Top 10 Most Disappointing DLC Tracks of 2009
I’ll admit, not every DLC track is the bee’s knees… that’s what the kids say nowadays, right? Some of them I just know outright that I won’t like, so I end up not buying every single track. But there are some songs that I did buy that I may have passed on knowing what I know now. That’s why this list isn’t the WORST songs released this year for Rock Band, but the most DISAPPOINTING. Don’t worry, the best is yet to come after this list, but for now, let’s take our medicine…
10. Nirvana – Lithium (Live at Reading)
Such a great song, but this is one live track that I was really disapointed in. Normally I don’t mind live versions as much, but the studio (or Unplugged) version would have been better. I’m assuming the studio version was some sort of Guitar Hero exclusive, as if I recall correctly, we were supposed to get all of Nirvana’s Nevermind album as DLC, but instead only got most of it first, followed by the remaining tracks released only a few months ago.
Did this bug eat the original studio version of this track?
9. Papa Roach – Last Resort
I doubt this is Harmonix’s fault, but the recording they used is MUCH different than the version most are familiar with. I don’t want to be one of those people that says “I don’t like this because this isn’t what I’m used to,” but I don’t like this because this isn’t what I’m used to. I couldn’t get past this, unforuntately, and I know I wasn’t alone on this.
8. Ray Parker Jr. – Ghostbusters
After playing with my family over the holidays, I noticed that this is the only song I have for Rock Band that is in the “Other” genre. It was really fun to play in Lego Rock Band as a boss battle, but in regular Rock Band, it just doesn’t belong, and probably won’t be played much going forward.
7. The White Stripes – Icky Thump
Again, I don’t mind this song, but very ballsy instrument charting. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t work for me. There are some solid songs that just aren’t meant for Rock Band… I’m thinking this is one of them.
6. Vampire Weekend – A-Punk
I thought this song was waaaay overrated when indie music was getting popular again, but I do like it. My problem with the song itself is that it seems to pop up in just about every movie (and some trailers) I watch now. It’s too overplayed for my tastes, but that’s not Rock Band’s fault. And when I play it, it’s too repetitive with very little tempo changes. Probably won’t be revisiting this song much.
5. Simon & Garfunkel – The Sounds of Silence
I don’t care at all for Simon & Garfunkel. They are one of the last artists I expected in Rock Band, and out of all the songs in their catalog, this this is the last song of their’s I would expect in Rock Band. I probably would have picked up ‘Cecilia’ or ‘Mrs. Robinson,’ but I’ll take a pass on this. And don’t even think about releasing ‘Scarborough Fair’ in the future!
4. Rage Against the Machine – Bulls on Parade
I LOVE Rage, but didn’t like this song in GH3 and I still don’t like here. The solo is atrocius to play, mostly due to all the distortion on Tom Morello’s guitar. It makes the guitar charting look off (i.e. Is it distortion or a different note?). This is one track that is definitely more appropriate for Guitar Hero’s slide guitar.
You may have to be a eunuch to accurately sing this song.
3. Maroon 5 – Makes Me Wonder
I’ll admit it, I like this song. And this is still a fun track at parties with people who are more pop-music minded, but this is one of the only songs I ever felt was overcharted by Harmonix. Plus, the vocals on this song are just too high for anyone to sing and not induce douche chills. Lost my interest pretty quickly in replaying it.
2. Carl Douglas – Kung Fu Fighting
I’ve said it before; I’m not a good alt-strummer (strumming up AND down). And if you are not either, forget about trying to making it through this song without spraining your hand. Not a terrible song, but just too much on guitar. And along with ‘Ghostbusters,’ I just have trouble seeing this in Rock Band.
1. Nazareth – Hair of the Dog
No one will probably get this reference, but I still think of Conan O’Brien’s old sketch “A-Hole Ronald” when I think of this song. At least, I used to. What the hell happened here?! The guitar solo outro is about as boring as a solo could be, and the vocal chorus is waaay off from the radio recording we’re all familiar with! Hopefully I can forget this version and remember the original instead.
But wait… the best is yet to come…
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Ghostbusters and Kung Fu Fighting bad? Pfft. Those are some of my favorite drum songs on LRB.
Oh my god, dude.
Naked Eye by Luscious Jackson HAS to be on this list. Fine song, but I swear it is the most dull, repetitive chart on every instrument ever created.
Actually, I don’t agree with many of these; I think it boils down to personal taste in too many instances.
I think the only truly, objectively “bad” songs are the ones with exceptionally boring, repetitive charts. And as Riosan points out, you have to clarify on which instrument, too.
It is the truly rare song which is boring and repetitive on every single instrument chart.. like, say, NAKED EYE BY LUSCIOUS JACKSON!
Matthew Glidden Reply:
December 29th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Have to agree that Naked Eye is curiously unsatisfying to play–enough so that it lessens my enjoyment of the REAL song through association.
Two more: the guitar charting for “Tempted” is weird and so hard to hear. Also, “Pretty in Pink” should’ve stuck with the non-rap radio version, as no one knows the longer one. [/COMIC STORE GUY]
RockBandAide Reply:
December 29th, 2009 at 10:09 am
I agree with both of you on Naked Eye being a sub-par track, but it wasn’t as disappointing (in my opinion) as some of the tracks above. I guess I didn’t expect much out of Luscious Jackson (although I really dug them back in the day… can’t remember if it was them or Veruca Salt that I saw live in high school).
I disagree with 10, 7, 6 and 4
Lithium in Guitar Hero is not the original, it’s the same live version that’s in Rock Band. Also, Lithium wasn’t played during the Unplugged concert, so that version doesn’t exist either.
I find Bad to the Bone boring, I wish I hadn’t purchased it.
I have disagree with you on Lithium and Sound of Silence. Both songs are fantastic in their own. Their DLC is equally as fun to play (especially for vocalists.)
Rage Against the Machine and Beastie Boys just never translated well in music games.
I’d like to add the following:
James Brown “Sex Machine” – Wonderful song, but extremely repetitive for all instruments.
Killswitch Engage “My Curse” – Another great song that loses it’s shine with an alternate recording. The full screaming vocals version from the album has been used in several games like Burnout Paradise. The alternate vocals was a complete let down.
Jackson 5 “ABC” – Fantastic song, but a killer to play. It wasn’t nearly as fun as I expected on guitar and vocals. After a few attempts I vowed to never play it again.
Two things to note, everyone… This is not the WORST songs of the year. This is strictly a list of those songs I was most disappointed in this year, meaning I thought they would be great tracks, but they didn’t meet my expectations. Also, this is for those tracks released in 2009 only. There are other tracks that were much more disappointing, but they weren’t released in 2009, so I didn’t include them on this list.
Saiko, Killswitch is from 2008, actually (part of the Roadrunner pack). I remember playing it in RB1.
There’s a lot of stuff that came out this year that’s absolutely forgettable, to be honest, so I’m not surprised they didn’t show up on this list.
Glasvegas’s “Geraldine”? A total snoozefest on all instruments.
Foreigner’s “Headknocker”? Felt like a throwaway pick to round out a three-pack because they couldn’t get the rights to one of their more popular songs such as “Double Vision” or “Hot Blooded”.
The entire pack by Hautewerk (who?). Completely unmemorable.
Marilyn Manson’s “Disposable Teens”? Soooo many better choices for Manson songs, it was disappointing to see this one be his debut.
That other song by Jet… I can’t even remember what it was called. Played it once and never again.
And maybe for me, it’s a personal thing, but I have no urge to ever play anything off of Pearl Jam’s “Backspacer” album, the Toby Keith pack, or the second Grateful Dead pack again. Grateful Dead 02 might have been the biggest disappointment for me, because after the awesomeness that was the first pack, with fun HOPO filled songs like “China Cat Sunflower” and “Franklin’s Tower” that converted someone like me who’s NOT a fan of them, the second pack really had no highlights — no standouts — and reminded me why I’m not a fan.
S1ck, you’re right “My Curse” came out in 2008. Can’t believe it’s been that long. We’re really due for some more KSE. I thought about adding Manson to my list but it’s kinda fun to sing.
I have to correct myself, ABC is not tough on guitar. Obviously I was thinking about another song. Perhaps it was Kung-Fu Fighting?
RockBandAide Reply:
December 29th, 2009 at 10:34 am
I still like older Marilyn Manson, and I liked ‘Disposable Teens,’ but I was jealous when Guitar Hero got ‘Beautiful People.’ I think the perfect song by Marilyn Manson in Rock Band would be ‘Rock is Dead,’ ironically enough.
well, this is pretty much personal, but this Live version of “Lithium” is better than the live at muddy banks… (can’t remember what)any ways, yes, “Last Resort” was disgusting, sickens me, such an awful version of the song. However, the Spongebob Pack is horrible, terrible, disgusting, repulsive…
A-Punk is indeed, a bad song, awful. finally, Icky Thump, I don’t like White Stripes, but it this isn’t the worst, RB has had so many fails…
And “She’s A Genius” it’s terribly charted for bass
RamsusXIII/TheRedKirby Reply:
December 29th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
I’m actually quite fond of the first Spongebob pack. From time to time I make joke purchases and that pack is quite possibly my favorite. For one I actually know the songs and as a drummer, “Where’s Gary?” is one of my favorite songs to play.
Although I really don’t believe Icky Thump or sounds of silence deserve to be on this list, you’ve nailed a few that I despised. I’m a little concerned that you left off James Browns Sex Machine or Pearl Jams Master / Slave. Those 2 were beyond awful.
I actually prefer the live version of Lithium and the different vocal mix in Last Resort. Probably because it seems much less studio-faked. I’ve replayed Icky Thump tons of times on guitar…love it.
I don’t have access to two of those songs yet xD
I hate Naive by the Kooks for the same reason you hate Kung Fu Fighting. It’s just a clusterfuck of not fun.
Aside from Ghostbusters the two MC Frontalot songs and the spongebob packs are listed as “other”.
I haven’t played Bulls on Parade but surely it can’t be worse than Guerrilla Radio to play?
You missed easily the biggest one.
#1. Chinese Democracy
Seriously, this is as close to Guns N’ Roses as we’ll ever get in Rock Band? No Welcome to the Jungle, Paradise City, Sweet Child O’ Mine, Don’t Cry, NOVEMBER RAIN? NOTHING!?!
Being a massive GNR fan, it hurt to hear Axl messed it all up. Also, I like ghostbusters and kung fu fighting.
Epsilon Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 7:18 pm
Dude, it’s not like Chinese Democracy was bad, even if it’s quite a departure from the old GNR. In fact it’s pretty good. Or have you not listened to it yet?
“Last Resort” is #1 in my book. I was so excited to get a song that was major part of my past, being big into the ’90s, and we got such an awful version of the song, it is not even bearable. It sounds like a bunch of 12 year-olds covered it! Everything just sounded completely off. I’ve listened to live versions of the song, and they actually sound good! So I don’t understand how this could sound so bad.
Whaaaaaaaaaat? The live version of Lithium is awesome, especially with the crowd singing along. I haven’t gotten it for Rock Band yet, but it’s definitely one of Live at Reading’s best songs. Guess you don’t really appreciate live music. By the way, how is “So What’cha Want” not in here?
RockBandAide Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 9:02 pm
AC/DC live = awesome. Tom Petty live = awesome. Nirvana live… not that good. They weren’t exactly known for the quality of their live performances (stage antics aside).
And ‘So Whatcha Want’ wasn’t released in 2009… see the title of the post.