Rocksmith: All-new 2014 Edition – The Black Keys Song Pack II

Rocksmith: All-new 2014 Edition – The Black Keys Song Pack II is a downloadable content pack for the music rhythm game Rocksmith: All-new 2014 Edition, featuring five authentic songs by The Black Keys—’Howlin’ For You’, ‘Little Black Submarines’, ‘Lonely Boy’, ‘Thickfreakness’, and ‘Your Touch’—each with a new, unique tone designed to enhance the gameplay experience for electric guitar and bass players.

Rocksmith: All-new 2014 Edition – The Black Keys Song Pack II: Review

Introduction

In the ever-evolving landscape of music gaming, Rocksmith 2014 stands as a revolutionary force, transforming how players interact with the guitar through its innovative “learn-by-playing” mechanics. As the series matured, Ubisoft’s commitment to expanding its licensed song library became a cornerstone of its longevity. Among the most celebrated additions were artist-focused DLC packs, with The Black Keys emerging as a fan-favorite act. Released on November 24, 2015, The Black Keys Song Pack II represents a pivotal moment in the game’s history, offering five meticulously curated tracks that span the band’s garage-rock roots to their mainstream breakthrough. This pack not only underscores Rocksmith’s dedication to authenticity but also captures the raw, blues-infused energy that defined The Black Keys’ rise. In this review, we dissect the pack’s development, thematic depth, gameplay integration, and legacy, arguing that it remains a quintessential piece of Rocksmith’s cultural impact.

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Development History & Context

Ubisoft San Francisco, the masterminds behind Rocksmith 2014, crafted a vision that blurred the line between gaming and music education. By 2015, the studio had refined its proprietary Real Tone technology—a real-time audio-to-note detection system—overcoming early hardware limitations to deliver unprecedented accuracy. The gaming landscape, however, was challenging: rhythm games were in decline, but Rocksmith’s unique position as a “serious” learning tool carved out a dedicated niche.

The Black Keys’ inclusion was a strategic masterstroke. Having debuted their first Rocksmith pack in 2012 with songs like “Tighten Up,” the duo’s bluesy, lo-fi aesthetic resonated with players seeking grittier, less polished alternatives to arena rock. By 2015, The Black Keys had ascended to superstardom, thanks to albums like El Camino (2011) and Turn Blue (2014), which spawned hits like “Lonely Boy” and “Little Black Submarines.” Ubisoft capitalized on this momentum, licensing five tracks that mirrored the band’s evolution from their raw debut Thickfreakness (2003) to their commercial peak. The pack’s development focused on recreating the duo’s signature guitar tones—often achieved with minimal, vintage gear—ensuring each song felt faithful to the original recordings. This attention to detail was emblematic of Rocksmith’s ethos: turning licensed music into interactive learning experiences.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

While Rocksmith lacks traditional narratives, The Black Keys’ song pack tells a compelling story through its lyrics and musical DNA. The band’s thematic core revolves authenticity, disillusionment, and blue-collar resilience—traits reflected in the pack’s tracklist:

• “Thickfreakness” (2003): The opening track channels the duo’s garage-rock origins, with Auerbach’s gritty vocals and Carney’s primal drumming evoking a sense of youthful rebellion. Lyrically, it’s a raw, unfiltered ode to hedonism, aligning with the themes of excess that permeate early blues-rock.
• “Your Touch” (2006): From the album Magic Potion, this track showcases The Black Keys’ maturing sound. The lyrics—a lament over unrequited love—are steeped in vulnerability, while the guitar work balances melancholy with swagger. It’s a masterclass in emotional restraint, mirroring the band’s transition from obscurity to critical acclaim.
• “Howlin’ For You” (2010): Featured on the Grammy-winning Brothers, this track is a raucous, Stax-inspired romp. Its narrative centers on desire and desperation, with growling vocals and a driving bassline amplifying the lyrical intensity. Thematically, it embodies the band’s exploration of soul and R&B influences.
• “Lonely Boy” (2011): The pack’s centerpiece and global smash hit. The lyrics dissect isolation and yearning, while the iconic guitar riff—a blend of punk and blues—became an anthem for outsiders. Its inclusion in Rocksmith allowed players to dissect the song’s deceptively simple yet emotionally charged structure.
• “Little Black Submarines” (2012): A tour-de-force of dynamics, this track shifts from acoustic intimacy to electric catharsis. The lyrics explore fragility and self-destruction, mirroring the band’s willingness to experiment beyond their blues-rock comfort zone.

Collectively, these songs trace The Black Keys’ journey from underground heroes to arena headliners, with themes of blue-collar authenticity, emotional vulnerability, and sonic evolution serving as the pack’s unifying narrative.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Rocksmith’s genius lies in its seamless integration of gameplay with real-world instrument skills, and The Black Keys Pack II exemplifies this philosophy.

Core Gameplay Loop

Players engage with a dynamic “note highway” that scrolls across the screen, mapping fret positions, strings, and timing. The game’s adaptive difficulty—adjusting note density and complexity based on performance—ensures accessibility for novices and a challenge for veterans. Authenticity is paramount: each song features custom guitar tones meticulously modeled after the originals (e.g., Auerbach’s use of a Silvertone amp or Carney’s vintage Ludwig kit). The bass arrangements, though often simplified, provide a full complementary experience, reinforcing the importance of rhythm and groove.

Innovative Systems

• Authentic Tone Integration: The pack includes “AMP MODE,” allowing players to replicate The Black Keys’ signature sounds outside of song lessons. This deepens immersion, letting users experiment with gear settings like overdrive and reverb.
• Riff Repeater: A standout tool that isolates complex sections (e.g., “Little Black Submarines’” acoustic-to-electric transition) for targeted practice.
• Session Mode: The pack’s songs shine in this freeform jam mode, where players can improvise over backing tracks using the authentic tones.

Potential Flaws

While the note detection remains robust, some tracks—like “Howlin’ For You”’s rapid-fire riffs—can feel punishingly dense, overwhelming beginners. Additionally, the lack of vocal parts (a series-wide limitation) robs songs like “Lonely Boy” of their full emotional impact.

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World-Building, Art & Sound

The Black Keys Pack II thrives in Rocksmith’s minimalist yet immersive aesthetic. The “world” is one of sonic authenticity and raw energy, visualized through the game’s note highway and stage environments.

Visual Design

The note highway—color-coded by string—serves as the primary visual guide. For “Thickfreakness,” its gritty, lo-fi aesthetic is reflected in the highway’s earthy tones and sparse layout, mirroring the song’s stripped-down production. In contrast, “Little Black Submarines” uses dynamic visuals to highlight its shifts from acoustic intimacy (soft pastels) to electric chaos (neon streaks).

Sound Design

The pack’s audio fidelity is exceptional, with uncompressed masters ensuring every nuance—whether it’s the feedback in “Lonely Boy” or the finger-picking in “Your Touch”—is preserved. The authentic tones are the star: “Howlin’ For You”’s punchy bassline and “Thickfreakness”’s overdriven guitar riffs transport players directly into The Black Keys’ sonic universe.

Atmosphere

The Black Keys’ blues-rock ethos permeates the pack, creating an atmosphere of unpretentious, visceral music-making. Tracks like “Lonely Boy” evoke late-night garage jams, while “Little Black Submarines”’s dynamics mirror a cathartic emotional journey. This synergy between music and gameplay elevates the pack beyond a mere song list into a tactile experience.

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Reception & Legacy

Upon release, The Black Keys Pack II was lauded as a “must-have” for fans, praised for its song selection and tonal accuracy. Critics highlighted its value proposition—five songs for $11.99—compared to purchasing tracks individually. The pack contributed to Rocksmith’s sustained commercial success, with Ubisoft reporting over 1.4 million DLC songs sold by 2020.

Long-Term Impact

The Black Keys’ cumulative 11 songs (across both packs) cemented them as one of the most featured artists in Rocksmith history, second only to Jimi Hendrix. This showcased Ubisoft’s strategy of prioritizing artist depth over quantity, fostering player loyalty. However, the pack’s legacy is tinged with fragility: due to expiring licensing, many Rocksmith DLCs—including early Black Keys tracks—were delisted by 2023, making the II pack a rare archival gem.

Cultural Influence

Beyond sales, the pack democratized learning The Black Keys’ complex riffs, inspiring countless players to pick up the guitar. Its success validated Rocksmith’s model, prompting future DLC packs from acts like Metallica and Radiohead. As one Steam user noted: “Learning ‘Lonely Boy’ was my ‘aha’ moment—suddenly, I wasn’t just playing notes; I was channeling Auerbach’s soul.”

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Conclusion

Rocksmith 2014: The Black Keys Song Pack II is more than a mere DLC; it’s a time capsule of a band’s ascent and a testament to Rocksmith’s revolutionary approach to music education. The pack’s thematic cohesion—spanning garage-rock roots to arena-rock triumphs—coupled with its technical precision (authentic tones, adaptive difficulty), creates a holistic experience that transcends typical song-based expansions. While licensing threats have rendered it a relic of Rocksmith’s golden age, its legacy endures: it remains a benchmark for how licensed music can deepen immersion and skill-building in games. For The Black Keys fans, it’s an essential artifact; for Rocksmith enthusiasts, it’s a masterclass in blending artistry with interactivity. In the pantheon of music gaming, this pack stands not just as a footnote, but as a resonant chord—raw, authentic, and unforgettable.

Final Verdict: A 9/10—An indispensable addition to Rocksmith’s library, defined by its passion for authenticity and its role in bridging gaming and musical mastery.