Shacknews' Most Wanted Rock Band Tracks

Though Rock Band (PS3, X360, PS2) is already on some store shelves, the work of developer Harmonix is far from over. With weekly content updates promised via Xbox Live on Xbox 360 and PlayStation Network on PlayStation 3, someone has to pick out all these new tracks and albums, and looking at what's available so far, we're pretty sure that someone is exhausted.

Sure, Steven "Little Steven" Van Zant has been commissioned to help in the search, but those of us here at Shacknews figured we would partake in the holiday spirit and offer our assistance as well.

So, as an early Christmas present to one of our favorite studios, we've put together a list of tracks and albums we think are perfect for the Rock Band experience. Be sure to let us know what you think in the comments section.

Individual Songs

Possibly the group's rocking-est track, this Lennon/McCartney song

from The White Album was The Beatles' attempt to outdo The Who as the loudest rock band in the world. It would be perfect as Rock Band's first Beatles tune. -C.B.

The Kinks - "Lola"

Everybody's familiar with this classic Kinks song. Frontman Ray

Davies' 1970 tune about a transvestite is a rocking anthem that's

perfect for Rock Band, with plenty of awesome portions for each

bandmember. -C.B.

Who else is tired of Cherub Rock? Here is some classic Pumpkins that would

serve as a nice replacement. -N.B.

Neutral Milk Hotel - "Holland, 1945"

Rock Band could use some lo-fi love, and what better contribution than Jeff Mangum's surprisingly rocking acoustic-powered tune about his dreams of World War II? It's fast, energetic, and ridiculously fun to sing along with. -C.F.

This would be epic with a master track. Every instrument would be used to

its fullest, and the singer would have the pleasure of screaming his lungs

out for the final 30 seconds of the song. Hilarity guaranteed. -N.B.

Wolf Parade - "Grounds For Divorce"

With nonsensical lyrics ("Said you hate the sound of the buses on the ground/Pretend it's whales keeping their voices down"), catchy guitar riffs, and a fun drum track, this indie rock sensation would be perfect for Rock Band, especially the part when the vocalist declares "Looked like a newly wed" and all the instruments kick in. -C.F.

How can you have a game about rock bands without arguably the best rock song

of all time? [Blah blah blah -ed.] In a perfect world the Live 1966 performance would be used for

the master track, but even the studio version would be great. -N.B.

Cardigans - "War"

Slow, striking and beautiful with string backups. All

the parts come off strong and show a versatility that some many not

expect from the band. -J.G.

Nearly any track from this seminal indie band's masterpiece Crooked Rain, Crooken Rain would be worthwhile, but "Unfair" is one of the more straightforwardly rocking tracks on the album. This sarcastic ode to California goes balls-out with all four instruments. -C.R.

King Crimson - "In the Court of the Crimson King"

If we've already got Rush's clean prog-rock, let's balance it out with

the earlier, much more raw, first track from the first album by Robert

Fripp's ever-changing King Crimson. This seven-minute epic will test your endurance and your lyrical analysis skills. -C.R.

Rock Band needs some of the King of Pop's royal beats, and the heavy

guitar (courtesy of Van Halen) and universal popularity of this track

make it an ideal choice for the first track on Rock Band from MJ. -C.B.

Queen - "Bohemian Rhapsody"

Come on now. -C.R.

Was anyone expecting classic-sounding modern era punk to emerge from the heart of Tennessee? Think the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, complete with a female vocalist--Jemina Pearl Abegg (right)--but with less fancy effects and a smidge more rocking. As an added bonus, this track gives vocalists a chance to go beyond mere singing and absent-mindedly wonder, "Okay, so yea, we're like, adventurers?" -C.F.

They Might Be Giants - "Birdhouse In Your Soul"

This is a great example

of TMBG's pop quirkiness and catchy hook mastery. If it makes things any easier with the licensing, they've

already worked for MTV/Harmonix owner Viacom, having created the Daily Show's music. -J.G.

Rock and roll is not puppies and rainbows. This song is

obnoxious, fun and high energy. It builds up to a great climax and if

you need any further convincing then just talk to Pikachu. -J.G.

Full Albums

Relive Prince's timeless journey of discovering bare

breasts, self-loathing, and the true source of funk. Can you imagine performing "Let's Go Crazy, "Computer Blue," and "Purple Rain"? I have my crushed

velvet all ready to go. -C.F.

Radiohead, The Bends

OK Computer is pretty great, but The Bends exhibits more of a pure rock

sound that would fit well with Rock Band. Plus Iron Lung is already on DLC,

so it doesn't seem that large of a leap. -N.B.

Sure, you'd run into a few extended "Won't Get Fooled Again" synth moments, but for those rest of the tracks where the full band is playing, it would be pure faux-jam heaven. Extra

points for the drummer using his hands during the Time intro. -N.B.

Modest Mouse, The Lonesome Crowded West

Before Modest Mouse became every college kid's favorite band, they

made some pretty quality stuff. This album's jangly guitar, prominent

drums and singular vocals on tracks like "Lounge (Closing Time)" make

it an easy choice for a Rock Band album. This was before frontman

Isaac Brock changed his vocal style to that of a drunken circus

ringmaster, so the songs are all singable, too. -C.B.

Austin-based rock band Spoon has been around for more than ten years,

although it's been garnering more mainstream success with its last few

albums. Regardless, this album is catchy as hell and would be a blast

to play. You've probably heard the dancy third track "I Turn My Camera

On" at a party before, but pretty much every song is a solid one. -C.B.

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, Source Tags & Codes

Here is Trail of Dead at its most potent, with full, overwhelming, and

abrasive guitar textures that intricately layer over

themselves for three quarters of an hour. You will rock so hard that you may experience exhaustion and/or unconsciousness. -C.R.

The last album The Beatles recorded, Abbey Road is also the band's most

tightly structured, with the second half flowing together seamlessly in

many cases. The acid-washed

"I Want You (She's So Heavy)" should appease those who need some big,

crunchy rock. Harmonix: gapless album functionality please. -C.R.

Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Soul Caddy

This is a great and versatile rock album from a band cast in an

unfortunately one-dimensional light. It goes everywhere from glam to

grunge to ballads and doesn't neglect swing, all balanced together

with minimal weak points. I'm not sure what would excite me more, the

over the top vocals from Diamond Light Boogie or playing guitars on

the grungy Bleeding Song with its gamer references. -J.G.

Words would go here--very nice words, in fact--but there are none that can describe the sheer ecstasy of David Bowie's classic concept album. Add in the fact that two of its tracks are already available for Rock Band--one included in the game itself, another up for download--and that Harmonix included "Ziggy Stardust" in the original Guitar Hero, and I think it's safe to say the developers wants to see this as much as I do. Ziggy played guitar and, ideally, so will you. -C.F.

The Flaming Lips, At War With The Mystics

This album would be a really fun challenge all around, with Wayne

Coyne's unique vocals and the band's inventive instrumentals. The album is

all over the place--fast and slow, silly and serious, so no ruts are to

be had. And if we don't end up with Dark Side, "Pompeii Am Gotterdammerung" is the closest thing

to a Pink Floyd song you could get. -J.G.

By Nick Breckon, Chris Remo, Carlos Bergfeld, Chris Faylor, and Jeff Gondek