09-09-09: Beatles Rock Band!

A sign of the Apocalypse? Or best game ever? If you suspect the former, I’d note that “Eleanor Rigby” has been featured in elevators for at least a couple of decades, and before that the Beatles themselves had a Saturday-morning cartoon show reminiscent of the animation that opens this game. The world didn’t end in either case.

But all I really know for sure is that my wife & daughters & I are gonna rock our way through the Beatles’ oeuvre this weekend—and for many weekends to come.

Thank you, Harmonix.

3 thoughts on “09-09-09: Beatles Rock Band!

  • September 21, 2009 at 8:12 am
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    I did buy it for my PS3 after playing the Wii version and scored the Rickenbacher controller. It handles much better than my Fender v. 1 and it’s very nice looking.

    One big reason I look forward to playing it with friends, thanks to the Beatles being “everywhere,” I’ll hear fewer of them whining, “I don’t know this song” which is a frequent problem with standard Rock Band.

  • September 19, 2009 at 7:46 pm
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    I’d agree it’s a generational thing.

    I was about eight when they did the Ed Sullivan show, and I grew up through their evolution, which reflected (and in many ways led) the evolution of the times. There was no pressure to worship them; they were simply there, like a force of nature.

    Your generation was poised to hear all the praises afterward, without experiencing the phenomenon itself. (I feel the same way about Woodstock, just like I can’t figure out how Roy Orbison ever made a career.)

    My kids’ generation is discovering the Beatles all over again, mainly—I suspect—because of college-age interest in the peace movement of the early 70’s.

    All’s I know is that we’re enjoying rocking out together as the Fab Four.

    Cheers, Mag.

  • September 11, 2009 at 7:39 pm
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    The demonstrations of game play are pretty impressive, namely the animation. A coworker of mine scored the Wii version of the kit, despite Paul’s viola bass being for right handers, it’s downright awesome looking. He’s still waiting for his John & George guitars.

    My only gripe is that I’ve been so sick of the Beatles for 25 years. They’re the Kim Jong Il of Rock-Pop Music because they’ve been shoved down my throat ever since I was a teenager. The Boomers constantly reminded me how I need get on my knees and worship them, be grateful over how they invented everything and how everything after them sucks.

    I would just like to see Harmonix take this level of detail to the next iteration of their franchise. Guitar Hero 5 has at least Carlos Santanna, Matthew Bellamy and Shirley Manson as playable avatars; Johnny Cash and Kurt Cobain being in there is a demonstration of bad taste, especially when they’re “forced” to sing crap. RB: Beatles still trumps GH5 for many reasons but again, I want to see RB incorporate some artists from this century instead wallowing and mining the past.

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