The lineup for the next Guitar Hero game has been announced, and there has been something of an unusual development. Joining the more predictable additions (your Bowies, your Dylans, your Smashing Pumpkins) are some downright shocking choices, including Band of Horses, Vampire Weekend, and my hero, the late great Elliott Smith.
Now, I’m not one of these people who begrudge an artist his inclusion in a video game — I believe strongly that you should be able to make a living off your art, and kids playing along to a song certainly doesn’t change its meaning or effect. Quite the opposite, actually; a whole new audience is going to be exposed to some of the most exciting and underrated music out there. I just wonder how this came about. Did the developers at RedOctane, now armed with a best-selling title, use their stature to slip in some of their favorite indie artists? Or did the artists reach out to the developers?
If it was the latter, and RedOctane is open to suggestions, I can think of some Albany artists I would love to rock out to on my next game night: Kamikaze Hearts’ “Defender,” We are Jeneric’s “Deeper Than Our Love,” and any number of the Sense Offenders songs jump immediately to mind. And, I would be remiss not to humbly mention, there are some The Rev artists who wouldn’t be too bad, either. So, if there’s anyone from Activision out there, I can be reached by email.
[via i guess i'm floating]
Tags: band of horses, elliott smith, guitar hero, kamikaze hearts, the rev records, the sense offenders, vampire weekend, we are jeneric
