Am I the only one disappointed by the Rock Band 2 Soundtrack?

[Seconds Out]

I dont know, Rock Band 2 just doesnt have the juice that the original game had. I think overall the songs suck. Yes, there are afew good ones here and there such as Everlong, Livin on a Prayer, Battery, Almost Easy, Down with the Sickness. Overall however, its a bit of a let down. The songs arent as fun as I thought they were going to be. I hope the 20 song dowload makes up for it.

[Mot Wakorb]

Are you only playing a single instrument? The one thing I had to get used to was the fact that not every song is for Guitar, which was a big change from Guitar Hero in the past. I actually really enjoyed the soundtrack this time, and just having the expansions from RB1 and DLC made my day.

[Camel]

I like a lot of the songs, but the RB2 soundtrack DEFINITELY doesn't rank as high for me as RB1. There were very few instances in RB1 where I would play a song and then say, "Yeah....I don't think I'll be playing that again any time soon," but that's already happened quite a bit with me in RB2.

Fortunately, DLC and all the RB1 songs make the soundtrack ridiculously awesome no matter what.

[Seconds Out]

Are you only playing a single instrument? The one thing I had to get used to was the fact that not every song is for Guitar, which was a big change from Guitar Hero in the past. I actually really enjoyed the soundtrack this time, and just having the expansions from RB1 and DLC made my day.

I've tried many of the songs on both drums, lead and bass guitar. Theres just too much new wave 80's crap on there for me.

[Rock Bandit]

When you have 84 songs on disc it just raises the chance of having songs you might not like. Viva la variety.

Although I would have to vigurously disagree with the too much new wave line, I can only think of 3 songs off the top of my head (Hungry Like The Wolf, We Got The Beat, Uncontrollable Urge). Maybe Cool For Cats and Pump It Up if you're feeling picky.

In my opinion Rock Band 2 has the best soundtrack of any game ever (shocking, I know).

[pomeroy]

Eh, when you say that "Down With The Sickness" is one of the good songs, I'm not too worried that you think the soundtrack sucks.

(Hint: It doesn't.)

[Whunpo]

I've tried many of the songs on both drums, lead and bass guitar. Theres just too much new wave 80's crap on there for me.

Yeah. I agree. There are a lot of songs that are memorable, and will sell copies of the game, but aren't that fun to play after a while. I wish there were some more real rock songs. Some of the songs in RB1 would make me head bang while playing. In RB2 I might sing along with the words, but it's not "FUCK YEAH!" as much.

[TheFlyingOrc]

I dont know, Rock Band 2 just doesnt have the juice that the original game had. I think overall the songs suck. Yes, there are afew good ones here and there such as Everlong, Livin on a Prayer, Battery, Almost Easy, Down with the Sickness. Overall however, its a bit of a let down. The songs arent as fun as I thought they were going to be. I hope the 20 song dowload makes up for it.

It appears your criteria is "songs that I've heard on the radio". There are less of those, yes.

Alex Chilton is hardcore wicked awesome, and I don't care who knows it.

[Wolvie]

Wow, I thought the set list was as strong or better then the first. More challenging too.

[inmostlight]

My biggest disappointment with the Rock Band 2 soundtrack is the final, "impossible" tier of songs. To me they just aren't fun like they were in Rock Band 1. Granted, RB1 had a few annoying songs (Flirting with Disaster, Green Grass and High Tides), but they're nothing compared to RB2.

I play in a group of people of all walks, form metalheads to classic rockers to indie nerds and etc. Not one of us finds songs like Battery, Painkiller, Panic Attack, or those Mastodon and Testament songs fun. It's not that they're challenging so much as they just feel like chores. Some of them are downright unlistenable, and I sure wouldn't want any of those to come up randomly when playing around family or anything. They're game killers, they break the mood, and they stick out like sore thumbs.

It sure doesn't help any that in our groups it's usually the girls who want to sing, and so many of those high level songs are all growling male voices. Are there really no difficult songs with women singing?

[TheEvilNarwhale]

It appears your criteria is "songs that I've heard on the radio". There are less of those, yes.

Alex Chilton is hardcore wicked awesome, and I don't care who knows it.

It's ok TFO. I know it. The Replacements were too good. I want Bastards of Young to be put in too.

[carnage11]

My biggest disappointment with the Rock Band 2 soundtrack is the final, "impossible" tier of songs. To me they just aren't fun like they were in Rock Band 1. Granted, RB1 had a few annoying songs (Flirting with Disaster, Green Grass and High Tides), but they're nothing compared to RB2.

I play in a group of people of all walks, form metalheads to classic rockers to indie nerds and etc. Not one of us finds songs like Battery, Painkiller, Panic Attack, or those Mastodon and Testament songs fun. It's not that they're challenging so much as they just feel like chores. Some of them are downright unlistenable, and I sure wouldn't want any of those to come up randomly when playing around family or anything. They're game killers, they break the mood, and they stick out like sore thumbs.

It sure doesn't help any that in our groups it's usually the girls who want to sing, and so many of those high level songs are all growling male voices. Are there really no difficult songs with women singing?

No.....there aren't. I think that's why they're there. A lot of people wanted more metal and that's where metal goes, at the end. Because it's always hard ass to play. I feel for HMX because I know it's difficult to pick a line up of songs that will ultimately make everyone or almost everyone happy. There's always going to be those people that whine and moan for more metal and then those other people that whine and moan for less metal. That's really why they put sooo many songs in the game. Just to try to appease everyone. I'm just glad they put at least one create your own set list set in each venue.

In my opinion, there seems to be more songs in RB2 that I really just don't care for than there were in RB. However, there's a lot more songs in general, so statistically speaking that's how it would work out. In RB there was only one song I had difficulty with on expert drums and that was Run to the Hills, in RB2 I'm having trouble with most of the last two tiers. It's definitely a lot more difficult.

[Shrinn]

I'm a metal head. I like RB2 better.

[inmostlight]

No.....there aren't. I think that's why they're there. A lot of people wanted more metal and that's where metal goes, at the end. Because it's always hard ass to play. I feel for HMX because I know it's difficult to pick a line up of songs that will ultimately make everyone or almost everyone happy. There's always going to be those people that whine and moan for more metal and then those other people that whine and moan for less metal. That's really why they put sooo many songs in the game. Just to try to appease everyone. I'm just glad they put at least one create your own set list set in each venue.

I wouldn't say I'm anti-metal, just that Rock Band (to me and all my friends) is primarily a social game. If I put a song like Painkiller on in the background at a gathering I'd instantly have my music privileges revoked.

It's not that we hate metal or anything, either. In the first game we were always clamoring to play Run to the Hills, Enter Sandman, and some of the other Priest and Maiden that I'd downloaded. I realize it's totally subjective, but to us the metal in Rock Band 2 isn't fun metal. I don't want to get into the whole argument about how Metallica's Black album was their mainstream one, but I can also think of older songs they did that would be more palatable to group play than Battery: One, Ride the Lightning, Seek and Destroy, etc.

I also really think the death metal songs like Mastodon are so niche that they should have been DLC for that select group of people that want to play them. (There are plenty of songs that I really want added to Rock Band, but think they'd be crazy to put them on the disc!)

Ya know, maybe it would also be better if the DLC were better integrated into tour mode rather than only in the mystery and make-a-setlist modes. Like if the various theme challenges could be integrated into the touring aspect that we all love. Maybe that'll be coming in the inevitable Rock Band 3.

[carnage11]

I wouldn't say I'm anti-metal, just that Rock Band (to me and all my friends) is primarily a social game. If I put a song like Painkiller on in the background at a gathering I'd instantly have my music privileges revoked.

It's not that we hate metal or anything, either. In the first game we were always clamoring to play Run to the Hills, Enter Sandman, and some of the other Priest and Maiden that I'd downloaded. I realize it's totally subjective, but to us the metal in Rock Band 2 isn't fun metal. I don't want to get into the whole argument about how Metallica's Black album was their mainstream one, but I can also think of older songs they did that would be more palatable to group play than Battery: One, Ride the Lightning, Seek and Destroy, etc.

I also really think the death metal songs like Mastodon are so niche that they should have been DLC for that select group of people that want to play them. (There are plenty of songs that I really want added to Rock Band, but think they'd be crazy to put them on the disc!)

Ya know, maybe it would also be better if the DLC were better integrated into tour mode rather than only in the mystery and make-a-setlist modes. Like if the various theme challenges could be integrated into the touring aspect that we all love. Maybe that'll be coming in the inevitable Rock Band 3.

Hmm...I don't necessarily disagree with you. Another good choice of Metallica....For Whom the Bell Tolls? Fade to Black? Creeping Death? I have a feeling it was an issue with licenses and what songs are going to be in GH. Battery was probably one of their very few choices.

[inmostlight]

Hmm...I don't necessarily disagree with you. Another good choice of Metallica....For Whom the Bell Tolls? Fade to Black? Creeping Death? I have a feeling it was an issue with licenses and what songs are going to be in GH. Battery was probably one of their very few choices.

Right, that could be it.

I'll go on record right now and say that if they had a full album of Ride the Lightning, I'd buy that in a heartbeat

[Vandabo]

The metal tiers of RB2 pretty much killed it for me. I have zero desire to play these songs. RB2 pulled a GH3 on me, it made the end game so unpalatable that I don't want to play anymore. Luckily there are some other great songs in there and you can still play all of them and have a good time, but as far as playing the tour goes, I'm no longer interested.

Here is basically what I want: I want a disc to come out for 20 bucks that has just a game engine on it. And then I want a selection of 1000 songs to be downloadable. I am not interested in paying for songs I don't want anymore. If that means I have to pay more overall for a game that has only the songs I want in it, then so be it.

I would spend hundreds of dollars on the DLC if it had more of what I want, which is mostly classic rock. I already have all the classic rock that is available, even some songs that I don't particularly love, just because I want to show my support for that kind of DLC. But if they had the equivalent of a good classic rock radio station up for DLC I would pay hundreds for it.

[Camel]

The metal tiers of RB2 pretty much killed it for me. I have zero desire to play these songs. RB2 pulled a GH3 on me, it made the end game so unpalatable that I don't want to play anymore. Luckily there are some other great songs in there and you can still play all of them and have a good time, but as far as playing the tour goes, I'm no longer interested.

Same thing is happening to me. I unlock new sets and check out the new songs, but instead of being excited by what I see I just say "meh" and take a break. Still a great game, though.

[King3567]

Rock Band 2's setlist owns. Hard. I can't believe you guys are complaining about the last two tiers. Souls of Black is criminally fun on Bass and also really good on guitar. Same with Peace Sells... Mastodon is amazing on drums. The only songs that give me trouble are Painkiller and Visions on drums.

The only song I feel they over charted is Visions. The song I hear is completely different then what they make you play (on guitar). You guys complain way too much. I'm a metalhead, but I usually don't like metal in Rock Band but they really outdid themselves here. I really love how you've got the pinnacle of underground music in this game. So many songs from this game make me wanna go out and buy the cds that their are from (See: Lazy Eye, A Jagged Glorious Winter, PDA, etc.). Harmonix has done a great job reaching across all spectrums of music.

Songs I don't like:
Come Out and Play
Down With a Sickness
Our Truth
Uncontrollable Urge

That's it. There. Now I only have 80 songs I can play. Don't cry for me though, I'm already dead :(

In all seriousness though, this setlist is leagues better than that shit on a stick called the Guitar Hero: World Tour one.

[TheFlyingOrc]

I don't like Metal, but I enjoy playing it in RB2, with the exception of Visions. That song is just stupid hard. :)

It is hard to play really hard songs that my friends know, though. The songs are good, but there's very few that people know how to sing, and nobody sings the ones they don't know in my friend group.

[Shrinn]

I don't like Metal, but I enjoy playing it in RB2, with the exception of Visions. That song is just stupid hard. :)

I get the feeling they were looking for that one super hard song that people talk about. They were going for the Through The Fire And The Flames effect. Because from what I've seen of the Visions drums (haven't played it myself yet) it looks like that level of difficulty.

It is hard to play really hard songs that my friends know, though. The songs are good, but there's very few that people know how to sing, and nobody sings the ones they don't know in my friend group.

Singing songs you don't know is the best part of Rock Band 2! =D. The way I figure it, the guy next to me is smashing on plastic drums and guitars, my singing is the least of their worries.

[Variable Gear]

Alex Chilton is hardcore wicked awesome, and I don't care who knows it.
I know I can trust you, because you're a real hipster. Alex Chilton is groovy.

[Zabyx]

All I have to say is that ANY game with Dinosaur Jr. equals win. And I haven't even played it yet (I want the PS3 version, damn you timed exclusives).

[johnperkins21]

I think it's already been said. It's very difficult to appease everyone, but I think I completely agree with Vandabo. I'd much prefer a game that only has songs I like on it. Give me an engine hooked up to an iTunes-like service and let me pick my favorite songs out of a list of hundreds of thousands of songs.

I'd pay good money for the entire Alice in Chains and Tool catalog. And I also really enjoy playing pop songs on the drums. I'm not a huge fan of pop, but it's so catchy and fun to bounce around playing on the drums that I'd buy so much more. If someone wants the really metal songs or classic rock, or even country, let them buy it separate. I would be surprised if it didn't end up going this way at some point eventually though.

[pomeroy]

If someone wants the really metal songs or classic rock, or even country, let them buy it separate. I would be surprised if it didn't end up going this way at some point eventually though.

The DLC sort of does that already, but I bet you're right. Karaoke Revolution had a country game, I wouldn't be shocked to see a Country-themed Rock Band.

[johnperkins21]

The DLC sort of does that already, but I bet you're right. Karaoke Revolution had a country game, I wouldn't be shocked to see a Country-themed Rock Band.

It does, but I'd love an option similar to what I have with the RB1 songs with RB2, to be able to delete the ones I never want to play. I never want to play "So whatcha want," and a bunch of the Impossible difficulty songs. I just don't like them, and don't want them coming up randomly. If they could patch that in, I'd be extremely happy with the RB2 setlist. I'd much rather have 40 songs I really like than 40 I really like, 20 that are ok, and 20 that I absolutely despise.

And I'm kind of surprised that there isn't any country in the game now. Hell, even "Mama Said" by Metallica would be something, or even "Don't Follow" by Alice in Chains. I don't like country myself, but there are tons of people that do.

[Vandabo]

I am likewise surprised there is little to no country (Lynyrd Skynyrd blurs the line a bit) in the game. I personally dislike most modern country, so I don't mind it, but the lack of it even on DLC kind of shocks me. I'm all for every genre of music to be available in the game, I just don't want to pay for it or have to play it.