It's cheaper on BB.com with tax, though you either have to drive or pay for shipping. However you run the risk of not having your set randomly signed by PJ.

I wouldn't count on the tracks being available separately. The bonus 20, for example, aren't and this reads like the same sort of deal to me.

You're playing on Hard, right? It's supposedly harder (at least compared to everything else on Hard) than Expert.

No matter what the flavor though, that song is such a freaking drag. I've passed two or three times, but failed a bunch early and late. It always sounds the same. The only way I know how far I am is if I hit the slow part in the middle or not. And I always am just shocked that someone greenlit it to be basically hardwired into the game. I don't dislike much about RB, but I just don't get that one. [/broken record]

Hmm.... Good point. Maybe I'll go for in store pick up (if an option) and get it from Best Buy. I already have No Code and Yield signed by the band anyway so I don't really need this one signed.

I was hoping it was more like the Disturbed deal where the tracks became available later.

It's certainly possible, but why risk it? Especially since later they'll cost you another $5.50 or $6.

I think I'm going to stick with the tenclub for the super deluxe thingy and preorder the 2cd/dvd $28 version at best buy for the code and then give that to a friend who doesn't have a 360 or ps3.

Yeah, I'm on Hard. So Expert is easier? I can 5 star nearly every song I have on Hard, but can't even get through this one? Someone fucked up on that one. I'll try expert and if I can't do that, I'll just do it once on Medium so I can have a score for it down.

I guess there are much less HOPO in Hard. Faking through those are the only reason I've passed it on Expert.

It doesn't let me play it in Medium, it seems to only let you play that god awful stupid song in Hard or Expert. If you just want a score on it, sing it.

I went on the Rock Band forum looking for hints on how to pass it. That song is in there because people in the band work for the game company. That is just crazy.

The other problem with the song is that it is in a bunch of the other sets. It's in the set called "guitar legends". That is a joke. I saw "guitar legend" and figured it was gonna be some good classics. not this crap.

I hear nothing wrong with the live version of The Boys Are Back in Town. That's on my wishlist now and I'll wait for a rainy day, a sale, a party, or a compilation disc to get it.

I played (or attempted to) in quickplay. Surely you can play it on lower levels that way.

First time I played Visions on Expert guitar and bass, months ago, I got about 10% in. I passed it on vocals initially because it's all talky and you can just mumble the whole song and get 100%. I had to play it in a set, on guitar the other day, and actually made it about 85% through. I still hate the damn song, but I made it a lot further. For some reason though, I can't get the timing for the strummed notes. I don't get all the HOPOs, but I seem to get more of them, than the strummed notes. I think maybe I'm playing them too fast, but I hate the song, so I don't spend a lot of time trying to get better at it.

Got to play all 5 non-Nick tracks, and man...the Thin Lizzy pack is some of the most guitar fun I've had in a long time. The songs rock, the recordings are solid, and the charts are super active and surprisingly tricky. "Cowboy Song" has two ripping solos that are really awesome (that I butchered mercilessly), and I think that one wins the pack for me.

The Pretenders track is pretty straightforward fast chord-strumming punk, with a combo breaking part that pops up several times. Just like "Blue Christmas," it makes me want more Pretenders masters in a big way. Benatar was just what you'd expect...really easy, up until the solo kicks you in the grill.

Love this week.

Curious. I don't know how I've still avoided playing this song. I can't think of any other song in RB2 that I've not come across. I mean, sometimes I see it in Challenges and stuff, but I just don't play those based on fear factor alone.

You realize how many bands are made up of members of Harmonix? Every song that gets put into the game was one that went through an audition of hundreds where nobody gets a free round. I read an interview with Bang Camaro where they stated that for each game, they had to try out again.

So even if you hate Visions, it still beat out all the poppy Maroon 5 waiting for someone else's girlfriend's bus in the rain cause you hope you have a chance with her even though you're too nice songs that make you menstruate and watch HGTV when you hear them.

I'm not even sure who this objectifies more. Women? HGTV? John Cusack movies? Music that isn't as awesome as the kind you like?

Kudos for such a well crafted yet still somewhat irritating post!

That's absurd. Harmonix bands are not in competition with other bands, only each other. Plus you can't compare Visions to anything by Maroon 5 no matter how hard you try. The only thing they have in common is that they're both classified as songs.

I'm not sure I'd classify "Visions" as a song.

I admit I took liberty with that, for argument's sake.

The very idea that a Harmonix song would get the same consideration as a classic rock hit is laughable.

"Hey guys, we just secured the rights to the master track of 'Fat Bottomed Girls'!"

"Bad luck for Queen, because we've decided that the latest single from Developer Guy and the Nerds is a better choice for the game."

"Visions" has a very small but very vocal group of supporters, but the general consensus is that it's the worst song in the game. I'm pretty open-minded when it comes to music, but I find nothing to like about that song. Still, I don't mind it being there since I enjoy the vast majority of the other songs in the game. I played it once for the sake of my drums career score, and I might eventually go through it for vocals and for the Endless Setlist, but other than that I would never willingly play it again.

That's good to hear. Cowboy Song is one of my favorite songs. I'll be getting all three tonight.

Visions usually gets a couple runs at the parties I go to, mostly for the guitar and how crazy you can get on vocals.

I was just going to get The Boys, but I may have to check out the whole pack now.

Jailbreak doesn't sound quite as good as I was hoping. I'll still pick it up, but the Boys are Back in Town sounds better, imo.

After watching the vids for the Thin Lizzy songs, I'm going for the whole pack. Not sure why, but I had it in my head that the live tracks were from a new (meaning just recorded with John Sykes led version of today) concert. I would prefer the studio versions, but these will do.