Review Summary: A fantastic pop-rock album that would be more suited as a musical.
Swedish rock band The Ark formed in 1991. After their first EP failed in 1996, it wasn't clear if the band was going to continue making music. The saving grace was a new guitarist and a contract with record company Virgin Records. In 2000, The Ark decided to try to release an album. Their unique approach to pop rock and slightly bizarre fashion style were two ingredients that made them one of the biggest bands in Sweden. It was new, it was fresh, but still sounded familiar. The glam rock in particular was very new to the Swedish music industry at that time. "We Are The Ark" might seem like a regular pop album on the surface. But the beauty of it is that it's actually much deeper if you take the time to dig into it. I'll be writing this review under the impression that it's a concept album. Now, you might think that releasing a concept album as a band's debut album seems a bit too overambitious. Yes, it certainly does. However, I don't think that it was The Ark's intention to make one; it just came to be. And there's no need to worry about the somewhat trite album title. It's a part of the concept album itself.
"Hey Modern Days" is the starting gun to the album. A great pop song on the surface. But like I stated earlier, it has more substance to it than that. The song launches an attack on society and could be seen as propaganda. Our protagonist in the album's story sarcastically sings
"But we're all very proud to be here today / The first of a thousand million modern days". It's quite obvious that he's not very happy with the state of our society and calls it a "low-chant jive on the century's crime." This becomes even more obvious in the following song, "Echo Chamber". In the same vein as the song before it, "Echo Chamber" is an uplifting pop song at first glance. Here the protagonist accuses the human race of being too codependent and being too eager to belong. He asks us if we've ever heard the word 'no' since everybody says 'yes' -- bringing further proof that the world has turned into an echo chamber, and he urges the people to step out of it "before it's too late." The impression that the protagonist is self-centered and narcissistic is hard to ignore. But at the same time, the roots of his rebellious attitude isn't entirely not justified, which we'll see in later songs. The strength of "Echo Chamber" is undoubtedly its chorus: it's memorable, joyful and simultaneously delivers the message of the song. In "Joy Surrender" we're given some explanation to his personality. He tells us about his earlier years when he thought he was going to be a pioneer with a mission to save the world. Although, things changed, and he started to doubt himself:
"But I was born a weak and worried thinker with an eagerness to know myself that throws it all away". It also shows his journey to becoming the cynical person he is in the line, "How the golden road can seize to glare". While "Joy Surrender" isn't as strong song-wise, it's still just as good lyrically and drives to story arch forward:
And every now and then
it seems to me it's come to this
that promises and prophecies
was all I had to give
Next up is "It Takes A Fool To Remain Sane", the epic that put The Ark on the map. It's a truly incredible song that nails everything it's set out to do and more. The song builds up perfectly until the massive chorus hits you. It's emotional. It's heavy. And it's genuine. Previously, the protagonist had been very critical to the way the world is run and to its population. In "It Takes A Fool To Remain Sane" he gives us exactly what he said he'd give us in "Joy Surrender": promises and prophecies. Don't get me wrong; it's still highly critical of society. But, instead of a full-on attack, he decides to do the opposite. The protagonist pretty much delivers a prophecy about life. He encourages everybody to dare to be different and not to live in fear like he did. Does it sound melodramatic? Maybe. But that's what the album's about. There's not a single human being on this planet that's completely sane. Because it's simply not possible. We all have different ways of dealing with sanity; whether it's love, music or friendship -- it doesn't matter. What everybody else thinks is irrelevant when it comes to our own happiness:
"And if you think I'm corny then it will not make me sorry, It's your right to laugh at me". Sure, it might be corny, but he wears his heart on his sleeve. That's what's most important.
'Cos they've forgotten how to play
Oh, maybe they're afraid to feel ashamed
to seem strange, to seem insane
to gain weight, to seem gay
I tell you this
That it takes a fool to remain sane
Oh, it takes a fool to remain sane
Oh, it takes a fool to remain sane
Oh, in this world all covered up in shame
"Ain't Too Proud To Bow" is the only song I'm not too fond of on the album. It's too light-hearted for my taste and doesn't really add anything to story; it just further emphasizes the protagonist's view on equality in the world. "Bottleneck Barbiturate", however, is an interesting song. It's the first ballad on the album, and it's well-needed. The song features a mellow piano and a stunning vocal performance from frontman Ola Salo. Lyrically, it tells us how the protagonist is starting regret his cynical, rebellious lifestyle. He's starting to realize that it has drawn him away from the people close to him. This song marks the shift in the album where the protagonist's downfall starts. The album also changes musically because of this, which is a nice touch. "Let Your Body Decide" is more pop-oriented but still darker than the previous songs. The protagonist has started to doubt himself and has become insecure. He sings:
Is it right to feel this way?
Will I be happy one day?
Is my posture okay?
Am I straight or gay?
The three songs "Patchouli", "This Sad Bouquet" and "Angelheads" shows the darker side of the album's protagonist. He's starting to become what he hated: shallow and codependent. The rebellious attitude was just a shell to hide who he really is. In a melancholy voice he sings:
"Wasn't born to hate, I was made to love, but I never knew it was so hard". The penultimate track "Laurel Wreath" proves that he can no longer tell the difference from love and desire; he'd rather live like everybody else and "wear love like a laurel wreath." Then, the album comes to a close with "You, Who Stole My Solitude". It differs a lot from the rest of the album and almost sound a bit sinister. The protagonist has grown tired of himself and the world. He was happy with the way he was and, as a result, he blames society. It's very much open to interpretation; this is just me writing what I think it means in the context of the album.
You, who barricade my streets
Who leave me no retreat
Who haunt me in my sleep
and bitter what I eat
Recommended tracks:
"It Takes A Fool To Remain Sane"
"Echo Chamber"
"Hey Modern Days"
"Let Your Body Decide"
"Joy Surrender"
