Great summary!The Smiths are in desperate need of attention on this forum. The band has such a great dynamic that fits the rb mold perfectly. It is sad to see a such small thread of arguably the most influential band of the 80s get lost in the mix to those labeled My Chemical Romance and Linkin Park that get thousands of replies. I believe the first step in attracting Harmonix attention is by converting the players to our cause. I will attempt to explain why I think they are a perfect fit for rock band as well as give this thread a much needed bump.
Morrissey has a ridiculous singing voice that has never been properly duplicated. The songs most fun to sing in rb are first, the songs you know; and secondly, ones that vary in vocal style. I don't get much pleasure out of singing rather mundane tracks where I'm just rambling through words quickly in a monotone voice. Morrissey forces you to utilize a multitude of ranges for his tracks, not to mention they practically all make for great sing-a-longs (see This Charming Man and There Is A Light That Never Goes Out).
Johnny Marr, simply put, played his instrument masterfully. Being one of the most prominent and influential guitarists of the 80s, I can even recall him receiving praise in one of rb1's loading screens. Most of The Smiths tracks are so deeply layered with guitar, the only difficult part would be decided exactly which to chart and where. The quality of his guitar is also unparalleled. Often completely avoiding distortion, Marr adds subtle reverb to a surprisingly clean guitar even in the most rocking and guitar heavy tracks (see Barbarism Begins at Home and Bigmouth Strikes Again).
Andy Rourke was simply a genius at the bass. Not only conforming to the unique blend of Marr and Morrissey's often fast and sometimes strange chord progressions, his bass lines transcend the traditional idea of driving the fundamental notes home. He nearly always plays highly melodical and quick lines that are on par and sometimes overshadow those done by Marr himself (see Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now and The Boy With A Thorn In His Side).
And Mike Joyce was the glue that held all of these musical godsends together. Playing beats that are simple yet necessary and commonly driving a beat so strong his input cannot be ignored (the drums make the chorus of You Just Haven't Earned it Yet Baby perfect). What intrigues me most about Joyce are his fills; consistently fantastic to listen to, I can only imagine how much fun it would be to get creative with his already clever parts. Don't knock Mike for having the easiest parts in the group, as they can become very fast and difficult at times (see Shakespeare's Sister and Vicar In A Tutu).
There are countless song which exemplify each of the musician's strengths perfectly.William It Was Really Nothing, Girlfriend in a Coma, Shoplifters of the world, Bigmouth Strikes Again, Cemetery Gates, and Handsome Devil are ideal examples and a great place to start for non believers.
It is for said reasons The Smiths would be a perfect compliment to the game dynamics of rock band. I would see these songs ranging from medium to hard difficultly, with a few reaching into the higher end of the spectrum for select instruments, namely vocals. Any dlc release from this artist would finally entice me to sing and do something other than drum, much like what I hope The Beatles game will do.
I think it hits the nail right on the head as to why I would enjoy The Smiths on Rock Band.
Marr's guitar work would be a fun challenge to keep up with!


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