Let’s be honest, when Tim Rogers and The Bamboos collaborated on the 2012 single I Got Burned, there was no way in hell that it would fail to be a hit. The wild extroverted rocker teaming up with the funkiest funk-soul band in the land? It’s not surprising the track was nominated for two ARIAs. When news came out recently that they were collaborating again for the album The Rules of Attraction, well, that right there is almost too much ‘yes’ to handle.
Not surprisingly, with Rogers added to the creative process, there’s a bit of a departure from some of The Bamboos’ previous work. For one thing, this album is a lot more up-tempo than the album I Got Burned appeared on (2012’s Medicine Men), and it leans more towards pop and rock rather than soul. Tracks like Better off Alone and Now and Then sound a lot more Rogers than Bamboos, and opening track S.U.C.C.E.S.S introduces the album with an almost syrupy upbeat sound. But the title track brings some of that familiar funk and soul that’ll get you shuffling your shoulders, and then there’s Rogers’ duet with regular Bamboos vocalist Kylie Auldist, Did I Wake You? Wow. Calling it early: this will be one of the singles of 2015.
The Bamboos know how to turn on a smooth groove. Add a dash of Tim Rogers, and you’ve got yourself some seriously funky tunes with some seriously fun lyrics. The Rules of Attraction has such a great energy and contains so many catchy tunes that it should be made compulsory listening at the start of everyone’s working week. It’ll make you smile more than a 20-day yoga intensive.
BY EBEN ROJTER
