Genuinely curious, since it doesn't appear that anyone here likes any of the music we're releasing, either as DLC or as part of Rock Band Blitz: what exactly would you prefer be released instead?
Totally fine if you think the songs are trash -- musical tastes vary, are subjective, and very personal -- I'm just wondering what would appeal to you. I think we're covering a lot of ground, and over the past (nearly) five years we've made some of music's biggest, most respected artists playable in Rock Band. So outside of the obvious, where are we going wrong here?
I think you guys do a generally great job of picking music. Sometimes stuff isn't my bag, but that's not a problem. It does feel like the more recent releases have been a bit more main-stream, but that's not always bad. I'm surprised to see Angles & Airwaves The Adventure show up now. That's a song I was dying for back when it first came out, and I'm glad it's finally available (and the long wait was worth it, since it allowed for the addition of keys).
Personally, I think the most fun songs in Rock Band tend to be classic rock, pop-punk, and indie. If it has an awesome guitar solo or an anthemic chorus, I'm down for it.
I know calling out specific bands isn't the best strategy, since licences are so hard to get a hold of, but I'm shocked that it's been so long since the addition of keys to Rock Band and there STILL aren't any Motion City Soundtrack songs. They are literally the first band that popped into my head when keys were announced.
Also, more punk ska. Please. There's basically next to none of it, even when you include Rock Band Network (which, thank god, got Less Than Jake a few months ago). And the songs in that genre are so fun, they'd be a blast to play.
I agree with robut on the lack of indie too. Lots of the bands he mentioned would be great. I really wish The Hold Steady kept up with releasing songs. They had a song out on day one of RBN and it had me super excited for the future of the platform, but then they never released another song. I know you guys don't have control over what goes up on RBN, but it'd be nice to see HMX picking up the slack on the indie side of things and not leaving it all to RBN.
More OK Go would be awesome. Of the Blue Color of the Sky is one of my all time favorite albums and it has so many interesting tracks with tons of crazy ass parts on them.
Just going through my iPhone for bands I really like that I don't remember being in Rock Band:
Arctic Monkeys - These guys are right at the top of the list, both alphabetically and in terms of how much I want them in RB.
Bloc Party
The Courteeners
Death (the 70s punk band) - This is probably impossible due to the master tapes, but it'd be awesome
Everclear - I bought Santa Monica right away, but I'd buy the entire album of So Much for the Afterglow.
fun.
Gym Class Heroes - These guys would be a good hip-hop/rap pick since they are an actual band. Good luck keeping up with Travis' rhyming though.
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - probably impossible since they are a cover band
Motion City Soundtrack - as mentioned above
NOFX
Reel Big Fish - nowhere near enough ska in RB
Streetlight Manifesto - more punk/ska
The Swellers - punk
Telekinesis - indie rock
The Wonders - That Thing You Do. A serious guilty pleasure of mine.
Don't think of those as specific requests (or do!), but as more of a general idea of my taste in music, and the genres in RB that are lacking. I guess RB never really took off in Europe like it did in the states? I say that because the lack of English bands always dumbfounds me. They're so awesome and their songs are such great fits for the game, but they NEVER show up as DLC. If I could pick just one genre to beef up in RB, it would be English rock, even ahead of punk/ska.