We Are The Ark

I've already made reviewing albums in strange orders a tradition so doing this after the second one probably won't do any harm. After reviewing three Koyote albums in a row, this is a very welcome break. It seems that it's becoming a custom to try to balance the song scores artist-specifically, because doing that among everything would be too much.

#1 Hey Modern Days 9½

Amusing lyrics and also otherwise one of my favourite tracks. "Well, it's a scam, it's a royal kind of wham-bam figure / It's abrieved in the sense of being up-john and senseless / It's a see-saw sickness, it's a snake-bite, low-chant jive on the century's crime" - that's just so lyric, don't you think? Do check out the rest of the lyrics as well.

#2 Echo Chamber 9½

One of the biggest reasons to buy the album. I so remember the video with its bright colours.

#3 Joy Surrender 7½

It's funny how closely the two albums follow the same lines. This is a clear forefigure of Tell Me This Night Is Over. Neither this would've been a single, had they asked me.

#4 It Takes a Fool to Remain Sane 9

Their breakthrough single, though for a long time I didn't understand why. Full of message and some of the phrases, including the title, have made their way into my personal phraseology. I think I should obey their message as shame is still one of my worst concerns and maybe I also respect respect too much. Wow, English is indeed such a primitive language.

#5 Ain't Too Proud to Bow 7½

Famous for the washing machine sound in the chorus, like that in Steps' Summer of Love.

#6 Bottleneck Barbiturate 8

The titles already clearly tell that this is not a basic pop album. The first slow track and not a bad one. The coming of the beat is one of my favourite aspects. Calm.

#7 Let Your Body Decide 8

For a long time I thought this had been a single but I was proved wrong. Contains the wonderful line "Words come to me so easily they make me forget what I mean" and a great scratching sound before the chorus, the chorus that unfortunately is too repetitive, becoming the major down factor of the song. The second mention of "gay" on the album. And then the Z magazine wonders if they are birds or fish? Either they're not paying attention or they know more than I do.

#8 Patchouli 9

Funny short ditty with a title that I can't decide whether it sounds nice or ugly. Probably the latter. Has the descriptive lyrics "But tell me love, ain't this desire? / I can't tell love from desire / But it sure feels good!". How come an album could have contained so many sayings fitting to the era I was having at the time?

#9 This Sad Bouquet 8½

Beautiful, very calm ballad. Oh no, did this just become my favourite track? That was straight out of the blue. [UPDATE 060220] I seem to have lost the state of mind that made me give an 10 to this, resulting in a dramatic drop of 1½ points.

#10 Angelheads 6½

Here begins the brief lapse of the album. Somehow I think "tired" is the word to describe this, especially the chorus.

#11 Laurel Wreath 7

Not much better than the previous.

#12 You, Who Stole My Solitude 8½

Nice classicalish influences in a steady yet pompous track. Quite comparable to 2000 Light Years of Darkness. The best thing is the whisper "Did you expect a love song?".