Rock Star

I've mentioned here before the game Rock Band. Here are my impressions of it after two months. This is not a review of the game, for that, please go here.

Before getting the game I had read in a couple of places that the song list for Rock Band was considered small when compared to that of the Guitar Hero games. Personally, the 45 songs plus 13 "unlockable" songs have plenty of variety to keep you strumming the guitar, beating on the drums, or singing your lungs out for quite a while. I find the best part of the song list for Rock Band is the downloadable content provided each week. I have added "Buddy Holly", "I Fought the Law", "Last Train to Clarksville", "All the Small Things" and the Oasis pack. Having the ability to add songs you like is a big benefit.

So, what is my instrument of choice? Drums, no doubt. When I first got the game, James and I each tried the guitar and drums. He was having trouble with the drums so we decided to start a band with him on guitar and me on drums. We practiced our band on the Easy setting and got comfortable enough to try the Medium setting.

When Christina got back from Shafter she wanted to try the guitar because it looked easier. So I have been designated the "all time" drummer. This is fine with me because I have found that anyone who tries Rock Band always wants to play the drums first but then they find them too difficult so they pick up the guitar. This means I rarely have to sit a turn out.

I have recently been practicing songs on the Hard setting, which I have handled fairly well, save for a few tough songs. Eventually I hope to be able to play on the top level, Expert.

I thought I had no musical talent before, but after playing Rock Band I find myself able to keep a beat. I may be far away from being a real drummer but I am confident I could sit down at a real set of drums and keep a basic beat.

Rock Band is the ultimate party game, even more than a Wii. Everyone has at one time or another wondered what it would be like to be a rock star and this game is the closest most of us will ever get to it.

I will leave you with some video of someone playing the Rock Band drums on the Expert level. Very impressive. (For those of you who haven't played the game, you have to hit the drums with the corresponding note when it crosses the bar at the bottom of the screen. The long orange note is the foot pedal.)



This was one of the songs that gave me trouble on Hard. At this point, I can only dream of beating this song on Expert.



Will Ferrell may have used this song in the most memorable SNL skit of the past 15 years, but "Don't Fear the Reaper" on Expert is no laughing matter.