OK! So, I'm finally getting some momentum on this month's song, and I'm liking how it's turning out. So my missing Dominaria song is going to be May's Patreon song.
For June, there's a couple things in the pan, but I want that project to be a "Sell Out" album, where I try to compose over video games and take on whatever goes on SongTrader.
I will have some over stock available on my Bandcamp, but those are limited in supply. I also pan on having my Dino Hunter MD Playmat up on Inked Gaming as well.
JAM OF THE WEEK: "This Is America" by Childish Gambino
Wow, this is really a music video for the internet age: Using a unique hook to draw the viewer in, and has plenty of small details open to interpretation that become clear on multiple repeats. I want to go back and listen to Childish Gamino's other songs!
Let me just go on YouTube to get the embed code and-
...oh
JAM OF THE WEEK TAKE TWO: "Redbone" by Childish Gambino
OK, this is another Childish Gambino that hasn't been memed to the point of diluting the original. It's a soothing, calming blanket I can wrap my self up in at night.
YEAH! I have non-me stuff to post about again! With Rock Band returning as the best way to enjoy music with your friends, let's celebrate with 10 returning bands I'd like to see in the next Rock Band installment. NOTE: I tried to stay away from songs that weren't ALREADY in either Guitar Hero or Rocksmith.
1. THE WHO- Anything Off Quadrophenia
The Who have been on every Rock Band disc release, and the fourth installment should be no different. While there's no denying the greatness of "Who's Next", earlier albums still have a lot to offer. While not THE earliest, their second rock opera Quadrophenia has a few good selections, namely the lead track, "The Real Me", previously featured in Fantasia: Music evolved, one of Harmonix's prior releases. Guitar's a little simple, but bassists and drummers will have a hell of a challenge, while vocalists can belt this one out.
2. MUSE- "Panic Station"
The OTHER obvious band, it's hard to pick just ONE Muse song, because we're losing keys, and I'm trying to be original, so Knights of Cydonia is out. As this is one of their newer songs of the 2nd Law, it's less likely to be claimed any time soon. Slow, simple, but with a lot of force, I say MOAR MUSE. 3. BLACK SABBATH- "Neon Knights"
The people need to know the glory of Dio Sabbath. It's like the difference between Bon Scott and Brian Johnson AC/DC: The band's entire sound changed. The wicked guitar solo and fast riffs are going to be legendarily difficult, with the raw speed of the song keeping the bass and drum sections lively. Hopwever, it's Dio's operatic vocals that elevate this into a MUST LISTEN.
4. ROLLING STONES- "Jumpin' Jack Flash"
"Sympathy for the Devil" ALMOST won out this one, but again, it was in Guitar Hero 5, so the best Not On Rocksmith. Also, we lose a LOT on that song by getting rid of keys. Anything else was already used in another game, but Jumpin' Jack Flash was conspicuously absent. That doesn't mean it's a bad song by any stretch, it's just that it seems Elite Beat Agents was the only rhythm game to give it the level it deserved. The Rolling Stones will always be known by Mick and Keef, but the bass on this song harmonizes well, and certainly won't be dull.
A.K.A. The Harvery Danger Song We Wanted In The First Place. Now imagine this on harmonies and drums.
6. THE FRATELLIS- "Chelsea Dagger"
A.K.A. The Fratellis Song We Wanted In The First Place. It'll fill that "Are You Gonna Be My Girl?" sized hole that's called "Yeah, I think I heard this in a beer commercial a few times". Technically it was on the Guitar Hero for the DS, but that doesn't count cause that game sucked.
7. SQUEEZE- "Pulling Mussels From a Shell"
We actually got a couple decent Squeeze songs already, "Tempted" as DLC, and "Cool For Cats" In RB2 are both fine selections, but when I would listen to nothing but their Singles album while playing Deadly Premonition, I really got turned on to them. They're a really good band, and there's plenty that would make great DLC, but this is there best known of the songs we haven't done yet. Other reccomendations: "Annie Get Your Gun" and "Goodbye Girl"
8. ELECTRIC SIX- "Formula 409"
Because "Danger! High Voltage!" was too obvious.
9. MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE- "House Of Wolves"
Name ONE instrument this wouldn't rule on! I was going to pick "Dead!", but that was in GH2, and "Party Poison" just isn't as intense as this song.Both would be good mind you, but I'm limiting myself to this one song. Though "Vampire Money" off of Danger Days does have a Big Rock Ending... Screw it, I just want some more MCR.
10. BRAD PAISLEY- "Mr Policeman"
Country always gets a bad rap and the Country Packs are always looked down with scorn, but their instrumentation has the potential to WRECK YOUR FUCKING SHIT. The guitar is relentless, the bass has that southern trait of "constantly fucking moving" and and the drums are always rolling. I don't think this song has one break in it. Yeah, there's a keyboard part at the end, but it's not TOO huge a loss. "Panic Attack"? "Freebird"? "Green Grass and High Tides"? "Through The Fire And Flames" FUCK THOSE ASSHOLES! Brad Paisley demolishes your ass in under 6 and a half minutes.
LIVE VIDEO OF THE WEEK: "Pinball Wizard (and a fair bit of Tommy)" by The Who performed by Tenacouis D at GuitarCenter's Drum-Off 2011
Tenacious D paying tribute to a band they obviously love. Jack Black and Kyle Gass are better singers and guitarists than they get credit for.
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE WEEK: "I Was A Teenage Anarchist" by Against Me!
Like with last week's "Apartment", I love a good mystery in my video, and it drives the point home: "What did that kid do?" Apparently something so horrible, that cops (who are always in the right of course) chase him down and beat him, while the crowd, save for one person, look on.
The video is supposedly all in one take, and I'll buy that. There's no points where you can make a quick cut like OK Go's "This Too Shall Pass". For a song about teenage naivete and maturing into a larger scope of the world, the long take works, as I think it encompasses the aftermath of the protagonist in his one glorious moment after discovering a thing called "anarchy".
Seriously, though? Those cops and that crowd suck.
BONUS VIDEO: "This Gigantic Robot Kills" performed by Natural Failure
This. This is what I love about doing what I do. What really sealed the deal was the guitarist in the Aquabats rashguard. This wasn't a random song, this shit was INTENTIONAL.
First off, work on your basic open chords A (-02220) and D (--0232) for the verses.
G (320033) is the next most used chord, particularly in the after chorus breakdowns.
-----------A -----------D
We'll be fighting in the streets
-----------A------------D
With our children at our feet
-----------A--------------D-------------E---C-G
And the morals that they worship will be gone
----------A----------------D
And the men who spurred us on
------------A------------D
Sit in judgement of all wrong
------------A----------D--------E----C-G
They decide and the shotgun sings the song
E (022100) and C (-32010) are used here.
The Who is one of those bands where they really don't "sync up", but are still a well composed group. Instead of the drum and bass being the backing rhythm for the guitar it was the other way around. Not to say that they didnt have some sweet solos, it's that the main focus is the drum section.
Now, I "cheated" a bit with this song, and played what could be considered the "acoustic version". Yes, I know I'm anti-everything acoustic, but I just played the chords in the same rhythm. If you look at the tab as well as the note chart on RB, it looks like there's more going on.
The shapes of the chords I played (A and D) are still held, however different sections are picked as if it were a lead guitar.
Now, the solos I can't really help you with, but I can give a tip:
Slide from the 2 to the 4th fret using the ring finger, so you don't have to move your hand. Stuff like that. Not a whole lot I can do at this point. The hard parts at this point are the solos, but I still gave something to think about right?
Also, for the interludes after the chorus, refer to "Should I Stay Or Should I Go?" for how to switch between G and D efficiently.
Now, how can I foreshadow the next update while still referencing this one?
