Top 20 DLC Tracks of 2009
As 2009 draws to a close, I think it’s time to look back on the year and evaluate DLC tracks released for Rock Band. Before we discuss the quality of the songs, the quantity released is pretty remarkable. This being the final week of 2009, there have been 491 tracks released as DLC for the Rock Band franchise in 2009! This includes obviously the tracks available online via the Music Store, as well as tracks still only available on the Country Track Pack, Metal Track Pack, and Lego Rock Band. NOTE: This number does NOT include Beatles tracks, which total another 73 including both the on-disc tracks and DLC (if my count is accurate). So available for release in 2009, Harmonix charted no less than 564 tracks, which is just over 1.5 tracks PER DAY! This is amazing, and my hat (if I wore one) is definitely off to those charting and QA’ing the songs at Harmonix. Well done, lads and lasses!
So let’s talk about the quality of the songs. I’m not going to include the Beatles’ songs in this list, because I don’t think it’s a fair comparison to include the Beatles with everyone else (based solely on the Dreamscapes, they would occupy nearly all of the Top 10). Also, I have some favorite songs released as DLC that didn’t make the list based on the playability. I’m not saying the charts weren’t good, I’m saying that based on the nature of some songs, they just weren’t fun to play in Rock Band, either because an instrument may have been too repetitious, or because I didn’t find it as fun to require the ability to alt-strum to make it through a song. And finally, since this is one person’s opinion, I would be surprised if even one other person agreed with the songs I selected and the order I put them in, based on his/her own personal preference.
With all that said, let’s take a look at the list…
20. Foo Fighters – The Pretender
Based on the sheer quantity of Foo Fighters’ tracks available in Rock Band, the odds were favoring at least one track on this list. Of their more recent albums, this is my clear favorite, and I’m very happy that they finally decided to put this into Rock Band.
19. P!nk – So What
I REALLY like this song, although I’m obviously not a P!nk fan. All the instruments are fun and the vocals and lyrics are outstanding. Get over the fact that it’s by Pink (or P!nk with an exclamation mark because she’s OUTRAGEOUS), and you would enjoy it, as well.
18. Bad Religion – 21st Century (Digital Boy)
I’m more of a metal guy than a punk guy, but I absolutely love this song, and the only reason this isn’t higher on this list is because Harmonix was given an alternate (early) studio track that I don’t care for as much as the newer version.
Old or new, any Slipknot is well appreciated
17. Slipknot – Duality
I’ve been a fan of Rock Band since the very beginning (I have pictures of a buddy and I at the front of the midnight release line at Best Buy). And like me, the community sometimes takes DLC releases a little too personal. Slipknot was a popular DLC request, and when a pack by them was finally released, much of the community was angry that it wasn’t their “early stuff.” Like many others, my preference would be for older Slipknot as well, but this song is one of my favorite tracks from them, so I’m definitely not complaining!
16. Tenacious D – Tribute
This is not the greatest DLC song in the world, no, this is just Tribute. I’m going to be honest, I’m not a big Tenacious D fan. In fact, I’m not much of a Jack Black fan (he plays the same character in EVERY movie). But the song is really a brilliantly written song, and it would have been a travesty if this song was not included as DLC while other Tenacious D tracks were.
15. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble – Pride and Joy
On a few occasions, I’ve heard this song come on while out at bars, and I’m not sure where it comes from, but from out of nowhere, I’m the world’s best air guitarist! And in my opinion, the vocals in this song perfectly compliment the amazing guitar. Outstanding addition to the Rock Band DLC library.
14. Iron Maiden – Run to the Hills (Original Version)
Despite my mostly metal upbringing, I never got into Iron Maiden (I know… sorry!). Not sure what it is, but I never discovered them until later, and at that point they just seemed too cliched from my point of view. But the reason it’s on this list is because, based only on the quality of the drum charting, when played on a set of Ions with the sound muted, it STILL sounds amazing. Don’t believe me? Check this video out:
13. Electric Six – Gay Bar
God bless whoever got this song into Rock Band. Here’s my advice with this track: Turn the volume way up, play this song at a party, grab the mic, and scream along to “I’ve got something to put in you,” and you will be the most popular fella at the party.
I finally know the lyrics to this song!
12. The Bangles – Walk Like an Egyptian
Got a lot of people at a party, and went to get them all up and doing the same dance that isn’t the Macarena, Electric Slide, or YMCA? Play this one! Good enough difficulty on all instruments, and there’s even a nice little -WHISTLE- break in the song, too. The only peripheral missing to perfectly play this song is a giant gong. Let’s see if we can get Mad Catz on that.
11. Alien Ant Farm – Smooth Criminal
Even though this is a cover of the popular Michael Jackson song, this is the only song on the list that had me replay a song on my weakest instrument (drums) a few times in a row. The only other song that had me do that was Metallica’s Battery, so that’s really saying something. I wouldn’t dare try singing this song, though. Oh, and moonwalking while singing is strictly optional (yet strongly encouraged).
10. Styx – Renegade
The opening of this song starts at about a one or two, and with a single scream goes instantly to ten! There’s definitely enough difficulty for even the most seasoned players here, too. Even though most other “rock” music from this era is now laughable by today’s standards, say what you want about Styx, but this song ROCKS, and deep down, you know it!
9. Breaking Benjamin – The Diary of Jane
Now THIS is right up my alley. Breaking Benjamin is one of my favorite newer bands right now, and this is my favorite from their first out of what I hope is many more DLC track packs. Gritty vocals and dark, heavy instrumentals… what’s not too love? More Breaking Benjamin always equals much more gooder.
8. Queen – Fat Bottom Girls
Call me a pig if you want, but I love belting this song out. And I’ve never seen anyone stay surly about the title before joining in about halfway through. I couldn’t be more happy that this was in the Queen pack. “Get on your bikes and ride!”
7. Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way
I believe this was the first Lenny Kravitz song I ever heard, and I was in love with it from the first time hearing it. It’s the type of song that when you play it while pre-partying, you know you’re going to have an awesome time in a few hours. I wasn’t fond of the other Kravitz DLC tracks, but this was an insta-buy for me.
6. Bryan Adams – Summer of ’69
“Got my first real six string…” is all it takes to have everyone running to whoever is holding the microphone. The rest of the instruments are fairly plain vanilla, but everything comes together brilliantly. One of several reasons to get your hands on Lego Rock Band!
5. Pearl Jam – Why Go
Let's be honest, this entire album should probably be here
Everyone’s got their personal favorites from Ten. Most like ‘Jeremy.’ I’ve got a buddy that always has to play ‘Porch’ as the first song when he comes over. My favorite is ‘Why Go,’ even though the guitar towards the end kicks my butt. I feel like it has the most emotion out any of the tracks from Ten.
4. Mute Math – Typical
I first heard this song on a Discovery channel commercial, and I’ve been in love with it ever since. This is one of my two lesser known favorite DLC tracks (‘Life is Beautiful’ by Sixx A.M. is the other). I can’t put my finger on why I love it so much, but from what I’ve heard throughout the community, I know I’m not alone on this one. Great vocals and great instruments (despite some fast alt-strumming at the end of the guitar).
3. Queen – One Vision
Much like the Pearl Jam’s Ten pack, everyone has their favorite, and mine is One Vision. I think every instrument is fun to play, and unlike some of the other Queen tracks, this one has vocals that aren’t ridiciulously difficult. Plus the song ends with the line “Gimme, gimme, gimme fried chicken.” Perfect ending to a song, if you ask me (unless you replaced the word ‘chicken’ with ‘bacon,’ of course)!
2. Tom Petty – Runnin’ Down a Dream
Right after I got hooked on rhythm gaming about 5 songs in to Guitar Hero 2 on the PS2, the first song that popped into my head that I wanted to play was this song, and when it was finally announced, it definitely didn’t disappoint. The guitar solo is just the right difficulty… challenging, but not impossible.
1. Journey – Don’t Stop Believing
Doesn’t matter who’s on vocals, because everyone in the place will be singing along. I still fail out on the opening three-note trill in the beginning on Expert Guitar, but I’m not holding it against this song. In my opinion, this song should ALWAYS be the final song you play at any Rock Band get together (and make sure to put your best vocalist up there, because Steve Perry is the real deal).
So that’s it. Didn’t see your favorite song of 2009 on here? Don’t like the tracks selected for the list? Let me know in the comments!
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Your #1, is my #1. I love singing me some Steve Perry (not Joe Perry)
. Great list. I will be picking up some more DLC thanks to it.
Nice list. I especially agree with Why Go. Such a great song off of an amazing album. I could just play Ten and be happy.
Pretty good list there but I thought that the vocalist for Journey was Steve Perry, not Joe.
I disagree that Don’t Stop Believing should be the final song played at any Rock band get-together. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) should be the final song played at ANY get-together. It had better be on Green Day: Rock Band!
Oops… I ALWAYS get confused between Steve Perry, Joe Perry, and Steven Tyler. I’ll fix now. Thanks!
I thoroughly enjoyed “Many Shades of Black” by the Raconteurs. WAY more fun than steady as she goes. And smooth criminal was indeed awesome.
and the sweater song. easiest gold stars in the game. (at least on guitar.)
In chronological order, from the beginning of the year, my favorite tracks of the year that I keep coming back to time and time again…
Mute Math “Typical” (B)
The Fratellis “Creepin’ Up The Backstairs” (B, V)
White Zombie “More Human Than Human” (B)
Turbonegro “Wasted Again” (G, V)
Old 97′s “Time Bomb (Live)” (G, B)
Jimmy Eat World “Sweetness” (G, B)
Stevie Ray Vaughan “Texas Flood” (G)
Pearl Jam “Once”/”Why Go” (tie) (G, B)
Black Tide “Warriors Of Time” (G, B)
Jane’s Addiction “Pigs in Zen” (B)
Franz Ferdinand “Take Me Out” (V)
Prong “The Banishment” (B)
Steely Dan “My Old School” (G)
TV On The Radio “Wolf Like Me” (G, V)
A Day To Remember “The Downfall Of Us All” (G, B, V)
Rancid “Time Bomb” (G, B)
Lush “Sweetness & Light” (D)
KISS “100,000 Years (Live)” (B)
Gorillaz “Feel Good Inc.” (V)
Jefferson Airplane “White Rabbit” (B, V)
Talking Heads “Crosseyed & Painless” (V)
Freezepop “Less Talk More Rokk” (G, B)
AFI “Miss Murder” (B)
Them Crooked Vultures “New Fang” (B)
And my absolute most favorite songs that got released this year; all around great songs that do not get old to play on any instrument, for my money…
Allman Brothers Band “Blue Sky”
Avenged Sevenfold “Bat Country”
God Forbid “Empire of the Gun”
Iron Maiden “Powerslave”
Nirvana “About a Girl”
Pearl Jam “State of Love & Trust (Live)”
REO Speedwagon “Ridin’ the Storm Out”
The Automatic “Monster”
The Dead Weather “Treat Me Like Your Mother”
The Zombies “She’s Not There”
RockBandAide Reply:
December 29th, 2009 at 10:31 am
Wow!!! After reading your list, I wish I made it the top 22… Not sure how ‘More Human Than Human’ and ‘Bat Country’ didn’t make it in here!
Bishop Reply:
December 29th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Make them honorable mentions!
Agree with many more of the selections here than the worst of 2009 list, including DSB being #1.
The Fratellis “Creepin’ Up the Backstairs”
Avenged Sevenfold “Bat Country”
Iron Maiden “Run Through The Hills”
Nirvana “Come As You Are (Unplugged)”
Pearl Jam “State of Love & Trust (Live)”
The Automatic “Monster”
Janis Joplin “Piece of My Heart”
No Doubt “New”
Wolfmother “New Moon Rising”
Mute Math “Typical”
Narrowly missed 2009:
James Gang “Funk #49” According to http://www.rockband.com/music/songs it was released on 01/08/09. Wikipedia/ScoreHero gave it a Dec 30th release.
You have great choices in your list. I’m not a fan of Boston/Journey but I can’t argue with your #1 pick. It’s a crowd favorite at VPH along with Gay Bar.
No Magic Bus? Full stop.
Some good ones picks, some I definitely think are just horrible and hate when they come up on a surprise setlist.
A few I think you missed….
Cowboy Song by Thin Lizzy. Super fun and everyone knows it even if they don’t think they do.
Pork and Beans by Weezer. On Xmas Eve we had people over and after it was played once, people just kept going back to this song. I love playing it on any instrument and its easy enough for people to make the jump to a higher difficulty with.
And pretty much any of the Spinal Tap songs (I’m still laughing that they are in LegoRB) but I’ll go with Big Bottom because, well, they drive me out of my mind.
Great list, but needs more Fratellis. That was easily one of the most well rounded packs ever released for Rock Band in terms of both fun factor and difficulty on every instrument in every song.
Have you seen the music video for Typical? I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen it now.
10.Less Talk More Rokk
9. Smells Like Teen Spirit
8. Runnin Down A Dream
7. Warriors of Time
6. Smooth Criminal
5. Best of You
4. Bat Country
3. American Girl (Live)
2. What A Horrible Night To Have A Curse
1. I Want You Back
Okay, that’s a good list, but I must disagree with most of it. So I’m going to do a list of my top 10 Rock Band DLC songs for 2009. This will be a long comment because I’m giving explainations to each one. Let’s begin, shall we?
10. Catcher In the Rye-Guns N Roses
I’m not a huge GnR fan, so I wasn’t expecting much from “Chinese Democracy.” I downloaded the full album, only to forget about it soon after. This song remains the only song I still play out of the album, because it’s fun for all parts, and really catchy (get it?).
9. Handlebars-Flobots
I used to hate this song, because the only guy I knew who listened to it was a stoner and a douchebag. Too bad, because this is a fun and catchy song (again). I do love to shout at the end, and I like it when rap songs sneak their way into RB.
8. Somebody To Love-Queen
Everyone has a favorite song from the Queen pack, and this is mine. It’s pretty, and I find the vocals really fun and challenging. The guitar is piano, which is fun, and the drums are interesting. Also, my family also loves this song.
7. Gay Bar-Electric Six
I hadn’t heard of this song before RB, but I watched the video and bought it as soon as it came out. Voxtar is really fun, and the looks you get while singing along (at any part) are absolutely fantastic. Imagine playing this at Best Buy.
6. Don’t Stop Believing-Journey
I really shouldn’t have to explain. It’s “Don’t Stop Believing.” Come On.
5. Undone-The Sweater Song-Weezer
This is a rockin song, about sweaters. A Weezer classic, fun main riff, fun solos, fun voxtar, fun fun fun. I especially love the buildup and “OooWooOoo” during the second solo.
4. All White Stripes Songs-The White Stripes
I know I’m cheating here, but I couldn’t pick just one song. I live them all equally. Each one has it’s own merits: “Icky Thump” has a sick beat and fun solos, “Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine” is fun to voxtar to, and “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground” is a bluesey, heavy, love song. All are fantastic in Rock Band.
3. The Passenger-Iggy Pop
The best song off of Lego RB, as soon as I heard it I fell in love with it. I’ve almost memorized the guitar part, and I enjoy nothing more than singing along to the “La’s.” This song just speaks to me, whatever that means.
2. Once In A Lifetime-Talking Heads
I am a huge Talking Heads fan, and I’ve actually had dreams about a Talikng Heads pack. This is the most well-known and best song in the pack. The talky-singing and odd lyrics along with the fun drums make this song my second best DLC of 2009.
1. Smells Like Teen Spirit-Nirvana
I liked all of the Nirvana DLC songs, but this one is the big one, their most popular song. It’s so much fun to jump around either alone or with friends and shout your lungs out. The only issue with this song is that it didn’t come out sooner.
Honorable Mentions:
Song 2-Blur: The second best song off of LRB, and a fun one at that.
Gurlfriend is Better-Talking Heads: The second best song from the Talking Heads pack.
Best Beatles: RB DLC song: Lovely Rita: Likely my favorite Beatles song.
Best Guitar Hero song; Plug in Baby: Hey, it’s muse.
Sorry for any spelling/grammar mistakes, as I did type this on my iPod.
Rockerjon24 Reply:
January 2nd, 2010 at 9:12 pm
Yaaoops…looks like I’ve had a total brain fart because I forgot to put in “Black” by Pearl Jam. If it’s not too late, I’d like to take out “Catcher in the Rye” and put “Black” in at number 6, pushing everything else back one.