I’ve always been under the impression that not many of my readers actually like Rogue Traders (commentsville is usually a dead-town when they’re mentioned,) which is disappointing, yes, but is not going to stop me from posting about them at all…

Next Tuesday marks the two year anniversary of the Rogue’s second album release, Here Come The Drums. It’s also two years since my review of that very album appeared on IAR. You can read that here (opinion on the songs I didn’t think much of back then has changed, by the way.)

So now it’s time for album number 3. Here Come The Drums was ridiculously huge here in Australia, hanging around the Top 20 in the albums chart for well over a full year, so I’m quite keen to see how this more mature-in-sounding album fares with the fanbase.

But, even more importantly, what do *I* think of it? First of all, no one can accuse them of playing it safe. No samples this time around, goddess Natalie Bassingthwaighte has had her hand at co-writing five of the twelve tracks, and the record definitely boasts a more mature, refined direction in sound.

CALLING ALL LOVERS
A solid start to the album; big on broken beats, but definitely not single-worthy material. 7/10

DON’T YOU WANNA FEEL
First single to be lifted off this album, not surprisingly one of the best on here. Channeling Transvision Vamp with a dash of Chrissie Amphlett, this is one of the best Oz singles 2007 has delivered. 10/10

I NEVER LIKED YOU
Bitchy Natalie! The verses bare a slight resemblance in sound to Split Enz’s I Got You - the whole package is very a bright homage to new-wave, with a killer chorus (“Hey! Surprise! I never liked you, even when I tried to… I never liked you and I won’t pretend to. Can’t you see the curtains falling, uh-oh! Is there a reason you’re still hanging around?…”) This is the kind of song I could imagine Nicola Roberts singing. 10/10

CANDY COLOURED LIGHTS
Track’s that totally hint at you they are about getting on it in a nightclub are fine by me. This is a hypnotic, synth-heavy track with a chorus whipped up in heaven. Gorgeous. 10/10

SPEAK AND DESTROY
It is like listening to Veruca Salt… remember those bitches?! It even sounds like Natalie says “seether” at one point. This is a classy stab at that very 90’s rock sound, meshing it together with the new-wave feel this album seems to be generating quite well. 8/10

CHILDLIKE
Moody ballad time! Usually I’m left unimpressed by the ‘ballad section’ of an album, but this is actually pretty good, once again keeping that heavy guitar and new-wave thing going. 7/10

ON YOUR WAY TO THE DISCO
James Ash’s “Oh yeah!” vocals through the chorus are DYNAMITE and totally make this song. 9.5/10

8TH WONDER OF THE WORLD
It sounds a bit like We’re Coming Home, doesn’t it? Not as good though. This is the only track on Better In The Dark that hasn’t really gelled with me at all… 5/10

BETTER IN THE DARK
One thing I love most about Rogue Traders tracks is - and this includes their first, Natalie-less album - the lyrics are always clever. “I don’t know your name. But I’ll kiss you just the same. Holding hands, that’s a start. Cos you’d look better in the dark.” This is an attitude-filled rock throwback whose lyric content sums up what most of us have thought about many, many people we’ve seen in a nightclub. 9.5/10

WHAT YOU’RE ON
This is what I like to call the record’s best moment. What You’re On is such a gorgeous, luscious pop song with sublime, dynamic lyrics. …On is this album’s In Love Again. Never a bad thing. 10/10

THROW YOUR ARMS AROUND ME
SUMMER SINGLE ALERT! SUMMER SINGLE ALERT! Christ on a treadmill, everything about this song screams ’second single’. Rip-snorting guitar riff (which sounds a tiny, tiny bit like Mel & Kim’s Respectable,) strong vocals through the verses, and an absolute rocket-fueled chorus - this is bonza stuff people. The clever thing to do would be to release this as the next single, thus making it a prominent part of the soundtrack to everyone’s upcoming Australian Summer… 10/10

THE PRICE WE PAY
It sounds like Take That’s Wooden Boat!! Cute ballad with sweet vocals, returning things to that Veruca Salt sound I mentioned earlier. The unexpected appearance of an army of violins in the last 2 minutes is a very, very welcomed surprise. 9/10

This is their most cohesive album to date. Definitely a strong progression from Here Come The Drums. In fact, this album works and flows better as a whole than …Drums did. I always thought the order of Drums was a bit out of whack in places but this - this has been set out perfectly.

Definitely a contender for Album of the Year. As someone who is a fan of the band, a lover of Natalie, and a long-time follower of James Ash since his career in radio at Hitz FM, this record makes me incredibly proud.

Overall score: 10/10