19. Dream Theater - Panic Attack - 2000s
27. Jethro Tull - Aqualung - 1970s
31. Judas Priest - Painkiller - 1990s
32. Kansas - Carry On Wayward Son - 1970s
38. Mastodon - Colony of Birchmen - 2000s
39. Megadeth - Peace Sells - 1980s
40. Metallica - Battery - 1980s
54. Rush - The Trees - 1970s
63. Survivor - Eye of the Tiger - 1980s
64. System of a Down - Chop Suey - 2000s
66. Tenacious D - Master Exploder - 2000s
71. The Guess Who - American Woman - 1970s
75. The Who - Pinball Wizard - 1960s

I wonder if they bothered to fix one of the frustrating things about the first Rock Band.  That being allowing all controllers to press buttons when selecting a song.  It's kind of annoying when someone keeps switching the tracklist or backing out of the song menu either by accident or because they weren't paying attention.  Giving the controls at the song screen to only one person (Band Leader perhaps) would be a very simple, and helpful, tweak.

• The title will release with an exclusive launch window for Xbox 360 and later this year to the Playstation 3, Playstation 2 and Nintendo Wii.
• Rock Band 2 will feature backwards compatibility with all Rock Band downloadable music content released to date.
• Owners of the original Rock Band will have the ability to export most of the Rock Band disc tracks and upgrade them into Rock Band 2 gameplay-the first time ever in videogame history!
• With ongoing weekly DLC releases including individual tracks, track packs and full albums, the Rock Band music library will feature more than 500 songs by year’s end!
• Local and global online modes to connect the entire Rock Band community
• World Tour mode, now online, simplifies the best of gameplay from the original Rock Band by fusing Solo Tour and Band World Tour modes and cranks it up a notch with an all new collection of opportunity gigs, challenges, cities, venues and hirable staff
• Tour Challenges that offer rockers a chance to play through mini-campaigns focused on the best songs by instrument, decade, genre, artist, album and more
• Battle of the Bands mode challenges players to go head to head against other bands in constantly refreshed contests* created by Harmonix (*internet connection required)
• Quickplay makes it easier than ever to get in and jam without hassle while allowing for new prefab characters or customized characters that can play on any instrument plus lets you make your own set lists and organize your song lists in a variety of categories (genre, era, etc.)
• Start and Back (or select for PS3 folks) now used to select and cancel in menus - No more band members accidentally backing out to the main screen
  
• Customizable Set Lists keep the music rolling and your band rocking in Quickplay mode
• Drum Trainer mode gives players the fundamentals of different beats and fills, translating gameplay into real drumming skills
• Character Creator completes your look with all new choices in clothing, accessories, tattoos, hairstyles, instruments and more to keep your unique rock avatar playing the full rock part
• Backwards compatibility with all Rock Band downloadable music content released to date
• The Rock Band 2 soundtrack will feature over 100 songs - with over 80 songs on disc plus an additional 20 bonus tracks which will be made available for free download this fall.
• Unrivaled Blend of Classic, Developing and Emerging rock acts including Pearl Jam, Metallica, Allman Brothers, Motorhead, Devo, Jane's Addiction, Megadeth, Paramore, Modest Mouse and more.
• Rock Band 2 is the first and only video game to feature the music of AC/DC. It includes their epic rock anthem, "Let There Be Rock”
• After 14 years since Guns N’ Roses last official music release, Axl Rose selects Rock Band 2 to debut official new track, “Shackler’s Revenge” from the highly-anticipated album Chinese Democracy
• For the first time ever, music from American music icon, Bob Dylan, is featured in a video game with “Tangled Up In Blue”
• Fender Stratocaster Controller takes on a new authentic look plus adds a reinforced strum bar, quieter buttons, wireless functionality and a built in calibration tool that automatically sets your AV setup to an ideal setting for maximum rock.
• Drum set goes wireless while also featuring quieter, velocity sensitive drum pads and a metal reinforced pedal.
• Microphone showcases authentic styling and weight.
• Fender Telecaster Controller features soft buttons with lower action to help you shred faster than ever.
• Fender Bass Controller, the first bass guitar controller ever, takes the shape of the Fender P-Bass with extended length, tuning pegs and a split strum bar to replicate finger-bass style picking.
• Full-sized Squire Stratocaster Guitar Controller multiplies the authentic guitar experience by featuring a controller built into an actual Squire Stratocaster body.
• Cymbal Expansion Pack is a straightforward but amazing upgrade to the Rock Band 2 drum set featuring add-on cymbals.
• ION Drum Rocker, a real electronic drum kit that functions as a game controller, brings the Rock Band fantasy to life featuring a simple substitution that takes the drum kit from a controller to a real instrument.

Narrowed it down to interesting songs - and there are not nearly enough of those to warrant the high price for me.

When you talk about the high price tag, are you talking about the full-contains-all-the-instruments price? 

And to choose PANIC! at the disco, and Linkin' Park, it makes my heart sink.

except that the game is called ROCK BAND and instead of putting stuff a lot people will actually like, they just bloat the game with a bunch of southern rock and metal which have pretty limited fan bases and are basically just included because of technical skill.

EDIT: I mean I understand it in singstar because the game is based around pop music and so I don't begrudge it for lack of my interests in music but rock band.

then what's your definition of ROCK because based on rockbands instruments any song that includes a geetar, bass, and drums constitutes as ROCK.  i guess i'm in the minority of people who play these kinds of games because it's fun especially when everyone gets drunk and starts dancing around the room but who honestly pays 60 bux for a butchered low quality version of their favorite song just so they press colored keys to the beat?  i guess there aren't many people who just enjoy seeing how well their reflexes go up against a variety of music and would rather gawk at the back of the box going "JESUS CHRIST LED ZEPP MAH FAVORITE BAND GOTTA PLOP DOWN MAD MONEY FOR THIS SHIT!"