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!