Franz Ferdinand, Allman Bros, Alien Ant Farm and More Hit DLC
Filed under: DLC News / Tags: alien-ant-farm, prong, franz-ferdinand, the-distillers, luscious-jackson, the-allman-brothers-band, southern-rock, alternative, punk, metal, rock, 1970s, 1990s, 2000s, artist-pack / 34 comments
Classic Southern rock! Newly classic Scottish pop! Vintage thrash metal! Two great female-fronted bands that don't exist anymore! And what's maybe the weirdest cover versions in Rock Band history! Just another week of DLC, folks; and our hats are off to the musical wizards who can absorb the entire package.
About that cover version first: Yes, it's nu-metal guys and Papa Roach pals Alien Ant Farm doing a Michael Jackson song. Which isn't as weird as it might seem: After all, "Smooth Criminal" is one of the weirder and more menacing numbers that the King of Pop ever penned. And the California band's take was a hit in its own right, topping the Modern Rock chart in 2001. While Jackson's version was a sinister dance number, AAF gave it a funk-metal touch to make it less smooth and more criminal.
Prong have been refining their brand of thrash for a good two decades now, and "Idealistic Types" proves they're nowhere near out of gas: A brand-new track that makes its world debut here, the song's already been getting the thumbs-up from fans who've heard it. Also here is "The Banishment" a recent album track that we challenge you to play without headbanging.
Since we've already done Glasvegas and Fratellis packages, you can guess that we love that Scottish pop. So a Franz Ferdinand three-pack was a must, and we've got one track from each of the band's three albums. Leading off is their first international smash, 2004's "Take Me Out", and the following year's "Do You Want To," which Alex wrote the morning after an especially lively party in Glasgow; the lyric was mainly things that people had shouted at him that night. "Lucid Dreams" shows a slightly different direction on the recent Tonight album, an eight-minute epic with a surprising instrumental jam.
Southern rockers and guitar buffs, rejoice: The great Duane Allman makes his Rock Band debut this week. Of course the Allman Brothers Band is already there, but "Ramblin' Man" was recorded after Duane's death. This week we have two earlier tracks that show his guitar in full flight. Driven by acoustic guitars and congas, "Midnight Rider" was a rare reflective moment from the original, hard-driving lineup. That's Duane on lead acoustic and Dickey Betts playing the electric solo , but the song really belongs to Gregg Allman, whose grizzled vocal was quite a feat for a 23-year-old. "Blue Sky" was one of the last tracks that the band recorded during Duane's tenure ; and features some beautiful Allman/Betts guitar interplay; a blast of pure Georgia sunshine.
The trio Luscious Jackson split up around 2000, but blazed bright for a few years, combining pop knack with a sense of groove and rhythm—No surprise that the Beastie Boys loved them and signed them to their Grand Royal label. Written by bassist Jill Cunniff, the groove-driven "Naked Eye" was an alternative hit in late '96. If you like a punkier sound, check out the Distillers' "Drain the Blood," where singer Brody Dalle is the closest thing you'll ever hear to Iggy Pop trapped in a female body. Unless of course it's Iggy actually getting trapped in one.
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Comments
tiagoduarte...
Wii players get screwed again, of course... sigh
Friday, May 15, 2009
Jazi Yeah...
please franz ferdinand on wii!!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Nickmatt...
The Wii music store needs to be updated! I wanna play some Allman Brothers and Franz Ferdinand!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Zage3632...
Plz put Smooth Criminal on Wii. That song, as I've seen on Youtube, is a freakin monster on drums!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
schism...
I've been waiting for Smooth Criminal for a while. Thanks Harmonix! Now we just need Tool...
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Slappy89...
One of the best weeks of DLC in a while. Good job guys! I'll definitely be buying the Allman Brothers stuff, and I would love to see more in the future.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
crovax1...
I liked the cover of Smooth Criminal by AAF. That'll go on my DLC list. I am a fan of the Distillers also so I'd pick that up too.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
classicrockdude...
Blue SKY
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Hanzolebot...
sweeeet! i ****ing love the distillers!!! but i think "beat your heart" is a better song to feature on the dlc. but thats my two cents man :D
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Hanzolebot...
sweeeet! i ****ing love the distillers!!! but i think "beat your heart" is a better song to feature on the dlc. but thats my two cents man :D
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Griymm...
Yes, let's hope Rock Band 3 has better songs
Saturday, May 9, 2009
SEANTOURAGE...
Not bad, but I am still hoping to one day see Civil War (GnR) and some Doors... maybe Rockband 3 will have a keyboard..lol
Friday, May 8, 2009
Griymm...
Yes, MORE TRASH METAL!
Friday, May 8, 2009
CrescentSeo...
Ooh, more thrash metal. I'll probably get that and AAF.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Sciochezze...
ok you guys haven't failed this week =]
Thursday, May 7, 2009
willigee...
Oooo, Smooth Criminal, yum! ^_^ Not too bad of DLCs, but, imo, Rock Band is incomplete until there's some Queen, specifically *Bohemian Rhapsody* and *Don't Stop Me Now* ^_^
Thursday, May 7, 2009
WayPastCool17...
Grunge** not grunde.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
WayPastCool17...
There's nothin' wrong with Nickelback. Seeing more SOAD would be good. Smooth Criminal's a good addition to the repertoire but we need more grunde in the game. Like the rest of Alice In Chains' album Facelift. Or Dirt. Either way. Keep the good tracks comin'.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Bulkdarthdan...
NO!! No Nickleback! I swear Harmonix if you put Nickleback on Rock Band, I might have to blow my brains out with a shotgun.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Lycan4life1989...
I think more Devildriver, Bullet For My Valentine, System of A Down and Nickelback need to be put on Rock Band and for country fans some Kenny Chesney couldn't hurt
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Griymm...
Yes We Need More System Of A Down!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
SOADfan...
U guys need to put up some SOAD! Im tired of this horrible stuff ure puttin up! Although I Liked Red Devil.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
grungerocks2...
we NEED Living Colour on rock band. i like allman bros though
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
jambone...
When is it coming out for the Wii!?!?!?! I am for sure downloading midnight rider and smooth criminal!!!! IS there an estimated date?? I almost wet my self a little when I saw smooth criminal!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
rockerninja...
YEEEESSSSS!!!! ALIEN ANT FARM!!!!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
kancil14...
I'm so happy to hear that Alien Ant Farm's "Smooth Criminal" and even more happier to know that the tracks for Franz Ferdinand songs were to be released on Rockband as DLC...
and as patient as ever, I waited for their releases...
However, I'm quite upset and disappointed to see that the release of these tracks were NOT shown on the Wii Music Store for Rockband... =(
please please please Harmonix, release these tracks for the Wii... I'm literally begging (on my knees) to play these tracks... I really don't want to think that I wasted buying Wii points in hopes on waiting for tracks that will not be released at the same time with Xbox 360 Music Store or Playstation Network...
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Azeaze...
Griym It must really matter to you what we say or you wouldnt have even brought that up.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Griymm...
At Least BETTER music than last time, hope it get's BETTER from here on! Still waiting for more METAL songs like Slipknot!!! All that disagree go F*** your self, like it matters to me what you think. They will be here sooner or later.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Witticus...
Franz Ferdinand is my favorite band of all time!!! I honestly hope this isn't the last time we see them hit up Rock Band, because their songs are real hits at parties. Also don't stop the Scottish Rock!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Thrasher9294...
All I ask is that the next song that they release by The Distillers is Seneca Falls.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
HeavyHorse...
Definitely one of the more eye popping releases in recent memory. Really incredible selection. Punk, Metal, Southern Rock, and more. If someone can't find something they like in this weeks release, they either need to broaden their taste or go hit by a bus (metaphorically- speaking of course... of course).
Nonetheless Mr. Brett, I have to bring something up. I've been seeing a lot of Iggy being brought up in your articles. You as eager for some Iggy DLC as I am? :D
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
J.A.R.S...
This weeks DLC is cool but how about u guys put at least some U2 songs on there because me and my friends r huge U2 fans.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Bulkdarthdan...
YES! We finally have "Take Me Out" and "Midnight Rider" on Rock Band. You guys are AWESOME!!!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Thrasher9294...
This DLC is Amazing!
I actually like most of these songs, I'm glad to finally have a week where I get a bunch of songs in a while.
Thanks, Harmonix.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009