5. Madden NFL 07
Certified Bangers: “Say Anything (Else),” by Cartel, “Out Here All Night,” by Damone, “Spin,” by Taking Back Sunday
Other Phat Tracks: “Summer Shudder,” by AFI, “The Instrumental,” by Lupe Fiasco featuring Matranga, “In Fate’s Hands,” by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, “You’re Ever So Inviting,” by Underoath
Damn, Son. Where’d You Find This?: “Came Down,” by Al Fatz
Madden got in touch with its sensitive side for the 2007 edition of the game, as the soundtrack featured artists associated with emo such as Dashboard Confessional, Taking Back Sunday and Saves the Day, among others. The result was a menu screen full of more screaming and deeper subject matter than usual.
Damone’s “Out Here All Night” served as a harbinger of what was to come on mainstream radio as the combination of angsty female vocals over a menacing rock n’ roll melody was made popular by bands like Paramore and Flyleaf the following year.
As one of the few hip hop tracks included in the game, Al Fatz’s “Came Down” was the most unique song on the ’07 entry, as its off-center beat kept gamers on their toes in between tracks filled with whiney vocals and teenage rebellion.
