Search - Ark :: State of the Ark

All Aboard!

erictheb | Boston | 04/12/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

""I was born to start a revolution/It would be my contribution/To a world-wide resurrection" -- Ola Salo, "Joy Surrender", from The Ark's debut album We Are The Ark, 2000



I can't help but grin. I first saw this unique band playing a college dorm in Sweden a decade ago. Lead singer Ola Salo was cavorting around the dorm's kitchen, where the band was set up, jumping up on the counter, hands raised flat upon the low ceiling, bare chested, sweat dripping off him, intense eyes staring intently into the distance, while a couple hundred kids crowded into the connected common area stood mesmerized. At 20, he was already a charismatic frontman, though at this point in the history of The Ark, more of a mystical shaman than the glammy unisexual hotdog of today.



At that point, the Ark's music was heavier- more Zeppelin than Sweet- and the preaching coming out of preacher's son Salo's mouth spoke of a coming apocalypse. But not an apocalypse to fear; rather, one that would lead us to a new dawn. A new era. A brand new world.



In between songs, he spoke of things that are coming to pass. No, this wasn't meant to scare you. It was meant to tell you of forces that are trying to destroy our free wills to be happy, peaceful beings on this planet we share. Forces that we all can defeat, if we just work together. But we need to be strong. A utopian BS retro-attitude for show? Well, when did universalistic, humanistic values go out of fashion? What's so funny about peace, love and understanding anyway? Nothing, it all makes sense really. And it's about time.



These days, Salo comes across as a glam superhero, selling the concept of humanity in a fun way- Come to the party, get off, and learn something while you are at it. Not a bad concept. Climb aboard the ark, and be saved.



What's so clever about the Ark is the mode of the messagery, if you will. Instead of a dour, grungy, ironic stance, full of mopey joes in ripped jeans looking forlorn, the Ark shill their serious social messages through flashy costumes, ambiguous sexuality, and some of the most remarkably uplifting, hook-laden music ever created, full of anthemic, sing-along choruses and crashing guitar chords. If they can't make you move, you need help. Call it party-rock, glam, 80s glitter, stadium rock- or even, as Salo himself calls it, disco-rock. It's all this and more. Even when it is sad, it is happy. "One of Us Is Gonna Die Young" anyone? A treatise on making the most of the time you got. Damn straight! Why let others live your life for you?



As Salo once told me in an interview, his goal is to create slogans to get the message across- and if by slogans, he means catchy phrases and melodies to kill for, well, to quote a politician, "mission accomplished".



The Ark are one of the best live bands in the world- pure adrenalin, great style, a fun time for all. The image is Kiss meets Queen meets Rocky Horror. You gotta see it to believe it. Clamour for Glamour, baby!



The album State of the Ark is just the tip of the iceberg. Though an interesting change of pace with its more synthy, stripped-down approach, for the full Ark experience, you should also hear their first two other sensational albums- We Are The Ark and In Lust We Trust. They also offer great songs, with a more theatrical, bombastic soundscape. There is also an album's worth of B-sides and rarities around. Let's hope they will be released in the States soon.



Ola Salo and Co want no less than to both rock our world and save it at the same time, like the best superheroes. But not with supernatural powers, but by reaching people in a way that goes beyond paranoia and propaganda. Reaching into our psyches, our consciences deep inside, and forcing us to look at ourselves, and then look at the world around us. He is asking us all to find the superhero within ourselves. Corny maybe, but true, and heavier than any terror threat. For we have nothing to fear but fear itself.



A new savior, you ask? Yes, in a way. But not a Christian, Jewish, or Muslim one. A universal savior-a bit Beatlesque really- preaching universalistic truths that suddenly, in these darkest of times, make a whole lot of sense. With the power of many, the energy we hold within ourselves can change the course of the world and stop the forces deciding how we should feel every day, defeat the fear, and open the lines of communication again.



And the Ark will throw one heck of a party to celebrate the new dawn. Get this album, find the others on import here at Amazon, and see them live. As Salo says, paraphrased on their debut album from 2000- We are all the Ark.



For those who still need their irony- well, is it not ironic, then, that a prancing, strutting glam singer with a lilting Swedish accent is more profound than most of the so called political leaders of the world today?

"

Awesome

A. Livingston | Los Angeles | 04/24/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've discovered this band on Amazon Germany not too long ago and totally fell in love with their music. Their other albums "In Lust We Trust" & "We are the Ark" are also great. Once you listen to the album several times, you can't get the songs out of your head, they are so catchy and soon you'll find yourself humming the songs all the time. I also recommend seeing this band live. They'll blow your socks off."

Amazing!

6at86th | 06/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I confess I didn't know anything about this band about a month ago...I just stumbled upon it by mistake... and now I can't seem to get enough.

Fantastic CD...sample the tracks and you will get hooked!!!



AMAZING!"