Showdown: Cover Versions, part 4

Back again with another video game post!
If you recall the last time I did a Showdown post about Cover Versions, it was all about WaveGroup Sound covers from the Guitar Hero & Rock Band games. I chose ten songs from different games in the franchises that were covered by WaveGroup Sound and decided whether the original track or faithful cover was superior before coming to the conclusion that on average WaveGroup Sound's covers were just as good as the originals...or are they?
Time for another round of Originals Vs. Covers!

ROUND ONE: Godzilla
Blue Oyster Cult - As far as Blue Oyster Cult riffs go, this one is probably a 6/10. Incredibly simplistic but memorable. However, the highlight of this song has to be the guitar solos and guitar licks throughout the track. Plenty for aspiring guitarists to sink their teeth into and there's also a nifty little bass solo in the middle too. I wouldn't call it the band's best track but it definitely belongs in GH.
WaveGroup Sound - Props to the guitarist for fucking nailing it on this recording! The main difference between this and the original has to be the bass solo, reduced and converted to guitar to avoid the long pause in the actual song. However, it doesn't feel out of place or forced if you're familiar with the original and it fits in perfectly if the song is new to you.
VERDICT - Right, let's think about this for a minute. On the one hand, I love Blue Oyster Cult and their original sounds a little less harsh on the ears than the cover. On the other, this is a damn good cover by WaveGroup Sound and whilst it may not improve on the original, it recreates it with care and detail. I think I'm giving the win to Blue Oyster Cult, but WaveGroup Sound deserve a shout-out for this cover in particular.

ROUND TWO: Killer Queen
Queen - I'm not a big fan of this song compared to other Queen hits. It's catchy, sure, but it's also kind of plain. It's a bit safe for a song with such a great title, plus Brian May's guitar isn't exactly exciting by any stretch. At least Freddie Mercury's vocals are as flawless as ever so this song would make a fun addition to karaoke evenings or vocal-based games, maybe not guitar ones.
WaveGroup Sound - Two things should become apparent when hearing this cover. First of all, the fuck's up with their Mock Freddie? They couldn't find anyone better than that guy? Secondly, there's a lot more guitar in this cover. Just as well really, it'd be a little embarrassing for the first game in the Guitar Hero series to have to rely on charting keys for guitar when there are so many proper Rock songs in existence. At least Mock Brian's guitar sort of sounds right during the solos.
VERDICT - Clearly the WaveGroup Sound version was more appropriate for GH due to the added guitar but I'm giving the win to Queen just for sounding better overall. Why they included the master recording of this track in Guitar Hero: Smash Hits over David Bowie or Red Hot Chili Peppers, I'm not sure.

ROUND THREE: Woman
Wolfmother - The most well known Wolfmother song with their...I'm going to say "classic" sound. A heavy gallop and a great riff. It's got some decent guitar in it although there comes a point halfway through where it kind of goes batshit with dissonant organ solos and such. A wacky but decent Hard Rock track that arrives and departs on a loud note, great for GH2.
WaveGroup Sound - Hmmmm...the vocalist is no Andrew Stockdale but the guitar and drums seem alright. I also like the added guitar solo over the organs in the middle section. It's a little wacky and out there like the rest of the song and works with the rest of the track, even if it's not as fun as the added "Ziggy Stardust" or "All The Young Dudes" solos.
VERDICT - My feelings for Wolfmother have been made loud and clear on the blog before but I'm giving this win to WaveGroup Sound. I know the vocalist doesn't stand out as much as Andrew Stockdale but I think I actually prefer him after listening a couple of times, although if you like Andrew's vocals then the original is for you.

ROUND FOUR: Metal Health (Bang Your Head)
Quiet Riot - As far as Hair Metal goes, this has to be one of the top tracks of the genre. It's an anthem for the Rock lifestyle right down to the epic riff and twin solos. It's a shame this band are arguably more well known for a shitty cover of a Slade song but at least they'll always have this track up their sleeves too.
WaveGroup Sound - I never understood why this song was chosen to be one of the first tracks on-disc when the cover version would need to be toned down. The first solo has been removed completely and the second is less intense than the one in the original outro. At least the band are suitable, even if the vocalist is a little too close to KISS for him to be truly spot on.
VERDICT - Definitely Quiet Riot for this one. The cover is like a radio edit that hasn't been bloody shortened. It's a shame Guitar Hero couldn't get the original version of this at some point but at least it's available as RB DLC.

ROUND FIVE: La Grange
ZZ Top - I love this song but I've always had one massive problem with it; it's not powerful enough. The drums are too soft and the guitars need to sound a lot heavier when the bass is introduced. At least the guitar solos are good and the boogie rhythm carries the song all the way to the end without getting boring like most Blues Rock tracks.
WaveGroup Sound - Now THIS cover gets it right! Not only in the heavier mix but the vocalist sounds better suited to the song as well. But wait, there's more! Since this was recorded specifically for Guitar Hero, you can bet your bottom dollar that the guitar solos are both faithful and fun. Final cherry on top? This cover actually ends as opposed to the original fading out. Perfect pick for GH3!
VERDICT - Again, I like ZZ Top (to some extent) but the win has been well earned by WaveGroup Sound. I'd love to hear them cover "Cheap Sunglasses", as that song suffers the same issues.

ROUND SIX: Story Of My Life
Social Distortion - I would love to take this song back in time to the 70's and play it to The Sex Pistols, telling them that this country-blend is what their pisspot of a joke genre becomes in less than 20 years. Anyway, enough Punk bashing. I do actually like this song a lot and the Rock ballad structure makes for a fun little tune that can be carried for over five minutes without making me want to blow my brains out.
WaveGroup Sound - This was my first experience with the song so I'll try not to let that bias cloud my judgement. The guitar melody sounds a lot clearer in this cover although some of you might find a few guitar riffs distracting. You know the ones that I mean, the ones that sound like overdrive guitar on a MIDI track.
VERDICT - Gun to head, I'm going to say WaveGroup Sound gets this one for the clearer mix and better build up throughout the song that you only really notice if you listen to the track outside of playing it on GH3.

ROUND SEVEN: I Know A Little
Lynyrd Skynyrd - You can't help but tap your foot to this one! It sounds like it's been plucked straight out of a 50's Diner but with a Southern Rock twist in the form of a slide guitar AND piano solo. It may not be as popular among the casual fans as "Simple Man" or "Sweet Home Alabama" but this song definitely deserves more recognition...then again, you could say that about a lot of pre-plane crash Skynyrd songs.
WaveGroup Sound - I have to say, the vocalist does a cracking job here. Sure the rest of the band get it right too but it's a lot harder to impersonate a vocalist (especially one like Ronnie Van Zant) than a bassist. It's an incredibly faithful cover, right down to the piano solo.
VERDICT - Last time, I gave Lynyrd Skynyrd the win for "Free Bird". This time, I think the win should go to WaveGroup Sound for a superb cover rounding off GH: On Tour. The only sadness is that this track never got a chance on console GH/RB titles, but there's still a thread of hope. A few years ago, I would've confidently told you that this song isn't available for GH/RB due to complications with Skynyrd master recordings but now that there are tracks from Street Survivors in Rock Band, I don't know what to believe.

ROUND EIGHT: Tom Sawyer
Rush - I fucking love everything about this song, from the multitude of awesome riffs/fills/solos played on each instrument to the badass lyrics that I wish I fully knew (there are times when I try as hard as I can to understand Geddy Lee but ultimately fail). I'm glad Rock Band got the original version of this track as DLC (Guitar Hero too, albeit over a year late) as you can't beat playing along to the one and only on plastic guitar, although I imagine the members of Rush would disagree since they couldn't even beat the song when they played it on RB years ago.
WaveGroup Sound - It's a noble attempt but let's not fool around here, this cover is a silver medal at best. It just sounds too clean without the little things like the echo or Geddy's screeching vocals (again, it's almost like the guy who does the KISS covers got the wrong memo). Granted there are many things the song gets right such as the space-age synth effects but you can't beat the original. Also, fuck off with that Big Rock Ending outro.
VERDICT - WaveGroup Sound win...of course not! Seriously, what did you expect? It's Rush all the way.

ROUND NINE: The Number Of The Beast
Iron Maiden - Gee, I wonder who'll win this one. No no, let's do this fairly. This is probably Iron Maiden's biggest song next to "Run To The Hills" but this is definitely the superior track of the two. Awesome riff, great bass to match the guitars, dynamite vocals and some superb drumming too. It's an all-round top notch track and I'm so fucking glad GH3 got the master recording of this, otherwise I probably wouldn't love this band as much as I do now.
WaveGroup Sound - Credit where due, this is a pretty sweet cover. The vocalist does a stellar job of matching Bruce Dickinson and dare I say screams better during the intro than Bruce has ever done live. The bassist has also done a good job of emulating Steve Harris although I'm not overly keen on the mix of this track. The drums sound a little too prominent, although that might just be the version I'm listening to.
VERDICT - It's actually quite a tough call (no, really) but I'm going with Iron Maiden. The WaveGroup Sound version sounds like the band members are flagging a little bit towards the end, especially in the vocal and guitar department. Whilst WaveGroup Sound may have had their work cut out for them topping Iron Maiden for this piece of Rock Band DLC, they certainly put up one hell of a fight.

ROUND TEN: Green Grass And High Tides
The Outlaws - Another Showdown, another Southern Rock epic! This ~10 minute boss of a song follows the same formula as "Free Bird", "Highway Song" and "Fall Of The Peacemakers" where the first half is relatively slow and relaxing and the second rips the knob off with furious guitar duelling solos. However, what separates this from those tracks is that unlike Skynyrd and Molly Hatchet, The Outlaws have filled the relaxing half with cool soloing as well. It may be well over nine minutes long but it definitely has more packed into it than any other Southern Rock epic I can think of.
WaveGroup Sound - The grand finale of Rock Band and a strong cover too. The bass in this mix is a little stronger than the original (which sounds awesome during the faster parts) and the guitar solos are lovingly recreated almost to the exact detail. Each band member gives it their all and if they were playing Rock Band, they'd be looking at gold stars all round!
VERDICT - For what I believe to be the better mix and for completing the impossible task of recording a note perfect rendition of this 9:45 epic, which I imagine must've been so fucking stressful in the studio, WaveGroup Sound get the win here. Again, it's a shame neither GH or RB got the master recording of this great track but at least we got something as good as this cover.


...well, this is a little awkward.
WaveGroup Sound walk away with five wins yet again. I can assure you, this wasn't deliberately planned. However, it's pretty cool that on two separate occasions, I've come to the conclusion that WaveGroup Sound are as strong as the bands they're covering when it comes to rerecording in a studio.
As I said last time, there might be a possibility of me returning to a Showdown post with GH/RB covers but it won't be for a while. Either way, let me know if you agree/disagree with my opinions and if you have any WaveGroup Sound covers that you reckon deserve a shout out for being better than the originals.

Tenology: Songs That Sound Better When Sped Up

Bonus Post!
This is to make up for the week I missed in March and I figure you might want to read this short little post over a random video game one.

Recently, I learned that you can speed up or slow down videos on Youtube so naturally, I gave several slower songs a listen with the speed increased to 1.25x. Many tracks didn't work at all but surprisingly, quite a few songs actually sounded pretty awesome when sped up slightly.
I've created a playlist of some of these songs on Youtube but the problem with keeping track of things via Youtube (especially when it's a music playlist) is that videos get deleted quite frequently. As a result, I've chosen to list ten of my favourite sped up songs here so that I can find them again even if some prick deletes them off Youtube.
If you have any suggestions for songs that'd sound just as good (or arguably better) when sped up, let me know in the comments or via Twitter. Also, feel free to let me know if any of the embedded Youtube videos get removed and I need to replace them.

WARNING! YOU MAY NEED A COUPLE OF LISTENS TO THE ORIGINAL/SLOWER VERSIONS OF THESE SONGS IF YOU EVER WANT TO HEAR THEM THE SAME AGAIN!


1. "Night Moves" - Bob Seger
(wait until the drums come in, it sounds like The Doobie Brothers)




2. "Sweet Child O' Mine" - Guns N' Roses
(I finally found a way to fix Axl's voice...sort of)




3. "Man In The Box" - Alice In Chains
(less Alice In Chains, more Velvet Revolver. I love it!)




4. "Nothing Else Matters" - Metallica
(it almost sounds like a Christmas song or sea-shanty, SO much better!)




5. "Bad Company" - Bad Company
(it may not sound less powerful and more...broadway, but it sounds alright enough for this list)




6. "Everything About You" - Ugly Kid Joe
(the Poison vibe is strong with this one!)




7. "Time Is Running Out" - Muse
(I can imagine a band like Paramore rocking a sped up cover of this)




8. "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" - Blue Oyster Cult
(obviously I prefer the original but it's cool to hear this song if covered by The Ventures)




9. "Crazy Train" - Ozzy Osbourne
(the rest of the song is kinda...yeah...but at least the riff sounds cooler!)




10. "Do You Feel Like We Do?" - Peter Frampton
(closest I can get to creating a studio version of the Frampton Comes Alive version, although shame about the Disco sound)




Honourable Mentions

"Green Tinted Sixties Mind" - Mr. Big
"Jump" - Van Halen
"Hot Blooded" - Foreigner
"Rosalie" - Thin Lizzy
"Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground" - The White Stripes*
"Don't Stop Believing" - Journey
"The Zoo" - Scorpions
"Same Old Song And Dance" - Aerosmith


Thanks for reading/listening! I'll see if I can find something to review either next week or the week after.


* Fun fact! You can hear Meg White changing the tempo between 1:28-1:34 due to being a shit drummer a lot clearer when everything's sped up.

Tenology: Inferior Signature Songs

Every band worth their salt has at least one signature song, one track that you automatically think of when someone mentions that band. Signature songs don't necessarily or exclusively mean "most popular tracks" or "highest selling singles", they're just songs that are closely associated with that band for any variety of reasons.
Sometimes, the signature song is a perfect representation of the band's material and generally does contain riffs, solos or lyrics regarded as some of the band's finest, e.g. "Free Bird" - Lynyrd Skynyrd or "Highway To Hell" - AC/DC. However, there are instances where a band's signature song divides opinion and fans of the band will happily list a string of tracks they believe to be greater or more deserving of critical acclaim.
This blog post will take a look at ten signature songs I believe have been wrongfully assigned, as well as tracks I would consider more noteworthy or better suited when compared to the rest of the band's back catalogue. Naturally, some of you are bound to disagree with my opinions on these songs so feel free to correct/educate me in the comment section if there are signature songs you believe need adjusting.


1. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" - Nirvana
I don't think I've ever liked this song but I would feel more confident arguing that it's a poor signature song over a poor song in general. Nirvana are widely regarded as the signature band for the entire Grunge genre so you'd think their signature song would be a Grunge staple, right? Wrong. It's basically Alternative with a mainstream Rock riff, not to mention a shitty solo that copies the vocal melody. It sounds like a song that was deliberately written to be top of the charts, flying in the face of the Grunge movement.
If I had to pick a Nirvana track that should be their signature song over this...hmm, tricky choice. Tracks like "Lithium" or "Heart Shaped Box" sound more like Nirvana classics that reflect the rest of their music to me. On a personal level, I prefer songs like "Breed" or "Very Ape" but I know they're poor choices for signature songs.


2. "Cat Scratch Fever" - Ted Nugent
Fuck me, this riff is boring. Not only that but everything else sounds fatigued and dull too, from the simple drumbeat to the tired vocals. Say what you want about The Nuge's wacky personality and asshole politics but if there's one thing he can do properly, it's write killer guitar licks. Songs like "The Great White Buffalo" - Ted Nugent's Amboy Dukes or "Just What The Doctor Ordered" from his first solo album are perfect for lovers of guitar-based Hard Rock, the polar opposite of this song that sounds like it was hastily cobbled together so Ted could clock in some extra hours at the shooting range instead.
Which songs are superior to this one? Well, most of them, if I'm honest. However, I reckon "Stormtroopin'" is a perfect signature song. Great riff? Yup. Tidy structure? Check. Passable solo perfect for casual listeners? Three for three! You could argue "Stranglehold" is one of Ted's signature songs too but I wouldn't rate that song highly either, as I tend to nod off after the third minute of listening to it.


3. "I Want You To Want Me" - Cheap Trick
I'm pretty sure Cheap Trick aren't huge fans of this song either, considering how much they've changed it since originally recording it. Compare the tame Beatlesque sound to the rougher edged live version from At Budoken or recent live performances and you can tell the band weren't happy with the song. To me, it doesn't seem right that a band's signature song is one they weren't happy with (note that this is different to when a band gradually falls out of love with their signature song, such as Led Zeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven"), especially when said song doesn't showcase the band at their best.
Want some great Cheap Trick tunes? "Stiff Competition" and "He's A Whore" are underrated should-be Rock classics but I reckon "Surrender" is a far better signature song, even if I don't personally like it that much. It's catchy, it's more of a Rock song and it's one of their biggest hits, if not THE biggest.


4. "Jump" - Van Halen
I've talked about this song on the blog before and I still believe it's an "upbeat, Hard Pop poster child for the Disney generation's definition of "Rock"" that barely begins to reflect the band's music. It's too clean and friendly to represent Van Halen, not to mention the fact that the main riff and half of the solo is played on a fucking synth. I'd be curious to hear what the song actually sounds like played entirely on guitar, although I reckon it wouldn't sound much better anyway.
To be honest, you could pick practically any of Van Halen's singles and choose a more appropriate signature song than "Jump" but to save you some time, I'd vote for either "Runnin' With The Devil", "Hot For Teacher" or "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love". I guess "Eruption" would also fit the bill, if you can call that a song. Signature solo, easily. Signature song, doubtful.


5. "Wheels Of Steel" - Saxon
I personally believe Saxon's lack of success when compared to other British Metal bands is due to this song being so popular. It's a mediocre Metal track designed to be played on the radio and destined to be used on Hard Rock compilation albums, nothing more or less. The riff is simple, the solo is basic and the song's structure gets repetitive pretty fast. The average Metal fan wanting to learn more about Saxon would probably write them off as a generic outfit if this was the first song they listened to.
However, anyone who's given the band a fair chance will tell you that they have much, MUCH better material that truly represents their sound and aggression. Songs like "Princess Of The Night" and "Power And The Glory" (even if the latter is a little similar to "2 Minutes To Midnight" - Iron Maiden) should come straight to mind when you think of Saxon, even "747 (Strangers In The Night)" would do.


6. "Don't Stop Believin'" - Journey
Another song I've discussed before and another song that is too "Disney" to be reflect this Arena Rock band. I'm aware the show Glee shot this song back into mainstream popularity but it was hardly a B-side before that fucking show or even before Family Guy used it once. What I can't understand is why this track became Journey's signature song. It's not based around an epic riff or solo (in fact, the song's chord sequence has been recycled throughout Rock since Pachelbel's Canon) and the lyrical themes are pretty trite, even for 80's Arena Rock standards.
Compare this to tracks such as "Wheel In The Sky" with better overall guitarwork or "Any Way You Want It" with much more of an upbeat sound. Hell, even "Stone In Love" from the same album would've been more enjoyable to listen to, although probably less enjoyable to sing along to.


7. "Master Of Puppets" - Metallica
Don't get me wrong, I like this track! It's loaded with awesome riffs and the first section of the song is a perfect example of Metal done right. However, I would argue that this is a poor signature song for the band. Most Metallica songs start with a soft section before getting more aggressive, whereas this track starts fast and slows everything down in the middle. Also, I still maintain the controversial opinion that this song has a pretty weak solo. It takes ages to build up and then it's over before you know it, unlike other Metallica songs that get the balance between song and solo spot on.
It's tricky to nail which songs would be better suited, as the band has two distinct sounds. If you want a signature song to reflect the band's Thrash Metal material across their first four albums, something like "Battery" would probably be more suitable. However, if you want a signature song for the band's music that softened into plain old Metal, "Enter Sandman" is the only track to choose.


8. "Aqualung" - Jethro Tull
Again, I can't fault the track from a standalone viewpoint. Perfect solo, decent riff, great structure, a top notch song. However, anyone who's listened to more than about four Jethro Tull songs will tell you that "Aqualung" is the odd one out. For starters, it actually has a proper guitar solo. It's also pretty fast paced during the middle section. Oh, and then there's the matter of the missing flute! Ian Anderson's flutework is a staple of Jethro Tull's music in itself so a track that lacks it seems like an odd choice for the band's signature song, even if it is a great song.
When it comes to Prog Rock, signature songs aren't really commonplace unless it's one of those Prog-Gone-Pop bands such as Genesis or Yes. Jethro Tull never really went as Pop as other bands in the same genre but if I had to pick some replacement signature songs, I'd probably go with "Living In The Past" or "Locomotive Breath".


9. "Since You Been Gone" - Rainbow
After Richie Blackmore left Deep Purple and formed Rainbow with Ronnie James Dio, he essentially created another Deep Purple but with more fantasy-inspired lyrics and complex music. This wouldn't be a problem except for the fact that "Since You Been Gone" is the band's most well known song among casual Rock fans. This song is as basic as they come with a simplistic riff and catchy chorus, likely written due to the departure of Ronnie James Dio. It's not a bad song but it's nowhere near as awesome as the average Rainbow song.
Even tracks written after this had better riffs and solos more appropriate for Rainbow. Songs such as "Stargazer", "Kill The King" and "Long Live Rock & Roll" should spring to mind when you think of Rainbow, not this track.


10. "Paranoid" - Black Sabbath
Much like other songs/bands on this list, this is one of several signature songs belonging to the group. However, unlike those entries, I've started to run out of ideas by number 10 on this list so stick with me through this and we can make it to the end together. I like "Paranoid" and Black Sabbath but when you listen to this track in comparison to the rest of the band's material, I would argue that it isn't as representative of their pioneering Heavy Metal music.
Obviously "War Pigs" and "Iron Man" are regarded as some of the other signature songs but if I had to rank them in any order, "Paranoid" would either be right at the bottom or not at all. Superb track but not as heavy as better known tunes by the band.

Once again, let me know if there are any inferior signature songs you believe I've missed either on the comment section or via Twitter.

How To Make A Memorable Music Moment

Apologies for the missing blog post last week as I was recovering from what I can only describe as the perfect storm of a chest infection and a bit of a cold. I'm feeling a bit better now so I'm coming back with a bang or at least a noisy whimper.

I'm sure you've all seen a TV show or film that uses a song so well that it skyrockets both the TV show/film/video game and that song's popularity for a few days on social media. Maybe it was used to choreograph a fight scene, maybe it enhanced a running gag or maybe it simply played in the background in place of unnecessary dialogue during a plot-advancing montage.
Either way, there are ways to go about choosing a great song to enhance a moment and hopefully this blog post will teach you some of those ways...or, at the very least, make it look like I know how to teach you those ways.

1. Know Your Moment
It should go without saying but it's important to make sure you understand the emotion behind your moment. Once you know whether you want to make the audience laugh, cry or sit with eyes transfixed on the screen, it'll be a lot easier to choose the right song. If you want to make a moment funnier, you're probably better off choosing a song with context-appropriate lyrics. If you want to make a moment emotional, choose a song that doesn't overshadow the drama on-screen. If you want to make a fight scene awesome, choose a Hard Rock song. Any Hard Rock song, you probably won't fuck it up.

2. Choreography
Whatever's happening on screen has to match up with the song you choose. I'm not saying it needs to hit each literal beat like the "Don't Stop Me Now" scene in Shaun Of The Dead but if you're doing a car chase, a fast-paced 4/4 song is the most sensible option and if things are happening in slow motion, you want a track with a BPM below 100. I suppose those points would apply to the first point more than this one so let's talk more about ACTUAL choreography.
If you're starting off calm and building up to something explosive (whether it's a fight, death or moment of betrayal), you're better off finding a song that syncs up musically to what's happening on screen, even if it means a bit of creative editing. Sure, it's hardly an inspired move but if you pick the right song, it'll sound and look awesome. If you know and love your music, you'll find it easy to pair the rhythm of a song to the rhythm of what's happening on screen.

3. Well Known Or Not Well Known?
Let's say you've got your moment sorted out and just need to decide which song to play over it. You've narrowed it down to two perfect choices; one of them is relatively unknown but fits the scene perfectly, the other is a household track that also fits perfectly but will probably cost more to license and may have been used way better in a different show. Well, each case is unique but if the song has been used in an iconic scene(s) before then you're probably better off using something different and creating a brand new moment with a song that people will mostly associate with your scene.
At the same time, sometimes moments are elevated because the song is well known but fits perfectly with what's happening too. I remember the TV show Supernatural using "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" during a scene where a jogger is killed by a Reaper. The great thing about using that track was that the song's riff is well known enough for the average person to instantly connect the dots after hearing it, meaning they could let the music do the talking whilst the action happens on screen. As I said, each case is different but it's definitely worth researching whether or not people have probably already made psychological connections between a song and a great scene.

4. Don't Oversaturate
If you get one awesome moment thanks to the perfect use of a song, you've done something right. If you get two in one episode/film/game, you'll be lucky. Any more than that is an extreme rarity with good reason. Having one or two memorable music moments means your work is more focused and the moment is one of the highlights of the production, whereas having several in a short space likely means each moment is decent but none truly memorable in the grand scheme of things.
You can compare it to a finite quantity of awesome that each episode or whatever is allowed and the more you spread it out through moments attempting to be memorable, you more diluted each moment will become. Obviously you want to make your production memorable in more than one way but if you try to pack it full of Wayne's World "Bohemian Rhapsody" clips, you risk bombarding the viewer with too much.

5. Context Is Everything
This is essentially a summary of the previous points all rolled up into one final observation. If there's a creative way you can use a song's title/chorus to mean something other than what the songwriter intended, that can potentially create an awesome moment. Once you've picked your song, listen to the lyrics and see if they also link to what's happening in the episode/film/game. If not, maybe you'd be better finding another song or maybe you need to think about which part of the song to emphasise. Finally, is the audience going to have any kind of negative connotation with hearing that section of music in that way? If not, sounds like you have the makings of a memorable music moment!


If I don't post anything tomorrow, I'll aim to get two posts done next week although one will almost certainly be video game related.

White Bear - The Temperance Movement

I've been meaning to check this album out for a couple of weeks now and luckily, I didn't have anything else to write about. Hardly a great intro for this review but hey, at least I'm shooting straight.

Not heard of these guys? Well here's a brief lesson that you're probably better off ignoring in favour of a Wikipedia summary. The Temperance Movement sprung up a few years ago with a solid debut featuring a couple of great standout tracks blending modern songwriting with riffing and supporting music inspired by 60's Rock, right down to Phil Campbell's raw Bluesy vocals (no, not THAT Phil Campbell). It wasn't the incredible commercial breakthrough that something like Royal Blood's debut achieved but it was enough to make me want to hear more of their material.
Album opener "Three Bullets" is a solid introduction to the new album that does more to appropriately tease the following half an hour of music than the flimsy title track. It's not as punchy as one of my personal favourites from their last album ("Take It Back") but it establishes a few key things about the band that have changed since 2013. Firstly, they're still Rocking out but have toned it down a little. Secondly, whilst there are noticeable influences from older Rock bands here and there which I'll get onto later, they've evolved into more of a modern sound.
The Garage Rock guitars have been swapped for contemporary Hard Rock ones and the bass has grown some fuzz since it was last played, although the drums are still pounding and the vocals are still suitably abrasive. I'm not sure if the band have chosen to adapt because it's the musical direction they want to follow or if it's an attempt to attract a more modern audience but the change in sound is somewhat commendable if it was down to the former decision, although maybe a little premature seeing as how the band's debut is arguably stronger.

I've praised bands for sticking with their original sound across albums when they're still in their salad days, as there's no point changing a successful formula when it clearly works. Mixing things up is fine when you're a few albums in and don't want to become stale but when you've only released one or two albums, you can probably ride the train a little further before changing lines. Either way, what's done is done and The Temperance Movement haven't made a complete fuck up like many other bands before them.
One of the album's lead singles blends the band's Southern-inspired riffing with contemporary Rock ("Oh Lorraine") and it's not the only one on-disc, although it's probably the strongest. "The Sun And Moon Roll Around Too Soon" is a perfect example of 21st Century Rock, from the simplistic but effective rhythm to the needlessly lengthy song title and "Get Yourself Free" could easily be a Bluesy B-side from a modern Aerosmith album, in a good way. However, despite transitioning into Temperance Movement 2.0 in both songwriting and musical tone, someone in the band still likes his Rock to be Classic.
"Magnify" has the upbeat footstomping feel of a 70's Rolling Stones track, "Battle Lines" inadvertently plagiarises a Dio title track from 1984 in both riff and structure (although I do like the song) and "Do The Revelation" closes the album on a positive note with some Funk Rock reminiscent of Lenny Kravitz, all tuned up and performed for the Spotify generation. Then there are the softer almost Indie/Alternative tracks such as the title track and "I Hope I'm Not Losing My Mind" that have no place on the album, presumably included to add a bit of variety OR land better with the kind of trendy blogging audience that listen to The Lumineers or Family Of The Year or some other Pitchfork wank-material.

If I had to focus on one negative trait, I'd say that White Bear decidedly vaults over the line separating Varied and Inconsistent. The album covers Hard Rock, Funk Rock, Modern Rock, Alternative Rock, Southern Rock, Blues Rock and bog standard Rock Rock, admittedly all done quite well although ultimately unnecessarily. Covering this many genres is something established bands or solo artists can get away with about a decade into their career when they're "experimenting" and trying to redefine themselves after their particular musical subgenre has died/is dying, not fresh new acts that have barely finished coning their first groupies.
Overall though, it's a good follow-up to their self-titled debut if you have a wider appreciation for Rock music old and new. Compared to albums like World On Fire - Slash or Dystopia - Megadeth that were made for fans of the respective Hard Rock and Metal genres, there's no specific classification or demographic for this album that can't be disputed. I guess if you're happy listening to anything with a strong rhythm and decent riffs, this album is probably for you but if you prefer more focused albums firmly belonging to just a couple of genres, you might enjoy a couple of tracks although it's unlikely you'll rate the album as a whole.
Speaking of rating, I'm giving it a 6/10. It's well recorded and fairly well written, if not a little plain at times, but it's also here a bit too soon. The cynical part of me that thinks this is the band's attempt at appealing to the festival-going crowd (possibly at the request of the producer) without wanting to alienate existing fans is overpowering the optimistic part of me that believes it's just the band trying a new flavour out. You might rate this album higher if you prefer modern sounding Rock but I like my Rock to Rock, which is what about 60% of this album does.
Whether or not The Temperance Movement will return to their rough-edged sound or go full-on Indie Folk for their third album is up in the air although if they release another White Bear, I doubt I'll lose any sleep.

Shout Out: The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Plays The Music Of Rush - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

It's been a while since I did a Shout Out post so here's a quick one until I can either review a new album or write a fun opinion post.
I haven't really talked about the relationship between Rock/Metal and orchestral music on this blog in detail before, which I guess is understandable. Sometimes it works incredibly well and you get a score so epic that even your goosebumps get goosebumps when listening to it and sometimes, to paraphrase Slayer's Kerry King, it's just masturbation on the band's part. However, for the most part, I'm in favour of not only mixing orchestrated music with Rock but also full-on orchestrated covers of Rock music, hence this blog post.

If you dedicate a little bit of time to searching for the right albums on Spotify, you can find many Rock-based orchestra cover albums (not the Vitamin String Quartet, I mean full orchestra although they're great as well) that are worth a listen. Most of them are compilations and contain a variety of different iconic Rock tracks but this post was written to recommend one in particular.
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Plays The Music Of Rush.
This album contains nine of Rush's biggest hits between their 1974 debut and 1982 album Signals translated into a grand orchestral score. Even if you're not a huge fan of the original Rush songs, the covers are perfectly arranged as if they were written specifically for a feature film and do each track perfect justice. There's also good use of vocals in a few tracks, whether it's the single line tail ending "2112 Overture" or the choir used throughout the chorus of "Subdivisions", giving the tracks a little more of a live feel to them.
As the cover art would suggest, there's an air of mysticism about the covers as well and the choice of instruments reflects this. Not only that but as the album progresses, the tracks become more whimsical and fantastical too. The choice of tracklist order means that you'll probably get the most out of this collection by listening to the whole thing from start to finish rather than just picking out your favourite Rush tunes first and giving the others a listen afterwards, although there's easily repeat value to be had in revisiting your preferred covers afterwards.

Whilst there are dozens of bands that deserve the honour of having their music covered by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, there's something about Rush's music that seems to fit the bill more than, say, Metallica or R.E.M. If you could argue that Rush's original music could accompany travelling through space, these dynamic covers would easily accompany travelling into the unknown anywhere in (or outside) the universe due to the mix of traditional orchestra instruments and contemporary Rock-based ones. After all, you can't have a Rock/Orchestra album without some guitars and kit percussion!
One of the best tracks that showcases the blend of these styles is probably "Red Barchetta", breaking into a back-and-forth between acoustic strings and electric riffing shortly before an extended solo that I would rate higher than Alex Lifeson's on the actual record. If I had to find a fault in this collection, I'd have to say that it could've done with a couple of extra tracks, as this album follows the tradition of Rush compilations by choosing a significant portion of songs from Moving Pictures. This wouldn't be a problem if there were more than nine songs, as it would've been good to hear "Time Stand Still" or a faster track like "Bastille Day" too.
Overall though, this is a fantastic collection of orchestrated Rock. A must-listen for fans of both genres and hopefully there'll be a Royal Philharmonix Orchestra Plays The Music Of Rush, Part 2 out in the future, even if all their best known tunes are on this album. That being said, they could always cover the rest of "2112" or more modern tracks like "Headlong Flight", maybe even "YYZ" (I know it's from Moving Pictures but that doesn't mean it can't be split onto a second covers album)?

1. 2112 Overture

2. The Spirit Of Radio

3. Tom Sawyer

4. Subdivisions

5. Closer To The Heart

6. Red Barchetta

7. Limelight

8. Working Man

9. Fly By Night

ALBUM RATING - 9/10

What Rush songs would you like covered by a full orchestra? In fact, which Rock/Metal songs by any band would you love to hear given the same treatment? Let me know on Twitter or the comment section and feel free to request any blog posts you'd like me to write or think about writing too.

Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock

Back to video game posts again!

In 2010, Activision released Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock, probably my favourite GH game due to improved gameplay features, challenges & the soundtrack. There were problems with the game's "innovations" and a lot of casual gamers and fans found the whole transformation aspect kind of silly, not to mention the Quest Mode making the game's more challenging setlist so much easier to play with unnecessary power-ups.
However, if you love Hard Rock and guitar based songs, the game's soundtrack is one of the best in the entire series in my opinion. There are a few duff choices here and there that were likely picked due to cheap licensing or to appease American 12-year olds that probably made up a large percentage of people who bought the game but the majority of songs are great.
Just like my posts about Guitar Hero 3: Legends Of Rock and Rock Band 4, I'm going to briefly discuss each track in the game's main setlist (93 in total, if you separate each part of "2112" - Rush) along with a Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down depending on my personal verdict of the track. Be warned though, I'm going to be extra harsh in my verdicts this time. Time to revisit one of my favourite game soundtracks!

"Again" - Flyleaf
Alright, once again we're starting off weak. These kind of shitty modern Rock songs do absolutely nothing for me. The vocalist usually sounds so affected and whiny that they might as well be singing about how unfair high school is, the guitarist lacks any kind of flair (resulting in a mediocre chart) and the other band members don't even deserve an insult in this sentence. I give Paramore shit for writing songs that may as well be called "OMG Like, It's SOOO Hard Being Hot" but Flyleaf are even crappier. THUMBS DOWN.

"Aqualung" - Jethro Tull
I remember growing to love this song after playing it on Rock Band: Unplugged. It's also pretty fun on Rock Band 2 but I definitely prefer playing it on this game. Even though the first and last thirds of the song are relatively uneventful, that second section more than makes up for it. Once the tempo is kicked up a notch, the song becomes even better and the final cherry on top is a fantastic guitar solo. It may not be as technically impressive as the average Metal solo but it's still fun to play, especially if you're still learning the ropes (although the faster chord progression is probably more of a challenge for you). I suppose Harmonix should get a big thank you, as I doubt it would've made it into GHWOR if not for being fun in RB2 first. THUMBS UP.

"Bat Country" - Avenged Sevenfold
One of about four songs that were CONSTANTLY being picked online because ZOMG A7X!!!11!! Yes, the song is fun on guitar and yes, it's good to listen to as well but it can get tiresome if you keep listening to it. I would say the chart is better than the Rock Band DLC version and the solo involves less rapid strumming, making it a lot more fun when it comes to going for an FC run, even if it also has the obligatory softer section that every Avenged Sensitivefold track is plagued with. THUMBS UP.

"Been Caught Stealing" - Jane's Addiction
A logical choice for the game, as it has a pretty fun chart and it's one of the band's bigger hits. I'm not a big Jane's Addiction fan but I liked playing this one, especially when it comes to the solo. There may be a few moments that easy to choke but at least the rest of the song is fun enough to make me want to keep playing through to the end. However, if you couldn't tell already, the bass is easily the highlight of this song. Worth including just for that bass chart alone. THUMBS UP.

"Black Rain" - Soundgarden
When this game was being developed, it was announced that Soundgarden were going to release a new compilation album and include one of their old unreleased tracks on this game. Unfortunately, the song is terrible and the guitar chart is pretty cruddy to say the least. When it comes to Soundgarden, they've either got really great Hard Rock tracks or really shite Grunge ones. "Spoonman" is so much fucking better than "Black Hole Sun" and the first half of "Rusty Cage" will always be better than the slower second half which sounds like a piss poor tribute to Black Sabbath. This lame choice falls into the latter category and was probably only picked to promote the Telephantasm album and Soundgarden DLC being released after the game's launch. THUMBS DOWN.

"Black Widow Of La Porte" - John 5
Brace yourself, buckos! This song may not be the game's Final Boss but it definitely has one of the hardest guitar charts in GHWOR. Every technique, every difficult skill, everything that makes a song challenging is used here in this 7 minute instrumental. Just when you think the song's passed the "hard bit", it slaps you in the face with a tapping section or mental solo. This is the kind of song that classic GH fans would've killed for after GH3 and thankfully, Activision delivered. THUMBS UP.

"Bleed It Out" - Linkin Park
Fuck Linkin Park. Their music is about as welcome here as a transsexual joke literally anywhere on the Internet now and there's nothing remotely fun about any of their songs on guitar. This is one of the tracks that edgy American tweens would've been wet dreaming themselves over after it was announced, even if it is just the same chords over and over again. If I HAD to pick a Linkin Park song that should've been put in GHWOR instead of this, I'd probably say "Faint" but honestly, I think I would've rather had a game with 92 songs than be forced into listening to these fucking scrubs in order to get the most out of the game. THUMBS DOWN.

"Bloodlines" - Dethklok
Meh, I can take or leave this song. The chart is pretty fun and the solo is great if you can nail every note, I suppose. I can't say I know any other tracks by this band except the ones that are used in those animated BatMetal videos but I reckon this song is a good enough pick. THUMBS UP, just.

"Bodies" - Drowning Pool
Yeah, THAT song. Makes sense that it'd be in this game instead of GH:WT or GH5 but it's still not the greatest choice of on-disc song. It was probably included because a) the guitar chart isn't dull and b) MAXIMUM EDGINESS!!! I don't dislike playing this track but I wouldn't pick it out of choice. I suppose that means it's a THUMBS DOWN.

"Bohemian Rhapsody" - Queen
I talked about this song in my last blog post so let's look at the guitar chart. It's mostly piano aside from the occasional awesome bit of guitar but one of the highlights for this song is the motion capture for the bandmates that happens in the background. Pretty amusing but I wouldn't say it's worth a place on the game. There are a load of other great Queen songs that would've been far more appropriate on GHWOR and more fun on guitar. THUMBS DOWN, even if you all fucking love it.

"Burn" - Deep Purple
I've talked about this one too so if you've read my posts, you'll know it's obviously a THUMBS UP. Awesome guitar chart (even without the keys charted), fun bass, great drums and some epic vocals too. It's a challenging track for each instrument and one of the best choices from the band, although "Highway Star" would've been acceptable too since Neversoft would've charted Jon Lord's organ solo.

"Burnin' For You" - Blue Oyster Cult
One of the band's big commercial hits and it has a couple of tasty solos to boot. A good song to practice if you're not very good at a certain difficulty, I'd imagine. I'm not sure if the rerecord was chosen because the original master recording was unavailable or because Activision wanted to save a bit of cash with licensing (my money's on the latter) but luckily the song is practically identical note for note. Whilst I personally would've preferred a BOC song with more Buck Dharma riffing like "7 Screaming Diz-Busters", this track gets a THUMBS UP for being fun and tidy.

"Call Me The Breeze (Live)" - Lynyrd Skynyrd
I've given it much thought and this song is probably my favourite in the entire game. I know I've said "Burn" and "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" were my favourites in the past but I've made my mind up and this is the one. I fucking loved it when I first played it and I haven't stopped loving it five or so years later. Thankfully, they chose the live version from One More From The Road (see my write-up of it here) and the guitar chart never stops being awesome, even during the piano solo. THUMBS UP all the way!

"Calling" - Strung Out
I'm having a bit of a dilemma here, as I personally find this song insanely fun but I can understand how less experienced players will find this track a complete fucker due to the erratic strumming patterns. Thankfully, it has a cool tapping solo that isn't too tricky and it's a decent modern Rock song too, one that's more appropriate than some of the tweenage-demographic bait that was picked/shoehorned into the Guitar Hero series. THUMBS UP.

"Chemical Warfare" - Slayer
From one wrist-buggering track to another! I definitely have more respect for "War Ensemble" in Guitar Hero: Metallica and even "Raining Blood" in GH3/GH:SH after playing this, even if this song's solo is pretty great. Unfortunately, the majority of the guitar throughout the rest of the song is horrible unless you love beating the shit out of your strum bar. If it was included literally just to be a nightmare for Expert guitar players, it does its job. If it was picked to be fun, it fails miserably. For that reason, I'm gonna say THUMBS DOWN as there are almost certainly more fun Slayer tracks like "Spirit In Black".

"Cherry Bomb" - The Runaways
Fuck no, fuck no, fuck no. Boring chord progression, tiresome strumming and a shit solo. Oh, and it's Female Punk so every "CHIRRY BAHM!!" in the chorus is the auditory equivalent of a screeching baby on a plane. Nothing redeemable about this song and I have no fucking idea why Activision picked a rerecording of this track when something by Blondie or Heart with some actual fucking balls would've been a lot better. THUMBS DOWN.

"Children Of The Grave" - Black Sabbath
It's probably not the Black Sabbath song that most Metal fans would've picked but it's a damn good one all the same. There's some kind of issue with Black Sabbath master recordings so I think only Master Of Reality was available to use. Guitar is great and the bass is fucking incredible but it would've been kinda cool to have some Dio era Black Sabbath in GH, if the masters were available. Still, THUMBS UP.

"Cryin'" - Aerosmith
After Aerosmith got their own game full of guitar-centric songs, people were unsure about whether or not they'd turn up in GH again. They may have had a few repeat songs released across different games but their first new song turned up in GHWOR and it was fucking shite! It sounds like the kind of toss that plays in cheesy clubs and acts as a handy reminder that Aerosmith are probably Hard Rock's biggest pussies. The one saving grace is that the guitar is kind of fun if you can stomach the actual song but since there are a bunch of songs that deserved a spot on-disc over this one, it's easily a THUMBS DOWN.

"Dance, Dance" - Fall Out Boy
"OMG, I LOVE FALL OUT BOY!!!" said someone I probably hate after this song was announced. Guitar is dull and since "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs" was released as GH5 DLC, there isn't another song I would substitute for this one by these drips. At least the song is short so you don't have to spend long listening to it but that's not enough to stop the THUMBS DOWN I'm giving it.

"Dancing Through Sunday" - AFI
Somebody at Activision must love these guys, since I haven't heard anything about them outside of GH/RB. Thankfully, the songs they pick tend to be fun on guitar and this is no exception. It's also pretty short but there's a lot of great guitar packed into it including a fairly tricky solo if you're going for an FC; just try not to laugh as you imagine the vocalist singing "I'm an asshole" during the chorus. THUMBS UP.

"Deadfall" - Snot
OK, on the surface it's a dumb song. However, if you keep playing it, it can kind of grow on you. It has a manic guitar chart and some intense bass but does it belong on this game? Ohhh yes! It's silly, challenging and heavy, exactly the kind of song that'd be a bonus track on GH2. THUMBS UP.

"Fascination Street" - The Cure
When I first learned that The Cure were heading to GH, I was intrigued...so why the shit did they pick this bloody song?! It's pretty much all sustains and strumming on guitar and The Cure have actually produced popular tracks that would be fun to play like "Lovesong" or "Boys Don't Cry". At least Harmonix picked a popular song by The Cure for Rock Band 4, even if it isn't that fun to play. Obviously a THUMBS DOWN.

"Feel Good Drag" - Anberlin
If you like a steady stream of hammer-on riffing, this song was made for you! It's a great song to practice if you're getting to grips with Expert and want to work on your fretting a bit more. It's just a shame the chorus is dull, something that could've been remedied if they mixed rhythm and lead guitar charts, but at least the solo is pretty fun too. This is a pretty good warm-up song if you haven't played in a while or want to test the game's calibration, as there are some strumming sections too, kind of like the "My Name Is Jonas" of the game. THUMBS UP.

"Feels Like The First Time" - Foreigner
Yeah, I can back this track. It's not the most exciting chart (until you get to the extended tapping solo) but for a rerecord, it's alright. A good Classic Rock pick that isn't too obscure, definitely a song that belongs on-disc. THUMBS UP.

"Fortunate Son" - Creedence Clearwater Revival
One of the easiest songs on-disc but a sensible pick, since it has a pretty fun chart and it's a very well known Classic/Southern Rock hit. CCR aren't known for challenging guitar-based songs so it makes sense that an easy but well-loved track would make it into the game. I'll admit that I got a bit tired of playing it over and over online but at least I enjoyed listening to it. THUMBS UP.

"Free Ride" - The Edgar Winter Group
Another rerecord except this one is definitely unnecessary as Rock Band used the original as DLC and the guitar chart appears less fun. It may be a decent tune but it's not exactly a staple of the Classic Rock genre and it feels more like something that only ended up in the game because someone at Activision heard it in a film once and sort of liked it, since they know fuck all about Classic Rock. THUMBS DOWN I'm afraid.

"Fury Of The Storm" - DragonForce
If Activision didn't include a DragonForce song in a Guitar Hero game designed to include more challenging guitar songs, they probably would've been lynched. Luckily, they picked one with insane tapping sections and rapid strumming to challenge even the most seasoned pro. "Through The Fire And Flames" will always be the people's champion but this track pulls its weight and fits into the game's soundtrack perfectly. THUMBS UP.

"Get Free" - The Vines
Hmmm...not entirely sure about this. The Vines are pretty one dimensional when it comes to their music, it's mostly just chords and yelling. Probably one of the songs that was picked last for the soundtrack and even though it's not horrible to listen to (unless you hate aggressive vocals), I'd argue that a song this short has no place on-disc. Maybe it would've worked on a second Aussie DLC pack but it gets a THUMBS DOWN here.

"Ghost" - Slash
Another song with a steady stream of hammer-on riffing and probably in my Top 5 for the most fun songs in the entire game. I'm not entirely sure why they cut part of the solo, as it would've made the song that little bit better, but from start to finish it's a treat to play. FCing it can be quite challenging, due to one particular chord change in the verses, but even if you choke it's still entertaining to play. I'm also glad they picked this song for the on-disc soundtrack instead of one of the others from Slash's debut solo album. Even though the album's good, none of them feel like main soundtrack material when compared to this. THUMBS UP.

"Graduate" - Third Eye Blind
On the plus side, this song sounds quite good and has a pretty fun guitar chart for an average difficulty song. Also, it's a faithful rerecord and probably sat well with the average player. On the negative side, it's not "Jumper", a much better song that wasn't released in the Third Eye Blind DLC pack for some reason. However, that's not a good enough reason to rate it poorly so it gets a THUMBS UP.

"Hard To See" - Five Finger Death Punch
I'd never heard of these guys until GH and I think I understand why. They're essentially the same as those heavier bands with "joke" songs in early GH soundtracks except whereas those bands knew they weren't supposed to be taken seriously, these guys fucking don't. The guitar chart is kinda fun but the song is just too ridiculously "edgy" to enjoy listening to. I don't know any other songs by these guys that deserved a spot over "Hard To See" but there are a ton of modern Metal tracks that should've made it in so this track gets a THUMBS DOWN.

"Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" - Megadeth
The first of three Megadeth songs on-disc and definitely the best. I can go on about how Rust In Peace is one of the greatest albums ever recorded and whilst I'm peeved that Rock Band got the album DLC instead of Guitar Hero, I'm stoked that GH at least got this dynamite album opener with a furious guitar chart fit for any player who fancied proving their worth. THUMBS UP.

"How You Remind Me" - Nickelback
You could argue that Activision deserve at least some commendation for sticking with their guns and picking a band almost universally despised online for the on-disc soundtrack because they wanted to help create a game their way. However, what I cannot abide is picking a song that's SO FUCKING BORING. It's just chords and strumming, that's it! No fun riffs, no challenging solo, just generic sound aimed at dipshit college students. "Oh man, this song's so deep, bro", fuck off! Activision could've turned their risky decision into a great one by picking "Burn It To The Ground", a song with a killer riff and pretty tough solo, but for their utter failure, a THUMBS DOWN is all this song gets from me.

"I Know What I Am" - Band Of Skulls
I saw these guys warm up for Muse and when they played this song, they included a pretty neat solo. For that reason, I was looking forward to this track when it was first announced...then I played it. What the fuck were Activision thinking? There's no fun guitar at all! It's a song that belongs on Guitar Hero 5 with the rest of the Indie crap GHWOR tried to purge from the series. Fuck whoever fought for this track on-disc. THUMBS DOWN.

"I'm Broken" - Pantera
This is what most people probably imagined when the game was first announced. Heavy Metal and songs with fun guitar charts, and this song delivers! Whilst I can't say I care for Pantera, I can understand their appeal and applaud Activision for getting the original master recording for this song. If the master recording for "Cemetery Gates" was available, I'd probably argue that that song could've also worked on-disc but I reckon this track would've been more fun to play in Quickplay+ after searching for a quick tune to play/practice. On top of that, fun riffs and a belting solo result in a THUMBS UP.

"I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" - My Chemical Romance
Did you read what I said about Fall Out Boy? If so, you can probably guess my reaction to this Emo shite. It bugs me that this band have actually released a song I quite like ("Party Poison", although the screaming Japanese woman can fuck right off) as I'd be able to rant about wiping their music and tattoo-sleeved, scene-kid fanbase off the face of the planet but I'll settle for giving "I'm Nerrrrt Okay" a THUMBS DOWN.

"If You Want Peace... Prepare For War" - Children Of Bodom
I'm not usually a fan of Death Metal but I have a soft spot for Children Of Bodom. Their melodic riffs are more up my street than your average screamy bands from the genre and their songs are always fun on GH/RB, this one being no exception. It's a track that inexperienced players will despise but once you get that intro hammer-on sequence locked down, you're in for a hell of a ride. THUMBS UP is a given and even though a lot of their songs will have played exactly the same in GH, it's a shame they didn't get featured in the series until 2009.

"Indians" - Anthrax
If you liked "Caught In A Mosh", you'll probably like this song too. The riff is a lot better and the solo is still easy to play but the rapid strumming bits will likely cause problems for you if you can't get that rhythm. If I could've chosen any Anthrax song to be GHWOR, I probably would've gone with something from Spreading The Disease like "A.I.R." but this song is still good. Plus, any 80's Metal is good in GH. THUMBS UP.

"Interstate Love Song" - Stone Temple Pilots
Not entirely sure why this song was picked, as the guitar isn't anything special. Again, it's the kind of song that would've fit in well on the GH5 soundtrack but it just feels forced here. At least the bass chart is fun so there's some joy to be had from it but it's a relatively weak choice overall. I'm not sure which STP song would've been a better choice for GHWOR but there's plenty of other 90's Alternative/Grunge songs that would've been awesome. "Animal" - Pearl Jam, "Heavy" - Collective Soul, I could go on but I've got over 50 other songs to talk about. THUMBS DOWN.

"It's Only Another Parsec..." - RX Bandits
I know nothing of this band and have no desire to learn anything about them either. All I know is the song has a lot of strumming but if you can master that, you'll probably enjoy it. It's not a chart for rookie players but if your skill is above average, you'll probably enjoy certain sections. I'm just thankful they didn't include the long ambient part at the end of the song, as it sounds a lot better when it ends on the final guitar note. THUMBS UP.

"Jet City Woman" - Queensryche
It's pretty cool that Activision managed to finally get Queensryche in one of these games and I suppose "Jet City Woman" was a good choice for the first song of theirs in a GH game. Personally, I would've preferred something like "Queen Of The Reich" or something off Operation: Mindcrime but at least this song is a decent Hard Rock track that's also fun to play. It's just a shame these guys didn't get more material in either GH/RB (apart from "Silent Lucidity" as RB DLC). THUMBS UP.

"Lasso" - Phoenix
OK, not entirely sure why this song is in the game as there's nothing especially fun about it on guitar. If a Phoenix song had to be in GHWOR, they probably should've put "Lisztomania" on-disc instead of releasing it as DLC. Still, it's a nice little tune that isn't unpleasant to play like other easy songs in the game. I'm unsure about whether it deserves a Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down as I don't dislike playing it but I feel like it's not the best choice they could've gone with...you know what? I'm giving it a THUMBS DOWN but only because it feels like it should've been DLC instead of an on-disc track.

"Listen To Her Heart" - Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
I'm happy for Tom Petty songs to be in GH ("Running Down A Dream" and "American Girl" were great to play!) but why this one? Why not one with some decent guitar work like "Refugee" that's probably a bit more well known? There's nothing really that fun about the chart and it feels like complete filler. THUMBS DOWN.

"Losing My Religion" - R.E.M.
R.E.M. definitely aren't known for being Guitar Heroes so it's unlikely that any song they picked would've been more suitable. It's got a solid chart if you're slowly learning one of the difficulties and it's probably one of the band's most well known songs so it has its place in the game, even if perhaps R.E.M. don't. If I had to choose an R.E.M. song for GHWOR, I'd probably go with something not as iconic but with some more guitar work like "Stand" or "Pop Song 89". THUMBS DOWN.

"Love Gun" - KISS
KISS haven't got the best reputation when it comes to songs on GH but this song definitely deserves a place on the game. It may not be full of challenging riffs but it's got some fun guitar parts towards the end and easily redeems songs from past titles like "Shout It Out Loud". I probably would've picked this song for the game too but there are a couple of other KISS tracks like "Uh! All Night" that would've been fun in GH too. THUMBS UP.

"Lunatic Fringe" - Red Rider
A great song with a surprisingly fun guitar chart, even if it is pretty simple. This song is probably better for players who play on Expert but aren't very good, as it's got some fun hammer-on sections and a piss-easy solo full of sustain notes. I don't know if this song is well known as a Classic Rock hit in America but I can't say I've heard anything about the band outside of this track. Despite this, it works as a fun warm-up song in the lower band of difficulty tiers so THUMBS UP.

"Machinehead" - Bush
I could probably repeat everything I said in the "Interstate Love Song" write-up about 90's Alternative/Grunge and boring charts here, as this song doesn't really have anything going for it apart from some catchy vocals. I'm not a fan of NickelBush so I can't tell you a song of theirs that would've been better either, although as I said earlier there are plenty of Grunge songs that could've and should've made the cut. THUMBS DOWN.

"Modern Day Cowboy" - Tesla
One of the first songs confirmed for the game and one with a great guitar chart too. It's a tough FC due to the repeated triplet riffs and the solo has some mildly challenging sections too but overall, it's just a damn fun song if you don't mind missing notes. As far as on-disc songs go, this one is probably the best choice but if I could've picked any Tesla song for the game? Well, it has to be "Cumin Atcha Live" but that doesn't stop this song from getting a THUMBS UP.

"Money For Nothing" - Dire Straits
Classic song with a killer riff and probably the weakest introduction of drums after the main riff in Rock history. Quite a few chord hammer-ons in this chart which make it pretty fun but sadly the length and repetitive nature of the guitar melody make it an average track to play more than a few times. However, playing it every now and then is fun and even though tracks like "Lady Writer" would almost certainly be more fun on guitar, "Money For Nothing" still gets a THUMBS UP.

"Motivation" - Sum 41
Most people would probably argue that you only need one or two Sum 41 songs in the entire GH series, if that. However, the three-pack of songs released as DLC and this track are all fantastic on guitar. I'll admit that it seems like an odd choice for the on-disc track, as "Still Waiting" probably would've been more appropriate (although it does have a similar chart to the "Burn" riff, if I remember it properly), but I'm glad they put this song on the game. THUMBS UP.

"Move It On Over (Live)" - George Thorogood And The Destroyers
Even if there wasn't some kind of problem with master recordings, I'm glad they chose the live version of this song. Faster tempo and better guitar solos make it much more of a fun choice, which actually goes against my policy of studio versions always being better than rerecords/live versions. Whilst there are other George Thorogood songs that I prefer listening to with equally fun if not superior guitar ("Gear Jammer", "One Bourbon, One Scotch And One Beer" and "You Talk Too Much" spring to mind), this track deserves a THUMBS UP just for not being "Bad To The Bone".

"Nemesis" - Arch Enemy
More Metal? Awesome! Death Metal? Not so much but this song's OK. I guess it works as a top tier song, as the song is quite popular among fans of Arch Enemy AND Metal in general. I also find it quite fun to play every now and then, although the chorus is pretty dull. Luckily, I think the song's alright so it's getting a THUMBS UP, even if I would've preferred modern Heavy Metal or maybe even some Prog Metal.

"No More Mr. Nice Guy" - Alice Cooper
Really? You decide you want an Alice Cooper song on-disc and pick this track instead of something with awesome guitar, like "Feed My Frankenstein" or literally anything else? The guitar is so fucking dull that it wouldn't even be worth buying as DLC, not to mention the fact that it's a rerecord. In fact, that's probably why it was picked, as Alice Cooper master recordings seem to be quite rare...or maybe they're just quite expensive, seeing as how Rock Band have managed to acquire some for DLC but Activision seems to think it's worth saving money for inferior tracks. I mean, who cares about old music anyway, right? Not Bobby Kotick, unless it's Led Zeppelin or The Rolling Stones. Anyway, THUMBS DOWN.

"No Way Back" - Foo Fighters
Congratulations Activision, you picked a Foo Fighters track that a) wasn't already in Rock Band and b) has fun guitar. It might be chord heavy but if those aren't an issue for you, the guitar chart is great. It's actually a pretty sweet song that I would rate higher than some of their better known hits like "Everlong" and "Rope". If this game came out after 2011, I'd say "Bridge Burning" would've been a better choice but for a game released in 2010, this song fits in perfectly and deserves a THUMBS UP without a doubt.

"The Outsider" - A Perfect Circle
I definitely prefer this song to the one in GH5 and even though I'm not a huge fan of the song or band, I enjoy playing it every now and then. It's also got a fair bit of variety in the chart, even if there isn't a flashy solo or epic riff. There's a tricky chord progression partway through which might cause some problems if you're not quick with your fingers but outside of that, it's a decent choice. THUMBS UP.

"Paranoid (Live)" - Metallica & Ozzy Osbourne
I can't be the first person to ask why this song was picked for the game. I like the song and the chart is more fun than the GH3 cover but were there really a shortage of Ozzy or Metallica songs that could've been picked? "Flying High Again"? "Ride The Lightning"? Even ones that aren't already in RB like "Hellraiser" or "The Four Horsemen" would've been better. Clearly this was picked because someone on the development team had a soft spot for this particular performance of this song, something that would normally make me give it a Thumbs Down...BUT as I said, the chart is fun and the song quality's pretty good (even if Ozzy's vocals aren't) so it gets a THUMBS UP.

"Pour Some Sugar On Me (Live)" - Def Leppard
Alright, THIS is a great choice. Probably the band's signature song and a very faithful live version with the intro solo included, something that the shitty radio edit often omits in place of the godawful "Step inside, walk this way" line. The chart is definitely more fun than I'd expect the studio version to be too so that's an added bonus. It's a shame Def Leppard have only just decided to endorse Guitar Hero now after it became a terrible vehicle for modern Indie/Alternative music videos, as they've got a bunch of fun tracks that would've translated well into GH, but this choice is perfect and the song gets a THUMBS UP.

"Psychosocial" - Slipknot
A very solid Slipknot song, although I couldn't tell you much about these guys. I know quite a few of their tracks but wouldn't be able to tell you if this was the most fun song they could've picked. However, what I can tell you is that it's very fun on guitar if you like a challenge (especially when it comes to furious solos) and it's one of the band's better known tracks. I doubt I'd have bought this song if it were part of a Slipknot DLC pack but I like playing it on-disc so I'm glad they chose it. I reckon that earns it a THUMBS UP, don't you?

"Ravenous" - Atreyu
I remember the song "Falling Down" from one of the handheld GH games and I easily prefer that track to this one. However, the chart is quite fun if you're OK with short bursts of rapid strumming rhythms and a few tapping/HOPO solos. On a technical level, I'm not sure why the Star Power drains so damn quickly on this song but that hardly affects my decision to give it a THUMBS UP due to the relatively short length and fun chart.

"Re-Ignition (Live)" - Bad Brains
I know nothing of this band but based entirely on this live version of the song, I'm guessing they suck. Repetitive riff, shitty vocals and other than a mildly fun solo nothing really going for it. It also goes on too long which doesn't help if you're going for an FC run. I wasn't expecting much from a Punk song, especially one that's live, but I rarely play this track even for the solo. Time to end this Thumbs Up streak with a clear THUMBS DOWN.

"Renegade" - Styx
Before this song was announced for the game, I'd only just started getting into the track. I listened to it a lot and contemplated getting it as Rock Band DLC but held off, due to a feeling that it was heading to GH. I swear to God, I can't explain why but part of me felt like this song would turn up in GHWOR...and it did! Not only that but it turned out to be one of the most fun guitar charts in the game, even with a long vocal intro. It may be a rerecording but thankfully the guitarwork sounds more challenging than the original. Verdict? Come on, there's no way in Hell this was getting anything but an unequivocal THUMBS UP.

"Rockin' In The Free World" - Neil Young
A solid Classic Rock song with an OK chart and a surprisingly fun outro solo that you can't find in the original studio recording. Personal opinions about Neil Young aside, I quite like this track's inclusion in the game. It may not be as fun or well known as other Classic Rock tunes but out of all the Neil Young songs that could've made it onto GHWOR, I'm glad it was this instead of "Heart Of Gold" or the fuckawful "Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)". "Cinnamon Girl" could've been cool though. Anyway, THUMBS UP.

"Savior" - Rise Against
This and "Bat Country" were probably picked more than any other song online. I have no idea why as Rise Against don't seem like the kind of band GH players want as much as, say, Dream Theater but the song has a kinda fun chart, I suppose. It's very chord-heavy but it's alright to play every now and then, not every fucking time you go online. There are a couple of Rise Against songs that are fun on GH and I like "Help Is On The Way" but this seems like a decent pick for a modern Rock song. Eh, why not? THUMBS UP.

"Scumbag Blues" - Them Crooked Vultures
I didn't expect this band to make it into the game but after playing this song, I'm pretty glad they did. It's got an awesome bass riff and plenty of hammer-on/tap sections for the novice player. I will admit that the repeated organ refrain towards the end of the song and at one part during the middle gets boring but the rest of the track is great. THUMBS UP.

"Self Esteem" - The Offspring
It annoys the shit out of me that I always think of that Lady Gaga song when this song starts playing. Luckily, the rest of the track is awesome. Definitely one of the band's signature songs but is it the best choice for the game? I would've bought this track if it were part of a hypothetical Offspring 01 DLC pack that they should've released but there are easily more fun songs that should've made the game. "Come Out And Play", "The Kids Aren't Alright", "I Choose", the list goes on. At least the track is a good choice for easy warm-up tunes you play early on in Quest Mode. THUMBS UP.

"Setting Fire To Sleeping Giants" - The Dillinger Escape Plan
This song reminds me of that scene in Anchorman where Steve Carrell shouts "LOUD NOISES!!!!" as that's pretty much all the song is. Sure, there are quiet sections but they're all in favour of shouting and loud guitar. The guitar chart is challenging if you're not good at constant strumming and fretting and the chord progression can be quite awkward for the inexperienced guitarist but there's a particular section where the guitarist just goes apeshit, which can ruin any run. As for the song itself, I'm not saying I hate it but it's getting a fucking THUMBS DOWN.

"Seven Nation Army" - The White Stripes
I could buy The White Stripes being in the last GH or even getting a DLC pack...but why the fuck were they in GHWOR? Not only that but why pick this song with a dull chart. Surely "Icky Thump" would've been better or "Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground"? This may be their signature song but it has no place in this game. They should've gone with one of Jack White's other vanity projects/bands. THUMBS DOWN.

"Sharp Dressed Man (Live)" - ZZ Top
There must be an issue with ZZ Top master recordings as this is the only ZZ Top song that isn't a cover in all of GH. It's also the second song in this game that's been in a previous GH title, which shows just how much Activision know about pre-90's Rock music. Luckily, it's quite a good song and probably one of the only live versions of a well known ZZ Top song that isn't rubbish. Sure, it would've been good to get "Cheap Sunglasses" or "La Grange" again but I'm afraid this gets a THUMBS DOWN. It could've been saved if it didn't have a middle of the road guitar chart.

"Slow Hands" - Interpol
Another GH:WT/GH5 song that somehow made it into this game. At least it's more fun than the previous Interpol song but there are easily better Alternative songs that could've been chosen for the game. There are Rock tracks in Band Hero that would've been better choices than this one so here's a THUMBS DOWN.

"Speeding (Vault Version)" - Steve Vai
Well this was obviously picked to be awkward, wasn't it? A random rerecord with a shitload of unnecessary strumming just to ramp up the average difficulty of the game. It's good that the game got more than one virtuoso guitarist and Steve Vai's probably one of the best picks they could've gone with (although I would've preferred Eric Johnson, Joe Satriani or maybe even Michael Angelo Batio just to torture expert guitarists) but I'm not sure about the song. "Erotic Nightmares" would've been preferable to me so I'm going with a THUMBS DOWN.

"Stray Cat Blues" - The Rolling Stones
Like Muse, The Rolling Stones seem to be a staple of Activision GH games. After "Paint It, Black", they probably should've stopped there but I suppose Activision wanted a big name band to help sell the games, even if the songs don't belong. This track has a moderately fun guitar chart but if any song could've made it into the game, I would've gone with "Jumping Jack Flash" or "It's All Over Now". THUMBS DOWN.

"Sudden Death" - Megadeth
The second Megadeth song that was actually written especially for this game. Technically, it's the third Megadeth song in Quest Mode but it's the second alphabetically speaking...it's also the second in terms of fun value. It was written to contain insanely difficult guitar sections and provide gamers with a "final boss", so to speak. I think this is the second time they've got a band to record a challenging song ("The Martyr", a DLC track, was the first) and the second time the chart is nowhere near as fun or tough as other tracks. It's probably the easiest 10/10 tier song of the four on disc but at least it's a great track that's fun to play if you can get past the opening solo. THUMBS UP.

"Suffocated" - Orianthi
If someone asks me to provide them with a song played by someone who is technically proficient at the guitar but completely lacking in musical creativity that isn't just mindless shredding, it'll be this one hands down. Generic chord based chorus with moaning vocals, soulless guitarwork shoehorned in that's over before it even begins and a riff that sounds like it's straight out of an Avril Lavigne single. Fuck this song. THUMBS DOWN.

"Theme From Spider-Man" - Ramones
Come on, you all know this well known Ramones song! No? Well it's going in GHWOR anyway and I'm sure it has nothing to do with Activision owning the rights to the Spider-Man games. Why anyone thought this game needed the Ramones is beyond me but if one of their songs had to be picked, I'd probably go with "Pet Sematary" or "My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down" or, better yet, not a Ramones song! They really should've gone with something by The Damned if they wanted a proper Punk song but what's done is done. THUMBS DOWN, even if the guitar chart isn't as bad as it could've been.

"There's No Secrets This Year" - Silversun Pickups
Poor grammar aside, this song has a decent guitar chart. There's a nice little hammer-on section at one part and even though the main riff is a little awkward to play, the whole song works in the game even if they are the kind of band you'd associate with other GH games or Rock Band. Just watch out for that false ending, as that can fuck your FC run up. THUMBS UP.

"This Day We Fight!" - Megadeth
The final/second Megadeth song and probably the hardest guitar chart in the game. Rapid strumming, blistering solos, difficult chord changes and an outro that'll devastate your already bruised and bleeding fingers. If this song was longer, this could've been the "Sudden Death" of the game but instead, you play it before the "Final Boss". I'd normally talk about which Megadeth songs should've been in the game but I reckon they made solid choices with all three tracks, even if "Devils Island" or "Tornado Of Souls" would've been fun and incredibly challenging too. THUMBS UP.

"Tick Tick Boom" - The Hives
Even if it is a little overcharted, it makes a fun difference provided you don't mind easy tracks but challenging FCs. This song was in Lego Rock Band and the guitar chart was quite dull, if I'm honest. I'm not sure if this song would be more or less fun than "Hate To Say I Told You So" but it's a solid choice, even if it's not the most fun track on the game. THUMBS UP.

"Ties That Bind" - Alter Bridge
Oh fuck, that rapid strumming section is brutal. The rest of the song features some great riffing and a neat solo at the end but the middle eight involving what can only be described as pure punishment make this song stand out. I know a few tracks by these guys but I can't imagine one that'd have the same impact as this one so they deserve a THUMBS UP. I wouldn't call this one of my favourites on-disc but if I had to pick an honourable mention, it'd probably go to this one.

"Tones Of Home" - Blind Melon
I recall mentioning this track in my Rock Band 4 write-up, comparing it to "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong" - Spin Doctors. A funky Alternative track with surprisingly awesome guitar and a really fun solo too. Definitely one of my favourites on-disc even if the song itself isn't one I'd listen to that often outside of GHWOR. I don't know many other Blind Melon tracks apart from this and "No Rain" and that one was already released as DLC. A brilliant choice, THUMBS UP.

"2112, Pt 1 - Overture" - Rush
The first of seven Rush songs, even if strictly speaking they're all parts of the same Rush song. This is my favourite part of "2112" to play AND listen to both due to the galloping rhythm and multiple melodies throughout the track. Obviously this track's getting a THUMBS UP and even though the following six parts are all from the same song, I'm still giving them individual Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down, even though there's no way they would've included some of the parts without others.

"2112, Pt 2 - The Temples Of Syrinx" - Rush
I'll admit, it's got quite a good sound but I liked listening to it more than I liked playing it. The riffs are powerful but not hugely fun to play unless you're in love with them. Still, a solid follow up to the first part, just a bit too short and uneventful to be fun. THUMBS DOWN.

"2112, Pt 3 - Discovery" - Rush
The first part of this song is just random plucking but eventually a tune emerges and picks up speed. It's not the most fun song of the seven parts but it's a great track to listen to whilst you play it. Not much else to say other than it's just a neat little tune. THUMBS UP.

"2112, Pt 4 - Presentation" - Rush
Definitely the second best Rush song on-disc and you can thank a bitchin' sweet solo for that. This and Part 1 are probably the only two parts of "2112" you could release as individual singles that sound like proper Rush songs and the charts reflect that too. Good riffs, fun solo, plenty for all the band to enjoy. THUMBS UP.

"2112, Pt 5 - Oracle: The Dream" - Rush
Very dull track here. Apart from a few pleasant riffs to listen to, this is literally only included because it's part of "2112". It makes sense to include in the song but has no place in the game as an individual track. THUMBS DOWN.

"2112, Pt 6 - Soliloquy" - Rush
I love the intro riff in this part. It reminds me a little of Led Zeppelin and I wish the riff would be played more throughout this part. Luckily, there's a pretty cool solo at the end that makes up for the short number of awesome riffs. I imagine the song probably wouldn't be as fun if you don't love the tune (and that could be said for all of these, I suppose) but I'm still giving it the THUMBS UP for being more than just a couple of chords like some of the other parts.

"2112, Pt 7 - Grand Finale" - Rush
The final part and they just go bonkers. Frenzied solos and riffs, essentially a more manic version of the first part but quite a bit harder to play. Musically speaking, it's not the best part to enjoy listening to but as far as playing them goes, it's probably in the top three. As for whether I'd choose these seven parts over another Rush song, I would've enjoyed "Working Man", "Fly By Night", "Bastille Day" or "Freewill" but considering "2112" gives you seven different songs as opposed to the one you'd get from any of the ones I mentioned, they made the right choice. THUMBS UP.

"Unskinny Bop" - Poison
I was pretty stoked when this was confirmed for the game too, as I loved this song ever since I heard it. The riff is always awesome to play and the solo has its moments too, although it isn't as difficult to play as "Nothing But A Good Time". Mind you, there's a certain phrase in the chorus that always gives me trouble for some reason but that doesn't affect my verdict. There isn't a Poison song I'd swap for this one as it's my favourite by the band to listen to and play on GH. THUMBS UP.

"Uprising" - Muse
Obligatory Muse song #3. At least this one is more fun than "Assassin" and "Plug In Baby", although it doesn't even touch "Knights Of Cydonia". It goes without saying that the synth is charted every now and then but fortunately, there's actually a decent amount of guitar in this track. I would say it's a good choice, especially as it was a big hit at the time of the game's release, but I probably would've rated "Hysteria" or "New Born" higher if they charted the keys on guitar. If only "Reapers" was out before 2010, ah well. THUMBS UP for not giving me another reason to dislike Muse!

"Waidmanns Heil" - Rammstein
Jesus, why are these guys popular? They sound more ridiculous than Spinal Tap, Steel Panther and Tenacious D combined; at least those bands have songs that are great to listen to outside of the amusing lyrics. I guess this song has a great riff too, even if the silly vocals and uninteresting chart spoil it. Also, are Rammstein not talented enough to break into guitar solos or do they feel their heavy riffs are enough to carry their songs? You're not The White Stripes boys and even if you were, you'd still get a THUMBS DOWN.

"We're Not Gonna Take It" - Twisted Sister
A rerecord of one of the band's most famous songs. I'll admit, I like listening to the Animal House lines at the end but the "O Come All Ye Faithful" vocals and shitty guitar solo make this a dull song overall. It may be a well known track but I doubt anyone who knows the song was desperate for it to be in the game. "Under The Blade" or "You Can't Stop Rock And Roll" probably would've been more fun although I'm not sure if Twisted Sister have rerecorded those tracks. Either way, THUMBS DOWN.

"What Do I Get?" - Buzzcocks
Ah, finally a Punk track that isn't rubbish. That being said, it's not amazing either. It has some great bass and the guitar isn't your typical Punk chord/strumfest but I probably would've gone for the uninspired choice and put "Ever Fallen In Love" on-disc instead of this. I don't know many other Buzzcocks songs but part of me wants to award them the win for not going for the obvious choice, as the song is still kind of fun...so I will! THUMBS UP!

"Wish" - Nine Inch Nails
Not a Nine Inch Nails fan by any means and this chart has nothing going for it except a fun chord hammer-on riff that is played to death and a wacky motion capture on stage. I'm not sure if there's a NIN song that would've been more fun and I doubt "Hurt" would've been much more fun on guitar, so this probably was the best choice. However, if I could've chosen any Industrial song to be in the game, I definitely would've gone with some Rob Zombie. THUMBS DOWN.

"(You Can Still) Rock In America" - Night Ranger
The last track on-disc is a goodie, provided you like rerecorded Hair Metal. Awesome riff and a devilish solo that still gives me grief. I'd probably choose this song over "Don't Tell Me You Love Me" too, although they're both very fun on guitar. If you can stand the 80's cheese and love challenging charts, this is an on-disc highlight so I'm ending this brief discussion on a THUMBS UP.


If I've counted correctly, that's 57 Thumbs Up against 36 Thumbs Down. That's roughly a 61% success rate, which is less than I was expecting but still good. How did you rate the game? Did you agree with my points or do you think I'm being too harsh/generous? Also, if there's a rhythm music game you'd like me to discuss in another post at least a month from now, let me know on Twitter or in the comments.
Thanks for reading, if you made it this far! I wish I had something to reward you with...yup, that would've been good. Oh well.