Would you buy a cover album?

[instantdeath999]

If harmonix were to release a quality album by bands such as Rush, Iron Maiden, or Black Sabbath, would you buy it?

I personally would. I realize that some songs are recorded in a way that forces them to use covers. Pretty much every cover in the game has been pretty good, and while the Rush covers and Iron Maiden covers are different, they are not bad.

EDIT: Poll added, sorry for the long wait. Now vote!

[gusano311]

;if the album was by the amish outlaws hell yeah best cover band ever.

[barbaraann72]

I agree that the covers have been of good quality.

But as for the purchase of an entire album that is a cover, I'd probably say no to that. I'd probably pick and choose my fav tracks.

[MasterTick]

I probably would, but if there is one it should be a little cheaper than if it were the masters.

[chillzatl]

If I want to listen to music, I listen to music. I don't play rock band to listen to music. Covers are a reality of these games and are insignificant to me.

[Rock_Starman]

I'd buy it if I'd normally buy it as long as the covers were good. Like if it were Train Kept-A Rollin quality,wich took me about 5 weeks to even notice that was a cover,then yes but if it was Number of the Beast quality no thanks.

[Lord_Beelzebub]

The covers so far have been pretty good quality, but I don't know if I'd buy a whole album. I like playing to the actual song by the actual artist cause when I play the song, makes me feel like I'm part of the actual band myself. I've downloaded a couple of the Rush DLC's and you can tell they were both done by different bands. Singer doesn't sound the same from one to the other and that takes away from it sounding even close to the origional artist.

I've got a few cover song's I've downloaded but I perfer the origional artists whenever possible over cover songs. A few covers here and there but I don't think I'd buy a whole album.

[HeadHunter67]

Some of the covers have been better (IMO) than the original songs.

To me, it's about quality and authenticity. Though I will say that the Rush DLC might be a bit better for having a different singer, as most of the people who dislike Rush pin it on Geddy's voice. As long as it's consistent and good, that's what matters.

Does Harmonix still have WaveGroup doing their songs?

[Lord_Beelzebub]

Some of the covers have been better (IMO) than the original songs.

To me, it's about quality and authenticity. Though I will say that the Rush DLC might be a bit better for having a different singer, as most of the people who dislike Rush pin it on Geddy's voice. As long as it's consistent and good, that's what matters.

Does Harmonix still have WaveGroup doing their songs?


But doesn't the authenticity of the origional song set the precident for quality of a cover song? Let's face it, we all grade the cover song and it's quality to how the origional song by the origional artist sounds.

Based on that, why not just have the orgional song by the origional artist whenever possible? That's what made the song popular in the first place.

I think we should always want Harmonix/MTV to obtain the orgional over doing a cover. Cause if we begin to settle for second best, trust me, that's all they'll give us.

[Apples]

Some of the covers have been better (IMO) than the original songs.

To me, it's about quality and authenticity. Though I will say that the Rush DLC might be a bit better for having a different singer, as most of the people who dislike Rush pin it on Geddy's voice. As long as it's consistent and good, that's what matters.

Does Harmonix still have WaveGroup doing their songs?

Per the DLC credits, http://www.rockband.com/dlc, Wavegroup is still doing covers.

[BigMonkE]

Just cause Iron Maiden is my favorite band, I most certainly would. Same for Sabbath and Rush.

[Vandyan]

If it was good, and a cover of a band / songs I really like, probably. Cant give a definite yes or no, as it depends on the specific music, and the quality of the cover. I certainly wouldnt just buy them blindly like I would the master tracks of songs I know I like or that sound fun to play.

[blindwoozie]

I'm hoping for more Maiden, but the only cover I disliked in Rock Band was Number of the Beast. Run to the Hills was acceptable, good I might add. But NotB, I just can't bring myself to download it.

The Rush songs are surprisingly good, Geddy has a unique voice and they pulled it off pretty well.

[Moo Cow]

If it's a band I don't know very well, but I like the song - yes. Because I won't know the difference, really.

If it's a band I love, no. Because it'll just annoy me the whole time because it just won't sound right (like the Iron Maiden songs - they just don't sound right).

[Exayle]

Very good topic title/question. I had to think about it... and I'm still on the fence.
I don't mine a bad cover now and then. I'd much rather play a song by my favorite artist[s], even if they don't measure up. But to wade through an entire album covers? That'd hardcore... and yet, I still think I would, if the artist was worth it, and the covers weren't atrocious.

[ntruman22]

By the bands the OP mentioned yes, but not for bands like Coheed, that cover was terrible.

[Convertables_10]

It depends on the song/band. I have the rush song and the covers are ok and the interments sound right on but the vocal need work imho. rtth was a good cover and the same for the aerosmith. I dont think i would do an album though;

[Kevhouse]

For some, maybe. Honestly I don't download any of the Rush covers, simply because I can't stand hearing a Rush song that isn't performed by Rush. Rush is too unique in that matter.

However, I have found the Black Sabbath covers to be surprisingly good. I would definitely consider buying an album of that.

[Sandm4n]

I would, if the covers were good. I feel that all of the Rush songs were good covers. The Black Crows, was a good cover. I dont see why we cant get some Jimi Hendrix/Band of Gypsies (for the sake of using a band name) in the game as a cover though. I think that would be awesome, to have some Are You Experienced on there

[Wheezy]

I've been really pleased with the covers so far and I'd have no problems downloading a cover album. Especially if that's the only way we could get something like 2112 or Moving Pictures by Rush, I'll gladly take it. ;)


Like if it were Train Kept-A Rollin quality,wich took me about 5 weeks to even notice that was a cover...
Wow... Up until now I thought it was the master track. That makes me feel mighty stupid, although I've only played it a handful of times.

[frostywolf]

I'm all for covers as long as it's good. And honestly, the only cover I can really recall hating was "Number of the Beast", but that song just failed for me on so many levels. So, I'd be up for it - though the main band I'd want albums for would be Iron Maiden, so I'm a bit on the fence for it. Still, the "Run to the Hills" cover was pretty good...

[Jimmik]

I would be enthusiastic to buy an album even if it was scomprised only of covers.

This thread needs a poll!

[KiltieLad]

Whether or not the song is a cover doesn't generally affect whether or not I download it. So if it was an album I would otherwise download, then... yes, I would download a cover album.

[HeadHunter67]

But doesn't the authenticity of the origional song set the precident for quality of a cover song? Let's face it, we all grade the cover song and it's quality to how the origional song by the origional artist sounds.

Based on that, why not just have the orgional song by the origional artist whenever possible? That's what made the song popular in the first place.
Don't get me wrong - I prefer the masters, but if they cannot be obtained for whatever reason, a good cover is fine by me - even if it doesn't sound like the original artist.

For example, White Lion's cover of Radar Love - no one would mistake it for Golden Earring, the vocals and the arrangement sound different - but it's a great song nonetheless and I actually like it better than the original.

[Teh_Nfsjunkie91]

In my opinon, as long as the cover sounds like it's supposed to be the original song, I'd be fine with buying a whole album of covers.

[whofan]

God! It must be the "in" thing to diss the cover of "Number Of The Beast". It wasn't that bad! It was quite a bit better than "Run To The Hills" (which was decent).

Best way to approach covers.... don't expect anything out of them! That way you're not disappointed when they come out.

I've loved all of the covers released so far, and some of them sound so close to the originals that I've had to do double takes to make sure they weren't masters (Song With A Mission, Cherry Bomb, Train Kept A Rollin'). Keep up the amazing work Wavegroup!

Anyways, back on topic. If covers were the only way to go to get an entire album, then I'm all for it. I would rather have entire albums of "Number Of The Beast" quality covers (which, again, aren't bad) than to miss out on some key albums.

[ppetrovi]

The covers in Rock Band are good in my opinion.

Has anyone been paying attention to the number of Master tracks we have had lately? At first everyone complained about covers. Now....

Over 2 months and now 31 songs later, ALL master tracks. NICE!!!

Also, I have already bought a CD that was all covers. It was called I think Emporium and was various artists covering Led Zeppelin songs.

[S1ckH4nds]

I prefer master tracks, but I don't mind the covers... they've come a long way since the GH covers. And since I'm a DLC whore, I'd definitely end up purchasing the album regardless of whether or not they were masters.

[sillystou]

I don't care much for covers. I haven't bought a single cover since the DLC came out.

[ProfessorC]

I would buy a covers album. I would love to see some Queen, but I bet the originals are not in a form HMX can use, and no chance of getting the band back together to rerecord them.
I would even take it a step further and depending on the song or album I would pay extra if HMX could get them to rerecord the album or song so HMX could use it. I am not sure RB has the installed base yet to have that power, 1.5 million was the last number heard and 6 million downloads. So on average every owner has 4 DLC songs, which turns out to be a rather low percentage of total possible sales. Out of 81 current downloadable songs 139-58 that turns into about a 5% sales rate or a song should average 75,000 sales. I am not sure it would be worth it for a band to rerecord a track for 75,000 sales.

[whofan]

Not only is getting the band to rerecord tracks rather impractical, it's also impossible in some cases. The most prominent example you give is Queen. With the voice of the band dead and the bassist gone into hiding, never to return, I don't want to see partial re-recordings.

The reason why GHIII could get away with it with The Sex Pistols, despite a member being dead, is because said member wasn't on the first recording in the first place (FYI, Sid Vicious was in the hospital with Hepititas C at the time "Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols" was recorded). However, even there it sounded more like a cover than an original

[darkpetal]

I have to agree that Number of the Beast isn't the best cover. And while the cover of War Pigs was pretty good, I was soooooo hoping they'd have used the cover that Faith no More did of it. That was just awesome.

I will say that, no, I would not arbitrarily buy a cover album. Each song would have to be scrutinized pretty heavily if it's a cover before I'd consider it as some of the songs/bands that I like are just too unique to cover. For example, I don't think it'd be possible for me to enjoy a cover of the B-52's at all (crosses fingers for Rock Lobster DLC) as NO ONE can do a cover of Kate Pierson. I'd probably have gotten all of the Black Sabbath if it was Ozzy, but I just couldn't do it for the covers.

[xbskid]

I wouldn't buy a cover album. I'd rather buy an album that wasn't keysounded, or one that was rerecorded by the band, than purchase one that will never live up to the original.

[espher]

I've downloaded a couple of the Rush DLC's and you can tell they were both done by different bands. Singer doesn't sound the same from one to the other and that takes away from it sounding even close to the origional artist.

Everyone mentions this, but it's the same vocalist for every Rush song.

To answer the original question: absolutely.

[darkangel]

If it's a band I love, no. Because it'll just annoy me the whole time because it just won't sound right (like the Iron Maiden songs - they just don't sound right).

I agree, The cover songs on RB are not actually bad musically. if you saw a cover band at a bar (playing these songs at this quality) you would say they did a damn good job. But in this situation, they just dont feel right. I'll still jam to them and have a great time because its my only option to play along with Iron Maiden and such, but the fact still remains.

[Misha67]

If the covers were up the standards of Rock Band so far?

Absolutely.

[Fretbored]

I would buy it as long as the singer can hold his/her own throught the entire album. I would have to listen to it first for safety measures.

[mercuryshadow09]

Not when a band mimic's another band and is bad, but if a band put's they're own sound in it maybe.

[Lord_Beelzebub]

I see most people on this thread saying they would buy a cover album if they were done well. The catch is you have to spend your money first and buy the songs to find that out. And if they aren't done well, sorry no refunds.

Again my preference is for MTV is to always try to obtain license to the origional song first and foremost before deciding to do a cover.

[fafa979]

i would love to buy a cover of the white album by the Beatles.

[Vandyan]

I see most people on this thread saying they would buy a cover album if they were done well. The catch is you have to spend your money first and buy the songs to find that out.

I havent bought a single cover yet (and only a handful of master tracks) without going to youtube to watch and listen to them first, straight from the Rock Band game. There are always videos up of the songs within about 30 minutes to an hour of them hitting XBL.

So while its true that SOMEONE would have to spend their money first, most of us wouldnt.

[jbrocker56]

I don`t think i would buy a cover album if it was good like the cover of mississipy queen may be

[HeadHunter67]

Can't you preview tracks in the Store now?

[Jimmik]

God! It must be the "in" thing to diss the cover of "Number Of The Beast". It wasn't that bad! It was quite a bit better than "Run To The Hills" (which was decent).

I've gotta disagree with you there...I thought the vocal cover was very very weak :( And I would never diss Maiden unless I had a good reason.

[Vandyan]

Im with Jimmik, I thought the Number of the Beast cover was pretty bad, much worse than the RTtH cover, which I thought was not great, but at least passable. I cant stomach the NotB cover at all.

Guess that just goes to show how subjective music is though, theres really no one right answer, its all personal opinion.

And you can preview the songs in the store HH, but its still only a little tidbit like you hear when you are on the song in the list, not the whole song. Thats not enough for me when it comes to buying a cover, I pretty much have to hear the whole thing and see the note charts, but thats just me.

[partyboydanial]

Some of the covers have been better (IMO) than the original songs.

To me, it's about quality and authenticity. Though I will say that the Rush DLC might be a bit better for having a different singer, as most of the people who dislike Rush pin it on Geddy's voice. As long as it's consistent and good, that's what matters.

Does Harmonix still have WaveGroup doing their songs?

wavegroup is ballin i bought their cover of ziggy stardust off itunes i like it better then the original

and i wud buy if it was a good album by a good band such as Rush, Iron Maiden, or Black Sabbath

[KBelanger]

I've been playing Guitar Hero since Guitar Hero 1 on the PS2. I've got every guitar Guitar Hero game (and obviously Rock Band). Every single song on the first guitar hero was a cover. Most were excellent, some not so great.
We've been very spoiled with Rock Band that most of the songs are master tracks - that makes for one quality game. Rock Band has delivered such a superior product that my Guitar Hero games are now collecting dust and I'm pretty sure I will not get the next Guitar Hero : Aerosmith.

[Soja]

Ugh. Tough question.

Let me put it this way. I would download a pack of Maiden covers. I would not download an entire Powerslave cover album. In that case, I'd pick only a few songs (namely Aces High, 2 Seconds To Midnight, and Powerslave).

Lastly, I don't get why people hate the Number of the Beast cover so much. I listened to the original and the cover side by side and I didn't hear enough of a difference to justify the anger and loathing I'm seeing.