the few proper Rock/Metal bands in existence that have only improved with age. If you listen to rerecordings of their classics, they sound so much heavier without losing part of what made Saxon incredible and the main reason for that is Biff Byford's raw vocals. Some of the vocalists here will never be able to recreate the magic they captured in the recording studio all those years ago but to actually surpass it many, many years later is a talent that Biff deserves way more credit for. And yes, his voice is awesome in every single Saxon song that I've heard so far; the perfect Heavy Metal vocals for a band as great as Saxon. I recommend checking out some of the rerecordings on the Heavy Metal Thunder compilation as well as the original recordings to hear how Biff's voice has remained incredible since the early 80s.
8. James Hetfield
Ugh, Metallica. Right? Am I cool yet?
Whilst Hetfield may have gone down in my books on a personal level due to his refusal to flat out denounce Trump (claiming that politics separates people and indirectly stating that he's totally OK with Nazis and shitheads getting joy out of his music), he's still right near the top on a professional level. To me, any vocalist who can play an instrument whilst singing without fucking up either task has a great amount of skill but the fact that James can shred out some pretty fucking heavy riffs from Metallica's back catalogue whilst belting out each line is something I will always admire. James Hetfield is also notable for being one of many singers to be affected by puberty in the 90s, as the rage filled vocals from Metallica's first four Thrash albums gradually sunk into a deeper (but still powerful) tone. However, if you listen to live footage, it's clear that James still has the ability to keep up with his past self so at the very least, he's not the worst member of his own band...aaaand that's all I'm gonna say about that on this post!
9. Eddie Vedder
I'm usually the first to criticise vocalists with an acoustic guitar and stool on stage but I'll make an exception here
I'll admit, I wasn't sure if I was going to choose Eddie Vedder or Chris Cornell for this post. Whilst I like both vocalists a great deal, I think I had to give it to Eddie purely because I'd rather belt out Pearl Jam tracks than Soundgarden ones. Both vocalists have a similar 90s Grunge style to their voice but to me, Eddie's classic drones make for more pleasurable listening than Chris' passionate shouting. I also admire Eddie for adapting his voice with the band's sound from typical Grunge based vocals to modern Alternative ones without compromising the overall quality. There's something uniquely primal about some of his vocals in tracks like "Animal" and "Jeremy" that encapsulates exactly what Rock is about; releasing the beast. That's why Eddie's here!
10. Bruce Dickinson
Nearly made it to the end without mentioning Iron Maiden...but that was never gonna happen
If you've been keeping up with these Tenology posts so far, you'll know I've listed at least one member of Iron Maiden in each post so far and with bloody good reason. They are my number one favourite band and I firmly believe that each member brings their own skills to the table to create a unified, incredible sound. However, if you have to single out one driving force behind the band's success (and you don't know about Steve Harris), you'll probably pick Bruce Dickinson due to his operatic, screeching vocals that propelled the band away from the Punk sound they were dangerously close to solidifying with in their first two albums. Bruce has a supreme vocal range, great songwriting talents and knows how to be a top notch (if not slightly outspoken) frontman. Final cherry on top? The guy had throat cancer not long ago and kicked it right in the fucking cunt before releasing a brand new Iron Maiden studio album AND going on tour to promote it. Top bloke indeed.
So those are the ten vocalists I've selected but that's not to say there aren't other great vocalists who leapt to the front of my mind as I was thinking about great voices in the world of Rock/Metal. Here are some slightly fleshed out Honourable Mentions along with reasons why I didn't choose them to be listed up above.
Ronnie James Dio
No, this isn't Klaus Meine
Arguably the greatest voice in all of Metal and quite possibly one of the most talented, considering he's been in three iconic Rock/Metal bands (Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio) along with several smaller outfits. Out of the three main bands he's been a part of, I'd rate his tenure with Black Sabbath at number one simply because his vocals had all the power with none of the...hmmm, how should I put this...pomposity? There's something a bit ridiculous about some of his vocals in Rainbow and Dio tunes as if he took himself a little bit too seriously. It takes me out of the music when I hear him trying to vocally simulate the sound of a door slamming or shouting "NO! NO!" over and over again. He was a great vocalist but a little too absurd at times.
Chris Cornell
"Come at me, bruh"
I've already gone into a bit of detail about why I chose Eddie Vedder over Chris Cornell for the main list but come on, I couldn't just completely ignore him. I wrote a Rapid Fire post looking at three albums by three bands/projects Chris Cornell sung in after he died where I praised his voice and songwriting abilities as half the reason why Audioslave are worth listening to. The guy's influence is peppered throughout modern Rock (notably Shinedown) and similar to Anthony Kiedis, Chris' vocals are much better when he's singing softer songs. However, since I prefer Soundgarden to his solo work, I feel like I never got the best out of the guy based on what I've heard.
Brad Delp
Another great vocalist who took his own life
Boston definitely aren't one of my favourite bands but their debut is easily one of my all-time favourite albums. I've talked about why various times but I feel like I haven't really focused too much on Brad Delp's contributions to it. Sure, he had a sweet sounding voice but there's some genuine talent buried beneath the music. Take "More Than A Feeling" and that section before the final chorus where Brad hits that high "slipped away"; that's fucking impressive, especially with how long he holds it for. The main reason he isn't in the list above is simply that I feel other vocalists deserved it more with their wider selection of records and talents that were showcased, but I still think Brad Delp deserves a shout out here.
Grace Slick
Get it? "GRACE this list"???
Similar to Fleetwood Mac, Jefferson Airplane also had shared vocalist duties that most people will probably agree was easily dominated by the sheer talent of the female artist. However, whilst Stevie Nicks rocked the mystic, Classic Rock oriented vocals, Grace Slick locked down the psychedelic style and I wouldn't be surprised to learn that she helped inspire Stevie's stage presence too. Overall, I couldn't deny that Stevie was the superior vocalist but tracks like "White Rabbit", "Somebody To Love", "Law Man" and even backing vocals in "Volunteers" showcase an incredible voice at work, I felt like this voice didn't quite match some of the others in the list above.
Roger Taylor
Just give me a paragraph to explain myself, that's all I ask!
Yeah, I picked one of the OTHER band members who shared vocalist duties from Queen. There are two reasons for this. 1) We all know Freddie Mercury was an amazing vocalist, probably one of (if not THE) best in this list. I didn't feel the need to place him here when I felt like other vocalists deserved more recognition or my personal take on why they're great although yes, I do think Freddie was a fantastic frontman. 2) Some of you may not know that Queen's drummer, Roger Taylor, took the helm for a few tracks and did a pretty fucking great job. Songs like "I'm In Love With My Car", "Rock It (Prime Jive)", "More Of That Jazz" and (my personal favourite) "Fight From The Inside" all feature Roger on lead vocals and whilst Freddie will always be instantly more recognisable as a vocalist and frontman, I personally believe Roger successfully held his own and provided a more aggressive side to the Rock band that Freddie could never quite pull off to the same degree. However, since Roger isn't exactly the band's main vocalist in the same way that everyone else in the post is, I felt Honourable Mention was the best place to shine a light on Roger Taylor's vocal work.
So that's my list of valuable vocalists in Rock/Metal! I hope you enjoyed reading and waiting two months at a time for each Tenology related to band members. Next year, I might revisit these in some format but for now, all four key band members have been accounted for!
COMING SOON: I dunno, maybe something Christmassy. Probably not though.
Saturday, 9 December 2017
Rapid Fire: Tearaway Unfolded, Yooka-Laylee, Super Mario Odyssey
Another Rapid Fire post but this time, it's....
VIDEO GAME EDITION!
Similar to previous Rapid Fire posts, I'll be looking at three albums (or in this case, soundtracks) and briefly discussing them before giving them a rating and highlighting tracks that I thought stood out.
The three video game soundtracks I'll be looking at do share certain aspects. For starters, they're all from 3D platformers and they're all relatively recent releases (two came out this year). However, the musical style for each soundtrack is unique enough to warrant their choices for this post, in my opinion. Apologies if you're not into video game music but you might get some joy out of these soundtracks, if you can find them.
1. Tearaway Unfolded - Brian D'Oliveira and Kenneth Young
Tearaway Unfolded is probably one of my favourite platformers ever and if it weren't for A Hat In Time, it'd be my favourite platformer of the last decade (even if it is technically an adaptation/remake). It contains some amazing platforming segments unlike any other in video game history and brings out the creativity through innovative ways. Thankfully, the soundtrack is equally unique for a video game and doesn't fall into the trap of being too much like Mario, nor does it try to be grand like Skyrim. It's whimsical and at times a bit clunky but it works perfectly in the game.
There's a clear difference between the tracks composed by Kenneth Young and the ones by Brian D'Oliveira. Young tends to be responsible for the tunes that are more jovial and quaint, such as the first tune "The Hole In The Sky" or "Cutting Mat" and its variants whereas D'Oliveira is best at the harsher sounding, more dissonant pieces such as "The Barn" and "Scraps" (again, along with its variants). However, occasionally the two work together to give us some of the game's iconic tracks such as "Gibbet Hill Pilgrimage" or individually choose to blend styles to give us excellent pieces like "The Orchards" or techno-Folk track "Between The Pages, Page Two".
It's hard to accurately describe without getting stuck into the soundtrack (and game) yourself but the great thing about the soundtrack is the bizarre yet soothing nature to it. It's the musical equivalent of a claymation cottage with a roaring fire in a Tim Burtonesque forest landscape; quaint but with a hint of kookiness. It also doesn't fall into the trap of trying so hard to be weird that it forgets to be good. Many tracks are catchy and cute, just like the game itself, but overall the soundtrack for Tearaway Unfolded is delightful. It's not your typical sweeping Disney-lite score or epic World Of Warcraft feast, it's something eclectic and special for fans of the genre.
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VIDEO GAME EDITION!
Similar to previous Rapid Fire posts, I'll be looking at three albums (or in this case, soundtracks) and briefly discussing them before giving them a rating and highlighting tracks that I thought stood out.
The three video game soundtracks I'll be looking at do share certain aspects. For starters, they're all from 3D platformers and they're all relatively recent releases (two came out this year). However, the musical style for each soundtrack is unique enough to warrant their choices for this post, in my opinion. Apologies if you're not into video game music but you might get some joy out of these soundtracks, if you can find them.
1. Tearaway Unfolded - Brian D'Oliveira and Kenneth Young
Tearaway Unfolded is probably one of my favourite platformers ever and if it weren't for A Hat In Time, it'd be my favourite platformer of the last decade (even if it is technically an adaptation/remake). It contains some amazing platforming segments unlike any other in video game history and brings out the creativity through innovative ways. Thankfully, the soundtrack is equally unique for a video game and doesn't fall into the trap of being too much like Mario, nor does it try to be grand like Skyrim. It's whimsical and at times a bit clunky but it works perfectly in the game.
There's a clear difference between the tracks composed by Kenneth Young and the ones by Brian D'Oliveira. Young tends to be responsible for the tunes that are more jovial and quaint, such as the first tune "The Hole In The Sky" or "Cutting Mat" and its variants whereas D'Oliveira is best at the harsher sounding, more dissonant pieces such as "The Barn" and "Scraps" (again, along with its variants). However, occasionally the two work together to give us some of the game's iconic tracks such as "Gibbet Hill Pilgrimage" or individually choose to blend styles to give us excellent pieces like "The Orchards" or techno-Folk track "Between The Pages, Page Two".
It's hard to accurately describe without getting stuck into the soundtrack (and game) yourself but the great thing about the soundtrack is the bizarre yet soothing nature to it. It's the musical equivalent of a claymation cottage with a roaring fire in a Tim Burtonesque forest landscape; quaint but with a hint of kookiness. It also doesn't fall into the trap of trying so hard to be weird that it forgets to be good. Many tracks are catchy and cute, just like the game itself, but overall the soundtrack for Tearaway Unfolded is delightful. It's not your typical sweeping Disney-lite score or epic World Of Warcraft feast, it's something eclectic and special for fans of the genre.
1. The Hole In The Sky
2. Scraps
2. Scraps
3. Cutting Mat #1
4. Green Man Groove
5. The Orchards
6. The Squirrel Village
7. Renaissance Hop (Record Scratching Tune)
8. Pig Riding
9. St. Swithin's Moor
10. St. Swithin's Moor, Corvus Hexus
11. St. Swithin's Moor, Scraps
12. St. Swithin's Moor, The Big Tree
13. Enter The Barn
14. Rollin'
15. The Barn
16. Shouty Orange Head
17. Cutting Mat #2
18. Gibbet Hill Intro, Lament & Hornpipe
19. Gibbet Hill Pilgrimage
20. Gibbet Hill Scraps
21. Gibbet Hill Processional
22. Sogport Scraps
23. The Baby Wendigo
24. Squirrels & Scraps
25. Cutting Mat #3
26. Beach Bum
27. Heartless Reel
28. The Tavern
29. Wendigo Fissure
30. Elevate This
31. Gopher It
32. The Gopher
33. The Lab
34. The Lab Tick Tock
35. The Lab Scraps
36. The Caverns Scraps
37. The Caverns Scraps Chase
38. Scraps Crazy
39. Cutting Mat #4, Scraps
40. Scraps Reformed
41. Between The Pages, Page One
42. Between The Pages, Page Two
43. Desert Of The Mind
44. Desert Pig Ride
45. Desert Plane Ride
46. The Mislaid Message
47. The Tear
48. The You
49. Is This Goodbye
50. The Message
ALBUM RATING - 7/10
Next up is a platformer that everyone's saying was a disappointment even though people loved it when it came out.
2. Yooka-Laylee - Steve Burke, Grant Kirkhope and David Wise
Similar to the previous soundtrack, the duty of composing the music wasn't just given to one artist. Composers from a collection of classic Nintendo platformers were brought in to give the game that classic N64 feel; Grant Kirkhope provided music for levels, Steve Burke for multiplayer games and David Wise for minecart levels with each of them trying their hand at boss battle themes too. Whilst each artist brings their own specific flair to appropriate tracks, this can work against the illusion of creating a nostalgia fest.
Older games usually stuck with one main composer so the classic N64 or PS1 games often had their own signature sound. The problem with a modern game designed to evoke memories and feelings experienced when playing those classics BUT with multiple composers is that you're never really going to become fully immersed in the memory. One moment, you'll be back in your old living room running around in Banjo Kazooie as you listen to Kirkhope's marimba filled Tribalstack Tropics (or "World 1 Theme" as it's called on the soundtrack to avoid spoilers), the next you'll be riding a minecart listening to one of David Wise's minecart themes that sounds noticeably different, as if it's from a completely different game...because it is! It's from Donkey Kong Country.
As far as the soundtrack goes, it needed to be more consistent to truly achieve its goal. I appreciate that they tried to achieve this by giving different composers different responsibilities and I don't want to give you the wrong idea about the quality of the music; it's well crafted and aside from a few annoying multiplayer game themes, every song is catchy enough to keep you entertained as you play. However, as bad as this sounds, I almost feel like the soundtrack needed less variety. If you wanted a soundtrack that combines elements of the past with modern platforming innovations, this would've been the way to go. Unfortunately, the gameplay doesn't quite go that far so in the end, it doesn't quite work as well as I wished it had.
Older games usually stuck with one main composer so the classic N64 or PS1 games often had their own signature sound. The problem with a modern game designed to evoke memories and feelings experienced when playing those classics BUT with multiple composers is that you're never really going to become fully immersed in the memory. One moment, you'll be back in your old living room running around in Banjo Kazooie as you listen to Kirkhope's marimba filled Tribalstack Tropics (or "World 1 Theme" as it's called on the soundtrack to avoid spoilers), the next you'll be riding a minecart listening to one of David Wise's minecart themes that sounds noticeably different, as if it's from a completely different game...because it is! It's from Donkey Kong Country.
As far as the soundtrack goes, it needed to be more consistent to truly achieve its goal. I appreciate that they tried to achieve this by giving different composers different responsibilities and I don't want to give you the wrong idea about the quality of the music; it's well crafted and aside from a few annoying multiplayer game themes, every song is catchy enough to keep you entertained as you play. However, as bad as this sounds, I almost feel like the soundtrack needed less variety. If you wanted a soundtrack that combines elements of the past with modern platforming innovations, this would've been the way to go. Unfortunately, the gameplay doesn't quite go that far so in the end, it doesn't quite work as well as I wished it had.
1. Main Theme
2. Shipwreck Creek
3. Hivory Towers
4. World 1 Theme
5. World 2 Theme
6. World 3 Theme
7. World 4 Theme
8. World 5 Theme
9. Uphill Battle
10. Frosty Fray
11. Armed And Dangerous
12. Track Attack
13. Skiffy Skirmish
14. Final Beeting
15. Kartos Karting
16. Bee Bop
17. Hurdle Hijinx
18. Up 'N' Nova
19. Jobstacle Course
20. Glaciators
21. Blag The Flag
22. Gun-tlet Run
23. Minecart Theme (World 1)
24. Minecart Theme (World 2)
25. Minecart Theme (World 3)
26. Minecart Theme (World 4)
27. Minecart Theme (World 5)
28. Tropic Trials
29. World 1 Variant #1
30. World 1 Variant #2
31. World 2 Variant #1
32. World 2 Variant #2
33. World 3 Variant #1
34. World 3 Variant #2
35. World 4 Variant #1
36. World 4 Variant #2
37. World 5 Variant #1
38. World 5 Variant #2
ALBUM RATING - 6/10
Finally, we have a soundtrack from a game released to critical acclaim just a couple of months ago. It also contains a specially written song as its main theme and I hate it.
3. Super Mario Odyssey - Naoto Kubo, Shiho Fuji and Koji Kondo
Super Mario Odyssey is probably the most ambitious Mario platformer since Sunshine but sadly contains the least ambitious soundtrack since the DS game that basically ripped off "Gusty Garden Galaxy" for one of their levels. It's a collection of generic orchestra music that sounds decent in the levels but holds up poorly outside of the game, something that can't be said for the previous two albums I've looked at in this post...or indeed any video game soundtrack I've written about in length on the blog before. It has the basics covered (each level has its distinct theme, the first proper level has a grand feel to convey exploration, yada yada yada) but to me, it makes one crucial mistake.
When I think of Mario platformers of the past, I can always think of at least one specific tune that stands out and acts as a kind of representative of the game. More often than not it's the game's main theme or hub world music but occasionally it's from a level. Super Mario 64 has "Bob-Omb Battlefield", Super Mario Sunshine has "Delfino Plaza" and Super Mario Galaxy has the aforementioned "Gusty Garden Galaxy". Super Mario Odyssey doesn't have that instantly iconic level theme. The closest it has is the "Steam Gardens" music but even that doesn't grab you in the same way previous tunes do; if anything, it's notable for sounding like music from a series other than Mario. That's about it.
However, what the game DOES have is its own song with lyrics and everything. "Jump Up, Super Star!" or, as it's called on the soundtrack, "NDC Festival". This is the song that's used in the game's opening menu and in all the fucking promotional material for the game, emphasis on "promotion". I hate this song because I don't hear a colourful piece of video game music; I hear manufactured, soulless advertising in the guise of a song. The music's alright but when lyrics contain lines like "It's freedom like you never knew" and "I'm flipping the switch" that sound like they're trying to push a product instead of entertain gamers, the catchy tune doesn't mean shit.
There are a couple of decent tracks in this game but everything else just kind of blends into the scenery. Even 8-bit remixes of each level fall flat because...well, it's fucking 8-bit. It sounds like crap compared to a fully orchestrated score (although the concept is still neat). Iconic music has been replaced by undeniable corporate box-ticking, although the game is great so I guess it must have worked on me in some level. That doesn't stop me from pointing out how weak the soundtrack is compared to the last couple of proper 3D Mario platformers that also used an orchestra but had the benefit of being led by Koji Kondo, a much superior composer to Naoto Kubo.
1. Bonneton
2. Fossil Falls
3. Fossil Falls (8-Bit)
4. Fossil Falls: Dinosaur
5. Tostarena: Ruins
6. Tosatarena: Ruins (8-Bit)
7. Tostarena: Night
8. Tostarena: Night (8-Bit)
9. Tostarena: Town
10. Tostarena: Jaxi
11. Steam Gardens
12. Steam Gardens (8-Bit)
13. Steam Gardens: Sherm
14. Lake Lamode 1
15. Lake Lamode 1 (8-Bit)
16. Lake Lamode 2
17. Lake Lamode: Underwater Passage
18. Forgotten Isle 1
19. Forgotten Isle 2
20. Forgotten Isle 2 (8-Bit)
21. New Donk City: Night 1
22. New Donk City: Night 2
23. New Donk City: Daytime
24. New Donk City: Cafe
25. New Donk City (Band Performance)
26. NDC Festival
27. NDC Festival (Japanese)
28. NDC Festival (8-Bit)
29. Bubblaine
30. Bubblaine: Underwater
31. Bubblaine (8-Bit)
32. Shiveria: Town
33. Shiveria: Race Course Entrance
34. Mount Volbono
35. Mount Volbono (8-Bit)
36. Mount Volbono: Town
37. Bowser's Castle 1
38. Bowser's Castle 1 (8-Bit)
39. Bowser's Castle 2
40. Honeylune Ridge
41. Honeylune Ridge (8-Bit)
42. Honeylune Ridge: Caves
43. Honeylune Ridge: Wedding Hall
44. Honeylune Ridge: Collapse
45. Honeylune Ridge: Collapse (8-Bit)
46. Honeylune Ridge: Escape
47. Honeylune Ridge: Escape (Japanese)
48. Honeylune Ridge: Escape (8-Bit)
49. Peach's Castle
50. Broodals Battle
51. Madame Broode Battle
52. Knucklotec Battle
53. Torkdrift Battle
54. Mechawiggler Battle
55. Mollusque-Lanceur Battle
56. Mollusque-Lanceur Battle (8-Bit)
57. Cookatiel Battle
58. Ruined Dragon Battle
59. RoboBrood Battle
60. Bowser Battle 1
61. Bowser Battle 2
62. Run, Jump, Throw! 1
63. Run, Jump, Throw! 2
64. Run, Jump, Throw! 2 (8-Bit)
65. Subterranean 1
66. Subterranean 1 (8-Bit)
67. Subterranean 2
68. Caves
69. Ice
70. Another World
71. Ruins
72. Ruins (8-Bit)
73. Projection Room (Above Ground)
74. Projection Room (Underground)
75. Above The Clouds
76. Toad Brigade Member
77. To The Next Kingdom
78. Shop
79. Race
80. RC Car
81. Spinning Slots
82. Climactic Duel!
83. Staff Roll
ALBUM RATING - 5/10
Jesus, that was a pain to type out. The next blog post won't be so long or arduous on the scroll bar!
Saturday, 2 December 2017
Taster Session #9
Unlike last year, I don't believe I'll be doing a Taster Session post looking at 12 singles from albums I didn't get around to listening to from each month (although I may change my mind). Instead, here's another standard edition one looking at five new singles from upcoming Rock/Metal studio albums.
"Thunderbolt" - Saxon (listen here)
From the album Thunderbolt (02/02/18)
The title track off a new Saxon album and it's about as Saxon-y as it comes. This is both good and bad, as it means Saxon are still kicking ass in their old age although compared to standout modern tracks like "Hammer Of The Gods", this sounds a little too similar to some of their recent stuff to impress me. Sure, it's got heavy riffs, fast solos and a powerful chorus, ticking all the Heavy Metal boxes without fail, but if you've heard material off Sacrifice and Battering Ram, you've heard it already. I might check the new album out as I still love Saxon but I may also need to hear something a bit more unique than this to convince me that they're more than the next Motorhead.
"Caught In The Middle" - The Temperance Movement (listen here)
From the album A Deeper Cut (16/02/18)
I can't remember too much about the last album by The Temperance Movement other than it had some solid tracks and a rip off of "The Last In Line" - Dio but this sounds like the band have adapted their sound slightly to sound more like Queens Of The Stone Age or some other Josh Homme side project, at least in the guitar department. It's a punchy little Rock track that doesn't go on too long and has a catchy if not slightly uninspired chorus. I doubt I'll listen to their new album unless I'm struggling for a blog post next February and want something to review but that's based more on their last album than this track. It's OK; nothing more, nothing less.
"Freedom Is Mine" - Wolfmother (listen here)
From the album ???? (??/??/??)
Once again, Wolfm...well, Andrew Stockdale has decided to be a bit different by spontaneously releasing a single that sounds exactly like Wolfmother. So innovative of him. Credit where due, this doesn't sound identical to Victorious or even material off their debut. It sounds muckier, less pristine and overproduced than their previous work which is a polite way of saying it sounds a bit shit. The main reason for this is that Andrew Stockdale recorded and produced it himself away from record labels and professionals, the sort of people who might push the band to do something other than the same song with different lyrics. Same as Saxon, if you like the band's sound, you'll like the song. However, hopefully future singles (as Andrew has hinted that he'll be releasing periodic singles rather than a complete album) will sound less like they were recorded through the wall of the studio.
"All That Once Shined" - Black Label Society (listen here)
From the album Grimmest Hits (19/01/18)
What a shit album cover. Anyway, this track sounds like Zakk Wylde wants to go one step further into his campaign to become Ozzy Osbourne by writing the best original lineup Black Sabbath track since "Never Say Die". Unlike the majority of tracks on the terrible 13 album from a few years ago, the faster section of this song actually has some life to it and adds energy to the track before bringing it back to the sludgey riff and droning vocals. With it being a Zakk Sabbath track, there's a furious shredfest of a solo that sounds as hollow and forgettable as all his others, but other than that it's not bad. However, speaking as someone who isn't the biggest Doom Metal fan, this track isn't exactly to my tastes although I can appreciate that this is probably awesome to fans of the genre and band.
"Alone" - Toto (listen here)
From the album 40 Trips Around The Sun (09/02/18)
Unlike previous singles in this post, "Alone" is one of the new songs written specifically for a greatest hits compilation being released next year. Having listened to some Toto recently, they're definitely one of those bands with a strong start, weak middle and great end as their modern material pisses all over most of their 80s ballads (unpopular opinion time: I genuinely prefer "Orphan" to "Africa", although I like both tracks a lot). Whilst this song still sounds like something that could've been rerecorded after an initial release in the 80s, as the band weren't strangers to semi-progressive song structures in their Classic Rock tracks, it's good to hear that the band still have life in them despite being around for four decades. I mean, that's more than you could say for The Rolling Stones when they'd been around for three decades!
COMING SOON! A post looking at great vocalists in Rock/Metal and maybe a Rapid Fire post...with a twist!
"Thunderbolt" - Saxon (listen here)
From the album Thunderbolt (02/02/18)
The title track off a new Saxon album and it's about as Saxon-y as it comes. This is both good and bad, as it means Saxon are still kicking ass in their old age although compared to standout modern tracks like "Hammer Of The Gods", this sounds a little too similar to some of their recent stuff to impress me. Sure, it's got heavy riffs, fast solos and a powerful chorus, ticking all the Heavy Metal boxes without fail, but if you've heard material off Sacrifice and Battering Ram, you've heard it already. I might check the new album out as I still love Saxon but I may also need to hear something a bit more unique than this to convince me that they're more than the next Motorhead.
"Caught In The Middle" - The Temperance Movement (listen here)
From the album A Deeper Cut (16/02/18)
I can't remember too much about the last album by The Temperance Movement other than it had some solid tracks and a rip off of "The Last In Line" - Dio but this sounds like the band have adapted their sound slightly to sound more like Queens Of The Stone Age or some other Josh Homme side project, at least in the guitar department. It's a punchy little Rock track that doesn't go on too long and has a catchy if not slightly uninspired chorus. I doubt I'll listen to their new album unless I'm struggling for a blog post next February and want something to review but that's based more on their last album than this track. It's OK; nothing more, nothing less.
"Freedom Is Mine" - Wolfmother (listen here)
From the album ???? (??/??/??)
Once again, Wolfm...well, Andrew Stockdale has decided to be a bit different by spontaneously releasing a single that sounds exactly like Wolfmother. So innovative of him. Credit where due, this doesn't sound identical to Victorious or even material off their debut. It sounds muckier, less pristine and overproduced than their previous work which is a polite way of saying it sounds a bit shit. The main reason for this is that Andrew Stockdale recorded and produced it himself away from record labels and professionals, the sort of people who might push the band to do something other than the same song with different lyrics. Same as Saxon, if you like the band's sound, you'll like the song. However, hopefully future singles (as Andrew has hinted that he'll be releasing periodic singles rather than a complete album) will sound less like they were recorded through the wall of the studio.
"All That Once Shined" - Black Label Society (listen here)
From the album Grimmest Hits (19/01/18)
What a shit album cover. Anyway, this track sounds like Zakk Wylde wants to go one step further into his campaign to become Ozzy Osbourne by writing the best original lineup Black Sabbath track since "Never Say Die". Unlike the majority of tracks on the terrible 13 album from a few years ago, the faster section of this song actually has some life to it and adds energy to the track before bringing it back to the sludgey riff and droning vocals. With it being a Zakk Sabbath track, there's a furious shredfest of a solo that sounds as hollow and forgettable as all his others, but other than that it's not bad. However, speaking as someone who isn't the biggest Doom Metal fan, this track isn't exactly to my tastes although I can appreciate that this is probably awesome to fans of the genre and band.
"Alone" - Toto (listen here)
From the album 40 Trips Around The Sun (09/02/18)
Unlike previous singles in this post, "Alone" is one of the new songs written specifically for a greatest hits compilation being released next year. Having listened to some Toto recently, they're definitely one of those bands with a strong start, weak middle and great end as their modern material pisses all over most of their 80s ballads (unpopular opinion time: I genuinely prefer "Orphan" to "Africa", although I like both tracks a lot). Whilst this song still sounds like something that could've been rerecorded after an initial release in the 80s, as the band weren't strangers to semi-progressive song structures in their Classic Rock tracks, it's good to hear that the band still have life in them despite being around for four decades. I mean, that's more than you could say for The Rolling Stones when they'd been around for three decades!
COMING SOON! A post looking at great vocalists in Rock/Metal and maybe a Rapid Fire post...with a twist!
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