threevue

I, like Tyler, feel that the folks behind Rock Band may not truly understand what a “classic” album is. Judas Priest? No, sir. That being said, I’m here to give them a little free advice, in the form of lists of albums that should become fully-downloadable DLC albums.

Unlike my 70s list, my 80s list is influenced a little more by the singles that some of these albums produced, and I would be okay with skipping a couple tracks from each of these records. I must also admit that The Pixies’ Doolittle would have made this list if it wasn’t already dropping next week.

Onward, 80s!

Guns N’ Roses - Appetite for Destruction (1987)
I’ll be honest, I’m not so much into crunching out some of these riffs on my fake plastic guitar, but wailing out some of these vocal tracks. “Welcome to the Jungle”, “Paradise City”, “Sweet Child O’ Mine”? Count me in. I probably wouldn’t even need any alcohol in me to reach my full potential.
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Talking Heads - Remain in Light (1980)
Although “Once in a Lifetime” is this album’s only legit single, the whole thing stands on its own two feet as a potentially great Rock Band album. Not quite punk, not quite new wave. Regardless of what it’s called, I’d have a hell of a time with this one.
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Bad Religion - Suffer (1987)
Although not receiving wide critical acclaim, Suffer is an essential punk rock album, and I would love to have my hand at this one. Even if it was on fake plastic instruments. Which last time I checked was a VERY punk rock way to play music.
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Metallica - Ride the Lightning (1984)
Harmonix had a good idea when they released a whole Metallica track pack - too bad it was from the wrong album (…And Justice For All). Those songs were too fast, too technical, too hard. Ride the Lightning, however, probably has the most Rock Band potential - the songs are not too epically long, not too technically overpowering, and just diverse enough to stand out from each other. Although Kill ‘Em All is my favorite Metallica album, I respect the fact that this one is better suited for the game.
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U2 - Joshua Tree (1987)
The first half of this album just screams to be played. Too bad the second half doesn’t quite match the first, because this could have been my #1 choice. Still, there are five tracks on here that have to be downloaded, just as long as you’re cautious about the other six that are still pretty good but not essential.
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Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982)
I don’t care that the name of the game is Rock Band. I don’t care that this isn’t a rock album. I want to play “Beat It”, “Thriller”, “Billie Jean” and “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” so bad that I don’t feel complete without them. I think the keyboard parts could translate nicely into guitar parts, and the bass/drum parts would be a blast. You feeling it?