The Ark Album: “Prayer for the Weekend”

The Ark are really made to be enjoyed live. Calling Ola Salo charismatic is no way near enough; seeing him on stage has been described as a religious experience by the most unexpected people.

However, if you can't see them live, you can still enjoy Ola Salo's song writer skills, incredible voice intelligence and sense of humour on Prayer for the Weekend. The album is brilliant, with a little bit of everything for everyone. It actually didn't stick the first time I heard it, but the second time I fell so much in love.

My favourite tracks on this album are... nearly all of them. But don't miss

- The Worrying Kind - really, it's just one of those songs that puts a big smile on your face as soon as you hear the intro.

- Absolutely No Decorum - the first single from the album, and it's really the Ark at their best.

- Little Dysfunk You - definitely a favorite, largely due to the provocations in the first verse and a chorus that just sticks like glue immediately.

- Death to the Martyrs - serious in a way, but if you don't spend too much thought on it, it's hilarious.

- Gimme Love to Give - this one's pretty hard to describe because I don't know exactly what it is about it that gives me this warm, fuzzy feeling. It just does.

- Uriel - the album's only ballad, and I really didn't think it was all that impressive first time I heard it. But that changed somehow, now I cry like a baby every time I hear it.

Buy it, it's great!

The Ark has produced consistently terrific CDs, and their latest is no exception. They should be huge in the US. Hopefully in time, this will happen, especially with renewed interest in glam-rock. Fans of everyone from T-Rex to Scissor Sisters to Adam Lambert should check them out.

Prayer for the Weekend~ The Ark is great album from the Swedish glamrock band. Ola Salo is a very accomplished singer and an accomplished artist in his own right. The production value is amazing and the worrying kind is a great track. To think that they decided to sing at the eurovision song festival is a shame since the song is to smart for such a shallow show. The lyrics are well-written and one can definetely say that they sing all their lyrics with a glimps of self irony. The book-let is well-produced I love what they are wearing. Totally cool outfits. The photos inside the book-let are well done and look awesome. The font is easy on the eye and the colors match their kind of music. Highly recommended indeed and I definetely give it 5 out of 5 stars.

After taking a turn down a slightly less bombastic, more electro-spiced road with their previous album State of the Ark, Sweden's glam masters return with a great collection of songs full of the trademark Ark catchy sing-a-long choruses, big crashing guitar chords, hooks to die for, leader Ola Salo's Broadway-influenced vocalisms, and as usual his interesting elastic use of the English language in the lyrics, sung in a mid-Atlantic lilt. Gorgeous hand-tinted cover too.

Prayer For the Weekend- Great start to the album. Cool Madonna-Like A Prayer vibe at the start, a mash-up might not be a bad idea. Pure disco-rock. Celebrates the sacredness of going out and having a good time, perhaps inspired in concept by The Bee Gees in Saturday Night Fever. xcellent Young Americans-era sax flourishes towards the song's end

The Worrying Kind- What more can be said about this tribute to the Abba-era 70s Eurovision-sound (with a nod to Love Grows)? A nervous, paranoid lyric built into a joyous soundscape- an interesting dichotomy. Sweden's offering, rightfully so, for the Eurovision Song Contest, coming May 12, 2007 in Helsinki, Finland

Absolutely No Decorum- The sound of this archtypical Ark track harkens back to the big classic Ark sound of the first 2 albums, with angelic choirs and great drama. A distant cousin of last album's One of Us Is Gonna Die Young- Enjoy life, do it to it, and don't give a damn what others say.

Little Dysfunk You- Love Ola's elastic use of the English language-the way the title brings up images of "dissing", "dysfunctional", "funk" and "f**k". Processed drums remind me of early 80s hip-hop ala Grand Master Flash. Slithering, sinister verses a la SOTA (State of the Ark) establish a cynical, bitter vibe, but the unexpected uplifting and hopeful refrain totally changes gears. The little strings-tribute to the song Grease at the end of the choruses is a nice touch.

New Polution- A bit early 80s power pop ala Rick Springfield and Sammy Hagar. Great bounce, crashing guitar chords, and of course a wonderful chorus reminiscent of The Others from SOTA

Thorazin Corazon- The almost underwater-like vocal effects, and slightly tropical/latin/lounge feel make me want to make a margarita and lie under a palm tree. Told by band members this song is meant as a kind of break in the album, and from what I've heard probably the least appreciated song on the album

I Pathologize- Once again, Ola's word elasticity at work. Pathology/apologize. More SOTA feel in my opinion, with nice classic disco drum beat and good use of high hat in the four to the floor. I Was Made For Loving You/Sure Know Something(Kiss)- dance vibe. Dont forget Jens' swirling keyboards a la U Who Stole My Solitude. Nice touch.

Death To The Martyrs- Sensational modern glam. Salo paints lyrics about a mythical local figure who basically had no life or career save for acting as resident burnt-out hero to the young Salo and his teenage friends. And by the end, the song is basically saying, Hey man, get a life and grow up!

All I Want Is You- A bit of a throw away, but charming nonetheless. More glam magic- 50s Jerry Lee Lewis rock meets 70s glitter. Love the boogie-woogie piano and bass and doo-wop vocal backing.

Gimme Love To Give- With possible inspiration from Hollaback Girl's syncopated marching band oompah sound and maybe even Give My Life by Army of Lovers (especially the bass vocal drop), this gospel sing-along is built for serious audience participation, though surprisingly is not in their current set list. The dramatic break is classic Ola and builds up the tension to a grand finale.

Uriel- A mystical ballad, so simple in its musical structure, yet still swallows you up whole and takes you into its underwater dream world. Written by Salo at 16, the lyrics are open for interpretation. A mermaid? An angel? A murder victim? Maybe even Ola himself? Perhaps just an idealistic fantasy figure. An extremely delicate piece a la This Sad Bouquet, from the Ark's debut We Are The Ark. Beautiful.

Any Operator Will Do- Non-album track worth a mention. Depeche Mode meets cabaret music.

Let's hope the Ark make it back to the USA soon! Otherwise, check out their Scandinavian shows this summer,[...]

After taking a turn down a slightly less bombastic, more electro-spiced road with their previous album State of the Ark, Sweden's glam masters return with a great collection of songs full of the trademark Ark catchy sing-a-long choruses, big crashing guitar chords, hooks to die for, leader Ola Salo's Broadway-influenced vocalisms, and as usual his interesting elastic use of the English language in the lyrics, sung in a mid-Atlantic lilt. Gorgeous hand-tinted cover too.

Prayer For the Weekend- Great start to the album. Cool Madonna-Like A Prayer vibe at the start, a mash-up might not be a bad idea. Pure disco-rock. Celebrates the sacredness of going out and having a good time, perhaps inspired in concept by The Bee Gees in Saturday Night Fever. xcellent Young Americans-era sax flourishes towards the song's end

The Worrying Kind- What more can be said about this tribute to the Abba-era 70s Eurovision-sound (with a nod to Love Grows)? A nervous, paranoid lyric built into a joyous soundscape- an interesting dichotomy. Sweden's offering, rightfully so, for the Eurovision Song Contest, coming May 12, 2007 in Helsinki, Finland

Absolutely No Decorum- The sound of this archtypical Ark track harkens back to the big classic Ark sound of the first 2 albums, with angelic choirs and great drama. A distant cousin of last album's One of Us Is Gonna Die Young- Enjoy life, do it to it, and don't give a damn what others say.

Little Dysfunk You- Love Ola's elastic use of the English language-the way the title brings up images of "dissing", "dysfunctional", "funk" and "f**k". Processed drums remind me of early 80s hip-hop ala Grand Master Flash. Slithering, sinister verses a la SOTA (State of the Ark) establish a cynical, bitter vibe, but the unexpected uplifting and hopeful refrain totally changes gears. The little strings-tribute to the song Grease at the end of the choruses is a nice touch.

New Polution- A bit early 80s power pop ala Rick Springfield and Sammy Hagar. Great bounce, crashing guitar chords, and of course a wonderful chorus reminiscent of The Others from SOTA

Thorazin Corazon- The almost underwater-like vocal effects, and slightly tropical/latin/lounge feel make me want to make a margarita and lie under a palm tree. Told by band members this song is meant as a kind of break in the album, and from what I've heard probably the least appreciated song on the album

I Pathologize- Once again, Ola's word elasticity at work. Pathology/apologize. More SOTA feel in my opinion, with nice classic disco drum beat and good use of high hat in the four to the floor. I Was Made For Loving You/Sure Know Something(Kiss)- dance vibe. Dont forget Jens' swirling keyboards a la U Who Stole My Solitude. Nice touch.

Death To The Martyrs- Sensational modern glam. Salo paints lyrics about a mythical local figure who basically had no life or career save for acting as resident burnt-out hero to the young Salo and his teenage friends. And by the end, the song is basically saying, Hey man, get a life and grow up!

All I Want Is You- A bit of a throw away, but charming nonetheless. More glam magic- 50s Jerry Lee Lewis rock meets 70s glitter. Love the boogie-woogie piano and bass and doo-wop vocal backing.

Gimme Love To Give- With possible inspiration from Hollaback Girl's syncopated marching band oompah sound and maybe even Give My Life by Army of Lovers (especially the bass vocal drop), this gospel sing-along is built for serious audience participation, though surprisingly is not in their current set list. The dramatic break is classic Ola and builds up the tension to a grand finale.

Uriel- A mystical ballad, so simple in its musical structure, yet still swallows you up whole and takes you into its underwater dream world. Written by Salo at 16, the lyrics are open for interpretation. A mermaid? An angel? A murder victim? Maybe even Ola himself? Perhaps just an idealistic fantasy figure. An extremely delicate piece a la This Sad Bouquet, from the Ark's debut We Are The Ark. Beautiful.

Any Operator Will Do- Non-album track worth a mention. Depeche Mode meets cabaret music.

Let's hope the Ark make it back to the USA soon! Otherwise, check out their Scandinavian shows this summer,[...]