Less rhythm, more lead

[superpunkgohan]

I don't know about anyone else, but I was disappointed in some of the songs on GH2 because they were so rhythm-heavy. After playing the same riff 30 times in a row, my brain (along with my fingers) go numb and I don't even enjoy the song anymore. Songs like "Freya" specifically require you to play the same riff for what seems like eternity. To me, this does not make a fun song.

I had a lot of fun with GH because of the fun lead parts in the songs, and even the songs that were more rhythm-based were fun because there were a bunch of different parts to switch it up. I don't know how many times I played a song in GH2 and at the end of the song found myself going, "Yeah, that wasn't very fun," all because I played the same riff over and over.

With that said, in relation to all of you out there screaming "more metal!" I just want to say that yes, I do like metal quite a bit, and it's ridiculously fun to listen to (most of it anyway), but the most fun I have playing GH is with songs like Jessica and Freebird, songs that are incredibly melody-driven and have that good ol' classic rock feel to them. Sure, the metal songs are fun and I basically crapped my pants when I first found out Six was a bonus song on GH2, but to me that song is more fun to listen to than to actually play. The same with the punk songs, like Carry Me Home and Search and Destroy. I'm sure that's how I'd feel about a lot of songs. If I could create my own setlist, it would consist pretty much of only punk and metal--but I'm sure once I made it through most of the songs I thought I would enjoy, I'd be pretty disappointed. I'm fully aware that a lot of punk and metal have incredible lead parts and it takes a lot of talent to play them, but it just doesn't give me the same satisfaction as Jessica.

For me, the thrill of GH is playing genres of music that I would never play in real life. As a drummer, I can get on there and bump out some Bad Religion or Unearth or whatever (or at least try), or write punk and metal songs with my friends, but when it comes down to playing the gane, I find myself enjoying classic rock and metal (Cream and Motorhead from GH, The Allman Brothers and Guns N' Roses from GH2). These songs, to me, have more of a lead guitar feel and never get boring.

Does anyone else feel this way? Are your favorite songs to play from a genre of music you wouldn't consider to be your favorite? It seems that in general, all of these forums are full of people pleading to have their favorite band in the game, whereas I'm in the minority that would like to see some stuff that I don't already listen to 24 hours a day.

[mobhit101]

Dude, I'm totally with you 100% on this one. I love some of the metal stuff. And I really like to listen to Freya but i HATE playing it. But man, when I start nailing the solo on songs like Jessica or Gemini or anything that's more lead driven, i dunno, it just feels better for whatever reason. I think all genres of music should and need to be (and will be :P) in Rock Band because it just wouldn't be cool to have all classic rock or all punk, metal, etc... Everyone needs diversity. In fact, GH really opened up my eyes to different kinds of music that I would have never listened to otherwise so I welcome all forms of music with open arms. (sorry about that little tangent...)
Anyways, I have to agree that no matter what the songs picked there really ought to be more lead driven songs. For all the instruments. aaaaaaaaaaand I'm done....

Holy crap i can't wait for this game!!!!!!!!!!!!asodifha;dliafh

[Buster]

Fully agreeded!

I found myself playing MUCH more GH than GH2 because first one has lots of great songs of different styles with almost none too repetitive sequences meanwhile second one is full of boring metal-style songs.

As blues fan I enjoyed GH big time due tunes like "Texas flood" and "Crossroads". Where is the blues in GH2? I also liked tunes like "Ziggy Stardust" or "Killer queen". Where were that kind of styles in GH2?

I would suggest to include songs like "Johnny B. Goode" by Johnny Winter to please blues fans. Also something like "Surfing with the alien" by Joe Satriani would fit perfectly into the new game.

Regards.

[4rch3nemy]

I think I'll agree with you and say something else: RB should definitely include more blues-driven stuff than GH2 had. GH had such fun songs to play and more of them had a blues feel to them.

I would love more soft-rock stuff and indie-rock in RB too. There's a definite lack of "Even Rats" and what not in GH2.

[superpunkgohan]

I would love more soft-rock stuff and indie-rock in RB too. There's a definite lack of "Even Rats" and what not in GH2.

Man, up until a few weeks ago I totally forget about Even Rats, and then I was venturing through the bonus tracks on GH and rediscovered it. That exactly what I was talking about before--stuff I don't normally sit around and listen to but is fun as hell to play.

And since this is the "Ultimate Setlist" category, I guess I should list a few songs I'd like to see in Rock Band.

1) The Offspring - The Kids Aren't Alright
2) Reel Big Fish - Beer
3) Unearth - Failure
4) The Allman Brothers Band - Ramblin' Man
5) Bad Religion - Come Join Us
6) Blink 182 - Dammit
7) Blue Oyster Cult - Don't Fear The Reaper
8) Children of Bodom - Touch Like Angel of Death
9) Eagles - Brown Eyed Girl
10) Faith No More - Epic
11) God Forbid - Anti-hero
12) Greed Day - Welcome To Paradise
13) Iron Maiden - The Wicker Man
14) Johnny Rivers - Secret Agent Man
15) Judas Priest - Freewheel Burning
16) Led Zeppelin - The Immigrant Song
17) Lostprophets - Start Something
18) Metallica - Hero of The Day
19) The Misfits - Dig Up Her Bones
20) Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)
21) Scorpions - We Let It Rock...We Let It Roll
22) Sex Pistols - Pretty Vacant
23) The Strokes - 12:51
23) Sublime - Same In The End
24) Thrice - The Red Death
25) U2 - Bullet The Blue Sky
26) The Unseen - Scream Out
27) John Lee Hooker - Boogie Chillin'

So yeah, I cheated and basically went through my iTunes and listed songs alphabetically. I think I got some punk, metal, rock, and even a blues song in there. Sure, I could have gone through and listed some obscure punk and metal bands that I love, but honestly I doubt anyone at Harmonix is going to consider many songs that the masses aren't at least vaguely familiar with (although they seem to have shifted way more towards that mentality with GH2 than in GH). Anyway, my list is no where near an "ideal" list, because as I said in my earlier post, the songs I have most fun playing is the stuff I don't normally listen to, so I don't really have any idea what to include. That's where you guys (and ultimately, Harmonix) comes in, right? :)

[Rev0lver]

I'm fully aware that a lot of punk and metal have incredible lead parts and it takes a lot of talent to play them, but it just doesn't give me the same satisfaction as Jessica.


3) Unearth - Failure


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[superpunkgohan]

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Yes, an obvious exception. :)

Failure is a ridiculous song and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't mind failing it 1,000 times, because I can't even imagine the satisfaction I'd receive once I finally beat it. Plus the drum part would be nearly impossible too.

[Gilmour]

Lead driven songs are the funnest. Jessica is my favorite from GH2. I could live with or without metal in this game.

I like the idea of putting "Don't Fear the Reaper" in there.
For Allman Brothers, I like "Blue Sky."
Led Zeppelin - "Black Dog"
Pink Floyd - "Have a Cigar"
U2 - "Sunday Bloody Sunday" It's kind of ironic because it's very rhythm driven. But can you imagine singing the vocals on "Bullet the Blue Sky"?

But yeah, there needs to be plenty of lead guitar driven songs in this game, witch is why I like "Blue Sky" and "Have a Cigar."