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Rock Band Weekly: Nirvana 4-pack, 10 pro guitar upgrades
Rock Band "celebrates the twentieth anniversary" of Nirvana's Nevermind album next week by releasing four tracks off ... a different album. Three of the DLC songs are from the band's In Utero album, and the other is "You Know You're Right." Plus: There ten Nirvana pro guitar/bass upgrades.
Citrix Nirvana phone provides the full desktop experience -- BYO keyboard and monitor (video)
Citrix is something of a storied name in the IT industry, once the leader in remote desktop apps, now looking to make a big return with the Nirvana phone concept. The idea has been around for awhile, but partnership with mobile virtualization gurus Open Kernel Labs gives it new legs. Nirvana phone is just a minimum set of fairly achievable hardware specs (528MHz ARM processor, 256MB ROM, 192MB RAM) required to facilitate remote access to a full desktop. The idea is you simply plug the phone into a monitor, then connect to a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse (or use the phone as a touchpad), and, hey presto, you have a full desktop experience without having a full desktop. In theory you could pocket your smartphone and leave that clunky Targus bag in your cubicle, but should duty call while you're away we're not entirely sure where you're going to find a disused monitor and keyboard ripe for the plugging. Still, it's interesting tech, demonstrated remotely for you below.
Rock Band Weekly: Nirvana, Night Ranger
Ummm ... "Smells Like Teen Spirit." That is all one needs to know about next week's Rock Band DLC. How many of us out there will finally learn the lyrics to the song we mumbled for years every time it popped up on the radio?Remember radio? Wow, feels like forever ago. Check out the full update after the break. Select a platform below to view complete DLC listing:
Rock Band Weekly: Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Joan Jett
Next week's Rock Band DLC could have been a little Dave Grohl fiesta, offering up tracks from his days back in Nirvana and now with Foo Fighters, but it turns out that he wasn't with the genre defining grunge band until after Bleach, which happens to be part of next week's DLC. But, we're pretty sure Grohl was with Foo Fighters during the time they recorded the tracks that make up the band's third DLC pack for the music game. Completely unrelated to Grohl (maybe there's a six degrees of separation in there?), there will also be one track from Ms. Joan Jett thrown in the mix. Check out the update after the break, along with what portable players can expect from Rock Band Unplugged's DLC. Select a platform below to view complete DLC listing:
Nirvana disapproves of GH5 Cobain avatar
Two out of three Nirvana members agree: Kurt Cobain's Guitar Hero 5 avatar is not cool. As for the third: the fact that he can't offer an opinion is kind of the whole problem. Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl, former bassist and drummer for Nirvana, issued a joint statement to register their disdain with the free use of Cobain's likeness.The pair, who have no legal say in the matter but are probably worth listening to anyway, said that they were "dismayed and very disappointed" in the use of the avatar. "While we were aware of Kurt's image being used with two Nirvana songs, we didn't know players have the ability to unlock the character."Novoselic and Grohl then entreat Activision to "re-lock" the avatar so that it can only be used to play Nirvana songs. Which is a surprisingly even-handed request.
Kurt Cobain digitized in Guitar Hero 5
In addition to known quantities "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and a special, previously unreleased live recording of "Lithium," Guitar Hero 5 will also sport the digital doppelganger of deceased grunge pioneer Kurt Cobain, Activision announced today. When asked for comment, the ghost of Cobain said, "Well, finally! Were I still alive, this is exactly the sort of thing I'd be doing. The people managing my estate and the fine people of Activision know me and my legacy so, so well. You should see me and Johnny Cash up here, we're just like schoolkids, we're so happy and excited all the time. My one regret is that I'm no longer alive, so I can't star in one of those hilarious underwear dancing ads." Courtesy of Stereogum, we've got additional video of Cobain in the game (with gameplay notes!) after the break. [Thanks Evan!]
Rock Band DLC to hit 1000 tracks by holiday with help of Queen, Nirvana & Elton John
Aside from announcing the first three Beatles albums to be released as DLC for upcoming tear-jerker The Beatles: Rock Band, MTV Games and Harmonix today revealed intentions to bring the Rock Band DLC count to 1,000 songs by this holiday. At the current rate Harmonix is releasing songs for the franchise -- without factoring in the Rock Band Network -- that's roughly 500 songs per year.Additionally, the companies have revealed a number of the artists that will be contributing to the holiday goal, including Queen, Nirvana, Tom Petty, Elton John, Iggy Pop, The White Stripes, Pantera, Talking Heads, Korn, and The Raconteurs, as well as the ever elusive "and more." You can always find out what new tracks are coming to Rock Band as DLC (and what's on the way) by using our Rock Band Weekly feature.%Gallery-27156%
Sub Pop announces support for Rock Band Network starting this fall
Riding on the coattails of last Friday's Rock Band Network reveal, indie label Sub Pop is the first record company to officially pledge its support for the new DLC initiative. Rolling Stone spoke with Sub Pop A&R exec Tony Kiewel, who said, "This conceivably could be the opening of the floodgates." Sub Pop intends to convert its "entire catalog" -- which includes Sonic Youth, early Nirvana, and The Postal Service -- to playable tracks.Additionally, Kiewel notes that future artists' releases on his label will automatically get the Rock Band treatment. "This'll be another format alongside vinyl and CD." The only difference between buying the newest Shins album from the Rock Band Network versus at the record store? The disdainful look from the Paramore t-shirt-clad cashier on your way out of the record store.
World Tour Nirvana tracks now available for download
We knew it was coming and it's finally available for download. The Nirvana track pack for Guitar Hero: World Tour features songs "Negative Creep," "Sliver" and "You Know You're Right," with each costing you a cool 200 Wii Points. As usual, if you want to hear the songs before you go spending, head past the break. "Negative Creep" - 200 Wii Points "Sliver" - 200 Wii Points "You Know You're Right" - 200 Wii Points %Gallery-23491%
Guitar Hero World Tour Dec. DLC: The Eagles, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins & free reggae rock
Activision has released the December DLC set list for Guitar Hero World Tour featuring four consecutive weeks of releases (that's a certified streak!). And did we mention the reggae rock is free? Let's smoke toast to that! Details below -- music videos after the break. The Smashing Pumpkins Track Pack (Dec. 4th): "G.L.O.W." "1979" "Everlasting Gaze" Nirvana Track Pack (Dec. 11th): "You Know You're Right" "Negative Creep" "Sliver" The Eagles Track Pack (Dec. 18th): "One of These Nights" "Life in the Fast Lane" "Frail Grasp on the Big Picture" (from Long Road out of Eden) Free Reggae Rock Track Pack (Dec. 23rd): "Jimi" - Slightly Stoopid "Your Face" - Pepper "Sacrifice" - Expendables Note: All premium track packs are priced as follows: 440 (XBLM); $5.49 (PSN); not available on Wii. Individual tracks are sold for: 160 (XBLM); $1.99 (PSN); 200 Wii Points.
Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Eagles in latest World Tour DLC
Activision will continue feeding your unhealthy Guitar Hero World Tour addiction with more DLC throughout December, and it looks like Wii owners will be getting all of it this time.Along with three songs each from The Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, and The Eagles, a further three tracks from the "Reggae Rock Track Pack" will be offered for the price of nothing. The rest, as usual, will be 200 Wii Points apiece. The full list is below, and videos of all twelve (yes) are past the break:The Smashing Pumpkins Track Pack (December 4)"1979""Everlasting Gaze" "G.L.O.W." Nirvana Track Pack (December 11) "Negative Creep""Sliver""You Know You're Right" The Eagles Track Pack (December 18) "Frail Grasp on the Big Picture" "Life in the Fast Lane" "One of These Nights" Reggae Rock Track Pack (Free -- December 23) "Sacrifice" - Expendables (Free) "Your Face" - Pepper (Free)"Jimi" - Slightly Stoopid (Free, and probably a digit-crippling nightmare on Expert)%Gallery-23491%
Rock Band Weekly: Nirvana 7 Pack
Seattle's legendary grunge band Nirvana will have seven songs available as Rock Band DLC starting next week. All the songs hail from Nirvana's breakthrough album Nevermind. Notable songs from Nevermind unavailable in Rock Band are "Come as You Are" and "Smells like Teen Spirit."Nirvana 7 Pack (880 / $11) "Breed" (160 / $2) "Lounge Act" (160 / $2) "On a Plain" (160 / $2) "Polly" (160 / $2) "Something in the Way" (160 / $2) "Stay Away" (160 / $2) "Territorial Pissings" (160 / $2) Videos for the tracks are after the break. The songs will be available for download next Tuesday and Thursday for Xbox 360 and PS3, respectively.
Insecticide & Incesticide: How to tell the difference
Having trouble telling the difference between Nirvana's Incesticide album and DS platformer/shooter Insecticide? Afraid that you'll accidentally bring home a 15-year-old CD instead of the hard-boiled detective game? Worry no more!We've put together a handy guide to help you tell these two "alternative" titles apart. Forget about wandering the streets in a daze, unsure which product features rock-out tracks like "Sliver" and "Son of a Gun!" No more embarrassing yourself in front of friends after mentioning an afternoon spent hunting criminal bugs with Kurt Cobain! We promise you'll never again confuse the game with the album or vice versa -- or your money back! Hit the image above for our life-changing chart!%Gallery-3405%See also: Nirvana: Plugged back in and electronicized
NPD says never mind, maybe
Following yesterday's news that the NPD would be scaling back their monthly gift of console hardware and software sales figures, the NPD has come out to answer the hordes of screaming gamers who look to this information every month to be ... well, informed about their hobby and passion. NPD spokesperson David Riley doesn't want us to think it's such a bleak future, however, as he explains it could very well be a decision left up to the console makers.Turns out, up until November 2006, it wasn't policy to share the data. But, due to a torrent of media requests and some internal conversations, the company eventually came to the conclusion that the numbers would be released. So, given that, if the go-ahead is given by the console makers, then this could all be a lot of nothing and NPD will continue to do things as usual.[Via Joystiq]
Nirvana: Plugged back in and electronicized
Were this a perfect world, all of our favorite alternative songs from the 90s would be remade by instrumental-electronic band The Hunt for Yoshi. Weezer's "El Scorcho," Superdrag's "Sucked Out," and The Vaselines' "Son of a Gun" -- the list goes on.We'll settle for this excellent cover of Nirvana's "All Apologies" in the meantime, grabbed from The Hunt for Yoshi's Nintendo Goes 90s album. The entire CD is available for download, packed with reimagined songs from bands like REM and Soundgarden. Pull up a stool, throw on a cardigan, and check past the post break to stream this In Utero classic.
