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Rock Band DLC: Abbey Road and Queen

The folks at Harmonix are nothing if not busy. Sometime next month, the developer of the Rock Band franchise will surpass the 1,000 song mark (including both disc content and DLC) for its music game franchise. This week we got to see two sets of upcoming DLC, both of which will be available on...

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The folks at Harmonix are nothing if not busy. Sometime next month, the developer of the Rock Band franchise will surpass the 1,000 song mark (including both disc content and DLC) for its music game franchise. This week we got to see two sets of upcoming DLC, both of which will be available on Tuesday.

First up, we had a chance to try out the new DLC for The Beatles: Rock Band, the full version of the group's 1969 album Abbey Road. Five of Abbey Road's songs were included in the disc version of The Beatles: Rock Band but fans will still have some real gems to experience as part of the DLC, including the clanging groove of "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" and the epic 16-medley that serves as Abbey Road's climax. Here's the full track listing as the songs appear in the game:

• Come Together
• Something
• Maxwell's Silver Hammer
• Oh! Darling
• Octopus's Garden
• I Want You (She's So Heavy)
• Here Comes the Sun
• Because
• You Never Give Me Your Money
• Sun King/Mean Mr. Mustard
• Polythene Pam/She Came In Through the Bathroom Window
• Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End
• Her Majesty

As you can see, several of the songs that make up the medley have been strung together to make slightly longer game experiences. If you're playing the 360 or PS3 version of The Beatles: Rock Band, you'll be able to either play these combined tunes individually (for example "Sun King/Mean Mr. Mustard") or as part of a setlist; you'll also have the choice to play the Abbey Road medley in its entirety, eliminating the loading times that typically come between songs on a Rock Band setlist.

Unfortunately, the option to play the Abbey Road medley uninterrupted will not be available on the Wii version of this DLC. Incidentally, Harmonix reps told us that playing the Abbey Road medley in its entirety is a relatively simple way of getting the "One Million Points" achievement in the game. In addition, for a song like "Because" that features no drum track, you'll be able to play through the song even if you're signed into the game as a drummer--something you couldn't previously do.

There aren't any new dreamscape visuals created for the DLC of Abbey Road; instead, the game will be pulling from the art assets that are already on the disc featuring the band recording their songs in the Abbey Road studios. In all the highlight of the Abbey Road DLC will surely be playing the medley straight through--after all, who isn't going to enjoy belting "Carry That Weight" at the top of their lungs?

Next up is the Queen track pack, which features ten of the English rock band's finest songs. Here's the tunes that will be available in Queen pack:

• Another One Bites the Dust
• Crazy Little Thing Called Love
• Fat Bottomed Girls
• I Want It All
• I Want to Be Free
• Killer Queen
• One Vision
• Somebody to Love
• Tie Your Mother Down
• Under Pressure

If you're familiar with Freddie Mercury and Crew, you know that Queen songs are often vocal showcases and it will take your best chops to emulate Mercury's signature style and range. We tried out the anthemic "I Want It All" (which you might recognize from its use in a bank commercial these days) and the classic "Killer Queen" which originally appeared, as a cover, in the first Guitar Hero game. Brian May's delicate and melodic guitar part in the latter is still a highlight for us and we're happy to report it's still a blast to play in Rock Band 2.

Abbey Road DLC will be available on Tuesday, October 20 and run you $16.99 or 1360 MS points. The Queen track pack (1280 MS points, $15.99) will be released on Xbox 360 and Wii on October 20, and on PSN on October 22.

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