Before I get started, if you play Guitar Hero and purchase this CD, you get three more songs compared to the game. I’m not sure how it works, as I’m not a Guitar Hero player, but I’m sure you can figure it out if you are. That’s a great incentive to buy this CD. I tip my hat to Activision.
Jam packed with so many rock’n’roll hits, it amazes me that most of these artists have been left off all previous Guitar Hero games. AFI’s “Miss Murder” and “Prayer of the Refuge” by Rise Against will appeal to the young crowd. Old school fans will jump right to “Cult Of Personality” by Living Colour or Sonic Youth’s “Kool Thing.”
Highlights for me include “Cherub Rock,” a song from one of the best rock CDs of the 1990’s, Smashing Pumpkins’ “Siamese Dream.” I’m a huge Velvet Revolver fan and consider Slash to be the best guitar player of all time. It’s very fitting that he is the focal point of this CD and game. However, I’m a little disappointed to see “Slither” on this soundtrack, as I think it’s not one of Velvet Revolver’s stronger songs. I’ll allow it though.
The stand out track is Marilyn Manson’s “Putting Holes In Happiness,” a unique remix done exclusively for Guitar Hero by Nick Zinner, guitar player for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Due to label issues, “Putting Holes In Happiness” has yet to be released officially as a single by Interscope under the Marilyn Manson name. Yet, Interscope has released this remix for Guitar Hero. I myself love remixes, and this is one of the better ones I’ve heard in awhile.
Guitar Hero 3 is a very strong and diverse compilation CD. Oddly enough, the group of people that think Velvet Revolver is the worst band on earth and the batch of metalheads that think AFI is ruining rock’n’roll can both find something they love on this CD. Then they can fight it out in their respective living rooms while their sunburst Les Paul sits in the closet collecting dust.
guitarhero.com
interscope.com
