Country music is coming to Rock Band

by Dustin Burg { Oct 21st 2008 at 3:45PM }

After staying true to their rock music selection roots (for the most part), the Harmonix crew is looking to expand their music offerings and bring a new twang to the Rock Band DLC library. That's right, according to HMXHenry, the sweet twang of country music will be headed to a Rock Band DLC music store near you.

"We'll have Country in RB sooner or later" says Mr. HMXHenry, "why would the addition of Country be such a huge shock?" Well, HMXHenry, one could argue that country music is a shocking addition seeing that the your gaming platform is called ROCK Band, but we say bring on the country. One can never get enough music that's all about cowboy boots, booze and tragic love stories.

[Via Joystiq]

Tags: ea, harmonix, mtv-games, rock-band, rock-band-2

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Greg @ Oct 21st 2008 6:57PM

Country has some ass kickin guitar in it. Listen to Brad Paisley on the guitar. I only have Guitar Hero, which says nothing about being genre specific. Bring on the DLC to guitar hero!

GibGirl @ Oct 21st 2008 3:55PM

"Ideally we'll have all the various sub genres that people are clamoring for (hardcore punk, goth, ska, etc) eventually. We haven't shut the door on anything."

I won't believe the goth part until I have the tracks on my console. And then I may still not believe it.

SSG Monty @ Oct 21st 2008 4:07PM

I think its a good idea. Sure, its not for everyone, but that's why its being offered as DLC.

From a business standpoint its not bad either. Country music is the 2nd best-selling genre behind Rock music, so why not try to tap into that demographic.

And just out of curiousity...what is Goth music? I know I'm an old fogey, but when I was young Goth was just a fashion/social statement.

http://encarta.msn.com/media_701500349_761551614_-1_1/music_sales_in_the_united_states_by_genre.html

GibGirl @ Oct 21st 2008 4:47PM

Oh, Goth has had music from the beginning. In the early days there were artists that wouldn't really have considered themselves Goth (Sisters of Mercy, Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees), but over time it has come to envelop a number of artists. Most can be given more specific genres if you wanted, such as darkwave (Switchblade Symphony, Faith and the Muse) or deathrock (Christian Death, Alien Sex Fiend). But other artists don't really seem to fix any other description - such as The Cruxshadows, London After Midnight, or my personal favorite artist, Collide.

AoE @ Oct 21st 2008 10:25PM

@GibGirl,

Darkwave isn't a sub genre so much as an umbrella genre that can include anything from new wave to industrial, synthpop, gothic rock, etc.

LAM is straight-up goth rock, and Collide is Industrial/goth rock :) Cruxshadows I am not so familiar with personally.

Penguin Warlord @ Oct 21st 2008 10:34PM

You guys are pretentious music fucks. You try and sound smart because you can list all the different genres that every single random band falls into. And by doing this you defeat the purpose of a genre. A genre cannot contain only a couple bands. Genres are supposed to be used to classify bands. You are not classifying them when each band gets their own.

And country sucks but as long as it's just downloadable I don't care.

Derek @ Oct 21st 2008 4:05PM

Sugarland is a good country duo, hope they have some DLC. They did a song with bon jovi that would probably go on.

Delirium @ Oct 21st 2008 4:05PM

Ugh, country. One of the few genres I loathe.

Right next to this modern shit rap and hip-hop.

Seiggy @ Oct 21st 2008 10:10PM

agreed...while not all the tracks released so far really fit into the "Rock" super-genre...I feel that my life will be perfectly complete without the addition of Country or Rap to that list...

If they want to add Country, please make it a seperate game...instead, bring me Tool or Perfect Circle, and keep the country out of my wonderful Rock Band Store!

Tyr1n @ Oct 21st 2008 6:13PM

cheers.

Tauvix @ Oct 21st 2008 11:27PM

It's going to be DLC. If you don't want to play it don't buy it.

As a big country fan - and an avid owner of Rock Band - I'm glad they are giving people the option to purchase some of the songs that they enjoy. Honestly, given that country is the most listened to genre in North America, I'm surprised they haven't done it sooner.

Delirium @ Oct 21st 2008 11:36PM

Don't bullshit your lies. I've just looked at charts and country doesn't get close to Rock or Rap for that matter for the past how ever many years.

The staggering amount of hicks and southerners make up a lot of that user base. See, I can make up shit too.

bob @ Nov 25th 2008 10:49AM

If you hate country so much, its too bad that in the past 10 years they not only have the most talented vocalists, but some of the top musicians of the decade. So don't down a genre when you so obviously have not a clue what your talking about musicially.

DBoyFlex @ Oct 21st 2008 4:06PM

Don't forget the blue jeans!

DBoyFlex @ Oct 21st 2008 4:07PM

I do not care much for country, but would love to see some Willy Nelson! That would actually consume some MS space bucks of mine!

xenocidic @ Oct 21st 2008 4:08PM

Needs moar boot-scootin'-boogie

craig64 @ Oct 21st 2008 4:09PM

I'm fine with this, so long as the 20 free songs aren't country downloads.

gotoman00 @ Oct 21st 2008 4:12PM

nooooooooooooooooooooooo

Rick @ Oct 21st 2008 4:13PM

As long as it's some classic stuff, not the new garbage. Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, etc.

My girlfriend would really love some Elvis stuff, but I don't see that happening any time soon. Suspicious Minds would be pretty fun to play at a party, though.

wargamer17 @ Oct 21st 2008 4:13PM

ewww.....please, no country! Exactly why it's ROCK Band. Let's keep it that way. Either release a new version that has just country, or let all the country be DLC. I'd hate to buy the actual game and see country on the disc.

Deezul @ Oct 21st 2008 6:09PM

Right, it's ROCK Band, not 80s/90s Pop Music/Hip Hop Band. Where were you complaining about the Beasties on the first Rock Band?

And Jimmy Buffett is Rock as well? I think I was the only one who complained about him.

Finally, please tell me in what rock radio station is gonna put "Still Alive" on their rotation.

m0rb1d @ Oct 21st 2008 4:19PM

COUNTRY!?!?! WHERE'S THE F%#KIN' DEATH METAL!?!?!

gotoman00 @ Oct 21st 2008 4:26PM

amen brotha

wargamer17 @ Oct 21st 2008 4:29PM

Exactly what we need. It'd be perfect.

glenncou @ Oct 21st 2008 5:10PM

And what exactly is Visions?

PaulStanley the 3 @ Oct 21st 2008 5:55PM

the only cowboys i wanna hear, are the Cowboys from Hell!!!!

Aeikozz @ Oct 21st 2008 4:21PM

yay with country finally a reason for cowbell!

dunnypop @ Oct 21st 2008 4:37PM

my fav country song from Kazakastan "Throw Jew Down Well". great success!

Jonman @ Oct 21st 2008 4:39PM

Rock Band's like an orgy. The more, the merrier.

And, like an orgy, if you don't like any one in particular, there's plenty more to choose from.

m0rb1d @ Oct 21st 2008 4:52PM

Ya see!? gotomann00 and wargamer17 know what I'm talkin' about! Let's see some more At the Gates, Morbid Angel, Hate Eternal, Suffocation, Cannibal f%#kin' Corpse, Dying Fetus, Dethklok, Decapitated, Deicide, Devourment, and if you really want to get technical, how'bout some NECROPHAGIST!!! That'll make your fingers fall off!

CyberKnight @ Oct 21st 2008 5:00PM

Obligatory country music joke:

You know what you get when you play country music backwards?

You get your wife back, your job back, your truck back, your house back, your dog back...

Gabriel @ Oct 21st 2008 5:00PM

It's hard to find really good Country music, as most of them are just adhering to annoying, antiquated stereotypes, but good country music does exist. Union Station is probably my favorite Country group, but there are others worth your time. I guess that's really up to each person to decide what they believe good Country is. As a musician, I've grown to hate some music I used to love and to love music I used to hate. I hear much more than a certain syle of music. I can hear the skill involved. I even respect some who aren't as technical but they know what sounds good and it doesn't all sound the same. Anyway, if you need any good gateway music into Country, Band of Horses, Blur, Third Day, Kid Rock, Uncle Kracker and Jonhnny Cash are all there to meet you half way along with pretty much any southern rock band. Heck, even Maylene and the Sons of Disaster has some country influences. It helps to have a healthy appreciation for all styles, so you don't get stuck in a rut and become bored with your music collection and you can entertain about any visitor. It's also more fun to put your MP3 player on shuffle when you have more variety. Choose your music wisely.

(PS - I listen to everything from classical to hardcore, so I am by no means a cheerleader for Country music. Just thought I would clear that up.)

jkdoug @ Oct 21st 2008 5:20PM

I already can't stand all the "southern rock" tracks, mostly because they came with the game and cannot be deleted the way DLC can be. I really hope the country doesn't take over and get mainlined into the next game. If you want it, please keep it strictly optional! :P

AA @ Oct 21st 2008 5:44PM

bring on some III

his new album is quite good...I'd buy it as DLC

zignon @ Oct 21st 2008 6:01PM

What I really would like in Rock Band (2) or Guitar Hero is DLC for the upcoming Holiday Season. I would love to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra make it into a DLC for either and would most definitely buy it.

For those who think "Orchestra" because it is in the name of "Trans-siberian Orchestra" check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE1jzZ-om9c

It's not an orchestra per-say. Also note that ex Megadeth guitarist Al Pitrelli is part of it.

And of course I chose a video game related video.