A Listener Reviews: Songs of the Faithless
Hello people of the internet! It probably comes as no surprise that life has been rather hectic. No idea why that could be, of course. But, whatever the cause, it has offered me a lot of time with ear buds in to listen to all kinds of wonderful things. I have a quite a few people I want to shout out over the next few weeks, so I’m hoping to get back into the swing of things. But first, something a little different
Songs of the Faithless
This is not a podcast, but a musical fantasy album. The creator reached out to me through the contact form and said that, while it was a little different, he thought it was something I might enjoy. And, honestly, it piqued my curiosity. My normal format doesn’t quite fit, but I’ll do what I can.
Length: Just under an hour and a half for the full deluxe version with 30 songs (15 in the main, 5 bonus tracks)
Premise: Osumare is the daughter of one of the last Speakers to the God of Balance, also known as the Missing God. She lives in a seaside town, enjoying life on the sea. However, a cult arises with plans to bring about a great evil into the world and she must react to stop it.
My Review: So, I enjoy musicals, but I’m not a musical fanatic. That said, I found this a really enjoyable story. I have to be honest, I am completely in awe of anyone who can tell a story through music. I can hardly wrap my brain around the idea of keeping rhythm, rhyme, and music all in sync. The music has a theatrical quality to it, and it made me wish I could see and hear it as a full production.
The world that is introduced in this is really fascinating. There is myth and magic, but all removed from the time of the telling. Or at least forgotten. I found it very interesting how song and magic were woven together throughout, and I think that is an approach that serves this format exceedingly well. The main tenets of the world are clearly introduced, providing a good framework for the main action. I honestly found myself wanting to learn more about this world and hear more stories from it, because it seems like there is plenty of interesting ideas presented that could be developed further.
The music covers a variety of styles and tones, and frankly I’m not musically inclined enough to provide much more feedback. I will say it had me humming some tunes even after I finished, which I consider a positive. The vocal talents are very impressive, and the writing progresses the story while staying in tune with the overall production. Again, I am in awe of anyone with enough talent to balance all these pieces.
I think my main critique would be the length. This honestly feels too short. Now, to be completely fair, this may be partially due to my habit of listening to podcast arcs that span 97 episodes and 15 seasons. However, I think the final act ultimately felt a bit rushed. Given this is an epic hero’s journey story, I wish there had been more struggle and build up. That would have increased the tension for me, keeping me on the edge of my seat. That said, I was surprised by the direction the story ultimately took and found it to be a very satisfying end. I think I just wanted a little more time on the journey aspect.
To be fair, though, my main critique is that I wanted more of the story, so I definitely think it kept me intrigued. It is set in an ambitious fantasy world, and it seems this story scratches the surface of what there is to discover. While I think a few additional songs and scenes may have ultimately filled the story out more, it tells its tale from start to finish effectively. It introduces a main character that I can care about, root for, and journey with. If you enjoy fantasy and you enjoy musicals, give it a listen.
You can download the album here and name your own price. If you are in a position to do so, I highly encourage you to support artists and entertainers out there helping us all get through this one song, one episode, and one day at a time. And check out the creator, Jonah Knight.
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