The future of music, plastic toys no longer

I spent long enough in the periphery of the music industry directing videos to get to know some people who are really well and truly part of the music business, and I've seen their dire prognostications, and I've also seen musicians laugh or mock... But the fact of the matter is the rhythm music game is here to stay, and not only that, it may be one of the true futures of the music industry.

Pictured above are the Ion drums for Rock Band 2. This time they're going beyond plastic toys to a whole other level. These are a stripped down electronic drum kit with an interface replacing the typical brain for a midi drum kit. It can be adapted and modified to do so and thus act as an actual electronic drum kit. The game also will feature drum lessons, a trainer to teach people the basic rhythmic patterns real drummers use. Fender are also modifying actual stratocaster bodies and replacing their electronics with Rock Band's. Rock Band 2 will also feature a new track from Guns N Roses Chinese Democracy.



At this point the lines become blurred. This morning it was announced that the next iteration of Guitar Hero (now completely upstaged by Rock Band to the point of Guitar Hero now copying what it can from Rock Band including a shabby drum kit) will feature the entirety of Metallica's next album day and date as the record release.

Most of the musicians I know don't care for these games, which I can understand on many levels. Other would say that the experience is beyond stupid and childish and for the time invested one could learn to play a real instrument. That's missing the point.

As Rock Band will have functionality with a close to low end electronic drum kit, and lessons, it's quite obvious that someday people will be plugging in their real instruments into their consoles. I think this is only a great thing: Rock Band is best when you play it with people, producing a communal experience that no other game has done before... It engages you and your friends into focusing on a piece of music together. Musicians should embrace this. It shares the joy of performance in an albeit stripped down format for the fans in a way, say, music videos never could. Who wouldn't want their fans to have an even deeper connection to music to the point where individual instrumentations are memorized? Anyone who's played Rock Band with friends knows exactly what I'm talking about - an exalted sensation of harmony that you share, not just with friends, but music you love. And to be proficient at Rock Band you don't need to invest the time necessary in a real instrument by any means. Dan-ah who claims no musical skill whatsoever moved up from easy to medium difficulty on the bass in a single day.

Anyway, here's the Rock Band 2 tracklist which now boasts AC/DC, Elvis Costello, Fleetwood Mac, Modest Mouse, Devo, and even freaking Bob Dylan. Did you know that the entirety of Pixies' Doolittle is now available?