Here’s this weeks review and playthrough for the Foster the People and The Strokes DLC. Included below are playthrough videos of the DLC from the always awesome thenewnoelisoncruz. Definitely check out and subscribe to his YouTube channel!

All tracks are 160 MSP ($1.99). Pro Guitar/Bass charts are noted below where applicable, and can be purchased for an additional $.99.

Foster the People – “Don’t Stop (Colour on the Walls)”

On guitar, this song doesn’t really present much of a challenge. The song doesn’t really suffer for it though, because it’s fun to play. Most of the song is just quickly alternating chords that will take you across your fretboard. The only time this really changes up is during the bridge where it’s just held out long notes before going right back into the main riff.

Bass is also really fun. Like the guitar, the chart will take you all over the fretboard. Unlike the guitar, this can actually be a challenging to someone who isn’t always the greatest bass player.

The main part of the keys chart is what I assume to be whistling, and that is fairly enjoyable to play. Where this part really shines, however, is with the little keyboard fills that are played throughout the song. Most of these fills will have you sliding across the keys, or playing some really quick notes on one fret. The whole chart is really fun, and it’s one of my favourite keys charts that’s been released as DLC in a little while.

As with most songs, the drums here consist of a standard rock beat with the difficulty coming from the bass pedal, along with a few variations. Also, as with most songs, it’s OK to play in the game. It’s no Rush song, where there is massive variation throughout the whole song, providing an amazing experience. It’s just a standard rock beat, with some bass pedal providing a small challenge.

The harmonies here, for the most part, just sing what the lead vocals are singing during the verses.

Foster the People – “Helena Beat”

The guitar chart was… interesting. When I’d first heard the song, outside of Rock Band, I thought that there was more, and different, guitar in this song. As soon as I started to play the song, however, I quickly found out that what I had thought was guitar, was actually distorted keys. When the guitar actually started, once again, I was a bit surprised. For one, I didn’t even know that part had existed in the song (either this is some weird alternate version, or it’s just buried in the mix, probably the latter). The chart seems to consist of higher keyboard parts. On the bright side, this part was somewhat fun to play, although there is very little playing in the song.

Like the guitar, the bass was interesting. Also like the guitar, I really didn’t know that this part existed in the song (probably buried in the mix or I confused it with being keys/guitar). There are some really, really fun parts to this song, like the bridge section, where it’s almost like a bass solo, or the chorus of the song where the whole thing is really quick and challenging.

I would like to apologize to Don’t Stop (Colour on the Walls), but this is my favourite keys chart released all year. Everything about this chart is fun, from it’s quick key changes, to it’s keyboard solo during the bridge, to it’s chart that can compete with many of the guitar charts released this year.

The drums on this song are, once again, interesting. It starts of with an intro of hi-hat and bass pedal, which progresses into a rock beat with song abnormal hi-hat and bass pedal patterns with some hits on the other cymbals and pads. Pretty fun though and will keep you on your toes from start to finish.

The harmonies on this song are almost a polar opposite of Don’t Stop (Colour on the Walls), in that they’re not really present during the verses but they are singing the chorus with the lead vocals.

The Strokes – “Under Cover of Darkness” (Pro)

This was the mos enjoyable guitar chart of the week, but then again, it’s also the most guitar heavy song of the week. It’s not all that hard, but it’s got some challenging bits to it, but nothing that someone with a bit of experience couldn’t nail. There is also a solo in this song, but it doesn’t present too much of a challenge and can easily be FC’d.

Bass is a lot like the guitar, except with less chords and no solo. Fortunately, this means it features all of the fun parts of the guitar chart, like the string of HOPOs in the first verse. It also get rid of the chord changes during the chorus that can be very difficult to some players.

Drums are deceptively hard. Like most songs, at least for me, the difficulty of the song comes from the bass pedal. What makes this song difficult is how the bass pedal sometimes comes in on the on-beat, and sometimes on the off-beat. Sometimes, like during the intro and similar sections, the bass pedal will be immediately after a tom hit. A great song if you’re looking for a little challenge.

Like on Helena Beat, the harmonies are only really present during the chorus. For the first half, you’re singing along with the lead, and for the other half you’re doing “ahh” along with singing along with the lead.

Pick of the week: Helena Beat
What should you buy: EVERYTHING. Like, now.

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