Rock 'N' Roll Soldiers

Rock 'N' Roll Soldiers: The Two EPsThe Two EPs (2005)
Warner Music Group

Reviewer Rating: 2.5

Contributed by: AnchorsAnchors
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on June 10th 2005Ever watch a movie that starts out pretty well, grabs your interest, then proceeds to bore the fuck out of you until it ends? Yeah, well, the Rock 'N' Roll Soldiers' The Two EPs is sort of like that. In their defense, it could be like a Vin Diesel movie, which starts horribly, ends horribly, and has.

Ever watch a movie that starts out pretty well, grabs your interest, then proceeds to bore the fuck out of you until it ends? Yeah, well, the Rock 'N' Roll Soldiers' The Two EPs is sort of like that. In their defense, it could be like a Vin Diesel movie, which starts horribly, ends horribly, and has equally horrible filler. Actually, I'm tempted to not review this album, and just rant about how much I hate Vin Diesel, and think that Walker Texas Ranger should slow motion spin-kick him in the face, through a glass window. But rumor is this is a music website, so I'll save that for another time.

"Anthem" starts things out in a promising enough manner, with some solid, melodic guitar work, and then a transition to a simple drum beat, and and a very definite danceable vocal pattern. During the verses, this almost sounds more like Hot Hot Heat than anything associated with rock'n'roll, but there's still the good guitar work to hold everything together. The chorus of "With her cold hands slidin' down your warm shirt, we're the last of the rock 'n' roll soliders" is certainly a lot of fun, even without there being much substance to it. "Funny Little Feeling" also has a real nice groove to it, and just as catchy of a chorus as the song that proceeded it, while offering more of a punk rock kick than the rest of what's found on this album. Herein lies the problem, though, in that there's no other songs of noticeable replay value until the 9th song on the album, which offers up some fuzz-laden guitars and some real gritty vocals. This is probably the best song on the album, and whether that's because it deviates so much from the sound of the rest of it, or just because it's really well written, remains to be determined, but it's a damn good song regardless. There's even a damn good guitar solo, albeit a short one towards the end of the song.

The next song, "Three Goddamns," offers up a real country, even bluegrassy feel to it. It's much slower than the rest of the record, and just has an old Western style sound to it. The problem with this song is how out of place it sounds on the album. Had they incorporated another 2 or 3 songs on here more akin to this, it'd give the album a real solid flow, and some slower songs to change things up. It's definitely a step in the right direction, and maybe they can explore those possibilities to a bit further of an extent on the next full-length, as this isn't a true full length, but a merging of two vinyl EPs.

This isn't a bad effort from the Rock 'N' Roll Soldiers, but there's a lot of potential improvements to think about for the next go 'round. They've got solid elements in place, and a great lead singer, but something needs to spice up the middle of the album, which drags a bit. And it's not copying the beginning of other artists' songs ("Everybody's Gotta Live" starts out almost identically to Green Day's "Jackass"). Maybe next time, guys.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (June 1, 2006)

I think that the band Rock N' Roll Soliders are good. They have a sense of energy that I like as well as there songs are catchy. Overall, I think they will go big, but it's going to take more songs to prove to everyone else that they are ready.

Anonymous (March 25, 2006)

my fravorite song was the flag song. Its asome!

Anonymous (January 23, 2006)

The RNR Soldiers remind me of a punk rock Rolling Stones...I just saw them live a few days ago, and bought the 2 EPs.

I think I hear a lot of New York Dolls and old 70's punk rock in them....from the new york scene maybe

good band as well
- Greg Daulton (rottenramone182@yahoo.com)

Anonymous (October 31, 2005)

"funny little feeling" is like the best song in the world. I got a funny little feeling(feeling) my arms are shaking................ Sorry but i just love this song. Who with me

Anonymous (October 31, 2005)

I thought they sucked like crazy!!!!!!

Anonymous (October 31, 2005)

it was an awsome cd but sometimes i couldnt hear what they were saying. but neways the were the best. their best song was feeling

Anonymous (July 22, 2005)

SCREW YOU!

THE ROCK 'N' ROLL SOLDIERS KICK ASS!!!!!!

THE ROCK 'N' ROLL SOLDIERS KICK ASS!!!!!!

THE ROCK 'N' ROLL SOLDIERS KICK ASS!!!!!!

cell (July 15, 2005)

The Soldiers kick ass, and the two EPs are great. Why is it they always get some douschebag to review things?

Anonymous (July 8, 2005)

Hmmm. My guess is that you need to lighten up and have some fun. The soldiers are about having a good time and not needing to resort to the pretentious antics of many of today's bands. I say this kicks ass and I'll kick yours for blasphemy

cstar6@hotmail.com

Anonymous (June 23, 2005)

that is the "funny little feeling song"

Anonymous (June 23, 2005)

i was at the vorizon commercial set wen i first heard this song-- its awesome!! i definently looved it ands downloaded it as soon as i culd-- very catchy, doesnt get old to listen to and jus rilli good-- love it, buy it!

theundergroundscene (June 13, 2005)

mvp2005 what what

but "funny little feeling" kinda sucks

Anonymous (June 11, 2005)

"the way of the gun" that's the movie you're thinking of, right?

John-311 (June 10, 2005)

This band is from my town and I had no idea they were signed to a major label?

Anonymous (June 10, 2005)

seen these guys twice (w/ the bellrays then w/ the sights) the second time there were twice as many people watching them (7 then 15?)

they put on a fun show, nothing too original, good songs, loud, catchy, fun

yeah

adam (June 10, 2005)

Their track on the Greaseball Melodrama comp is pretty rad. I wonder how this band will fare on Atlantic (or whoever just signed them).

-adam

TahoeJeff (June 10, 2005)

I think if this were actually two separate EP's the review would have been a little higher. But I agree the CD drags on a bit. Great live show though. Even though they were the very first band to play, they put all their energy into the show...and destoyed the drums at the end of the show.

Archangel (June 10, 2005)

Score is for this site: http://www.4q.cc/vin/

Anchors (June 10, 2005)

And make awesome pancakes.

Anonymous (June 10, 2005)

Prince rules. And he'll kick your ass at basketball too.

allison_le_gnome (June 10, 2005)

I was convinced that "Rock 'N' Roll Soldiers" was a song lyric I knew. Then I realized I was thinking of "new funk soldiers" in Musicology by Prince.