Ben Rector is an American singer-songwriter known for his unique brand of feel-good pop music. One of his popular albums is "Magic" released in 2018. "Magic" showcases Rector's talent for crafting catchy melodies and heartfelt lyrics that resonate with a wide audience. The vinyl version of "Magic" is a collector's item for fans of Ben Rector's music. Vinyl records have experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years, as they offer a nostalgic listening experience and a warm, analog sound that digital formats often lack. The vinyl edition of "Magic" not only allows fans to enjoy the music, but it also serves as a physical representation of the artistry and creativity that went into the album.
Moon magic is most powerful at the Moon Nexus, a beautiful lake high on a mountain where the full moon reflects perfectly on the water’s surface. When the land was split in two, the Moon Nexus fell upon the human side of the Border, and thus the Moonshadow elves appointed a Guardian of the Nexus to protect its power from human greed.
Humans are not born with the ability to cast magic, but some can cast spells and control a Primal Source by using a magical artifact such as a Primal Stone. While deserts and underground caverns do not provide ideal circumstances to cast Ocean magic, only a single drop of water is said to be needed to make use of the source.
The vinyl edition of "Magic" not only allows fans to enjoy the music, but it also serves as a physical representation of the artistry and creativity that went into the album. The large album cover provides a canvas for visually appealing artwork that complements the music contained within. In addition to the aesthetic appeal, vinyl records also offer a unique listening experience.
Dark Magic: How the Dragon Prince Uses a Lense of Realism on an “Obviously Evil” Trope
I love fantasy. I love battles of magic. I love clashes of light magic and dark magic. But, in the hindsight of realism, the use of one side using “dark magic”, a side that’s otherwise composed of both good and bad complexities, mind, can often prompt a raise of the eyebrow from the reader/audience. One that asks, “Why would you use something when you know it’s dark magic? Why would you use something so ‘obviously evil’?” Kind of like why would you keep trusting Saruman the White the minute you saw the kind of tower he lived in.
Now we come to The Dragon Prince, from, in part, Aaron Ehasz, from Avatar: the Last Airbender TV series renown. Arguably, it’s a much better successor in the spiritual sense than Legend of Korra was in the literal sense (though that may change if I change my mind one day and decide to give in and watch Korra). Then comes me, deciding to give Dragon Prince a shot now that I have no excuse to avoid the 3D animation style based on principle, given I’ve forayed into Land of the Lustrous, Beastars! and Blame! and liked them fine. Though, arguably, Land of the Lustrous and Beastars! are pinnacles of the 3D anime, but nonetheless, given The Dragon Prince is a 3D anime style (so anime in the same way that Avatar: the Last Airbender was), and given that I rewatched Avatar: the Last Airbender again recently and revisited that unfillable void, I figured I might as well dig in.
And already by episode 2, it’s clear how far we’ve come in realistically complicating the typical good forces vs. evil forces story in high fantasy. It struck me when King Harrow and his advisor Virin were arguing over the use of a form of–what else?–dark magic to use that could save Harrow’s life. He knows he’s about to be assassinated by Moonshadow elves, and Virin proposes a plan to save his life using the tenant of dark magic, that is, sacrificing another’s life to preserve his own. Harrow refuses, having already demonstrated that he’s been struggling with his allowance of “dark magic” being used in the past for the “greater good” of protecting his kingdom. That it’s the use of dark magic all this time that’s led to this critical point. On the surface, that might prompt another, “Well duh, it’s dark magic, of course it’s going to come back to bite you in the ass!”
But, first, some context.
In The Dragon Prince, magic is drawn from “Primal Sources”. So, the elements. Because this has the earmarks of a piece of work influenced by a previous work. We go from Avatar: the Last Airbender and the four classic elements of Air, Water, Fire, and Earth, to The Dragon Prince and magic comes from the Moon, the Sun, the Stars (even the sun is also a star, as you know), the Ocean, the Earth (not our Earth, anymore than it was in Avatar: the Last Airbender, ha), and the Sky. And this continent in this fantasy land, called Xadia, was rich with all this stuff, being all these Sources are of nature itself. Makes sense.
Magical creatures like elves and dragons got all that on lock from the moment they’re born, but humans, of course, not so much, since they’re not inherently born with it. And, of course, humans are not necessarily down with not getting a natural cut in magic, and eventually learn to draw from an as-yet-undiscovered seventh Primal Source, that being Dark. As you do.
And being that it’s Dark Magic, there has to be a few prices for using it. First is that doing Dark Magic means sacrificing the life of a magical creature in order to draw power, rather than the natural means drawing from the Moon, the Sky, etc that elves and other magical creatures can do innately. The other is that using Dark Magic is detrimental to one’s physical health (surprise, surprise). And of course you can use Dark Magic to counteract this, but, of course, that just feeds a vicious cycle, because that’s how that goes.
You know when you’re evil when you look at butterflies like they’re snacks.
Here’s the thing though: later on we learn that there is a way for humans to perform magic without either resorting to Dark Magic or managing to get their hands on a Primal Stone, a stone that contains the essence of a Primal Source. Like there’s one for Sky Magic that contains an actual storm inside it. Thus, a human drawing from that can perform Sky Magic.
The other way that’s discovered later though is basically through hard work understanding how that Primal Source works, its mechanics and relationship with the rest of nature. Dark Magic meanwhile is characterized as a cheating shortcut. For those who have an appreciation of efficiency then, one can understand why anyone would use something called “Dark Magic”, that otherwise has a, “Come on, you’re really gonna use that?” vibe. And gives further credence to the idea that anyone who seems overall a good person can quickly fall down the rabbit hole of “turning evil” by using “dark magic”–i.e., the faster way, the “creative solution”.
With Dark Magic, it’s not just characterized as something that’s spooky-dark that makes your eyes go evil-eye-black, but also as cheating, as a shortcut to actually putting in the work to use power. Because, as it turns out, humans can do magic without having to resort to the methods only Dark Magic offers, they just have to put in the work to do it. Cheating is bad, fam!
Thus, we already see something labeled as “dark magic” as being used as honestly relatable, not unlike the same quandary of using something like a nuclear bomb (or two) to put an end to a war like WWII.
This is something I’m struggling with in my own writing of another manuscript I’ve got on the zero draft docket at the moment, one involving a fantasy world taking place on a continent of nations on the brink of war with each other, one that explores the complex inter-political intrigues and fundamentals of war therein. And The Dragon Prince has already given me plenty of clarity on these concepts, including why a nation of essentially good people, helmed by an essentially good ruler who is essentially a good person, would use something labeled “dark magic”. Definitely something to keep in mind if you’re having your own good time struggling with the use of less-than-moral methods in war, fantasy or otherwise.
Also, lowkey this is big rec from me to watch The Dragon Prince.
Hearing music on vinyl can evoke a sense of nostalgia and a connection to the past, as it brings to mind a time when physical media was the primary way people consumed music. Furthermore, vinyl records require a more intentional and engaged listening experience. Unlike digital music, which can be in the background while performing other tasks, playing a vinyl record often demands the listener's full attention. This can result in a more immersive and intimate experience with the music. For fans of Ben Rector, the vinyl version of "Magic" is a must-have item that allows them to connect more deeply with the artist's music. Whether displayed proudly on a shelf or spun on a turntable, the vinyl edition of "Magic" is a tangible reminder of the power of music and its ability to evoke emotions and create lasting memories..
Reviews for "The Storytelling Power of Ben Rector's Magic Vinyl"
1. Emily - 2/5 - I was really excited to get my hands on the "Ben Rector Magic Vinyl" because I had heard great things about the artist. However, I was quite disappointed with this album. The songs lacked originality and creativity, and it felt like I was listening to the same generic pop tunes over and over again. The lyrics were predictable and lacked depth, making the overall listening experience quite dull. I was hoping for more magic, but unfortunately, this album fell flat for me.
2. Michael - 1/5 - I couldn't wait to listen to Ben Rector's "Magic Vinyl," but boy was I in for a disappointment. This album is a complete snooze-fest. The melodies are forgettable, and the production feels uninspired. The lyrics try to evoke emotions, but they come off as cliché and forced. I was hoping for some magical moments, but all I got was a lackluster collection of songs that failed to capture my attention. Save your money and give this one a pass.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - As a longtime fan of Ben Rector, I had high expectations for his "Magic Vinyl." However, this album failed to meet them. The songs lack the catchy hooks and infectious energy that I loved in his previous work. It feels like he played it safe and stuck to a formula that worked before, resulting in a lack of growth and experimentation. While the album is not terrible, it lacks the magic that I had come to expect from Ben Rector. I hope he takes more risks in his future releases to recapture his signature sound.