Greta Van Fleet — The Revival of Rock ‘n’Roll
Rock n’ roll needs an injection of some new blood to really just knock everybody dead right now. — Jack White
Formed in Michigan in 2012, Greta Van Fleet has carved a niche for themselves, over the past couple of years. In an era where EDM and hip-hop dominate the charts and rock music gets almost zero playtime on the radio, Greta Van Fleet has made quite a splash in the music industry giving us fresh rock vibes instead of the pop crap. The band consists of three brothers, lead singer, Josh; his twin brother, Jake on guitar; younger brother, Sam on bass and their childhood friend, Danny Wagner on the drums. Their debut release, saw them make their way to peak on various rock charts. It’s not every day you get to see a band dubbed “The Future of Rock ‘n Roll”. Not bad for a band of three brothers and a childhood friend in which all are under 22!.
Initial Criticism
However, the music of GVF and, the astonishing voice of Josh, in particular, has faced a great criticism from so-called ‘Pandits of Music’. Just after the release of their chart smashing debut single ”Highway Tune”, a lot of people started comparing them to ‘Led Zeppelin’ and labeled them a blatant rip-off. Their obvious influences have delighted some, while others see their sound and look as derivative and insulting the past. To be honest, the first EP does sound a similar to Led Zeppelin but it is nowhere close being labeled as plagiarism. And if you listen to Zeppelin, then you know that the music styles aren’t too similar, it’s mainly his voice. Whether this is positive or negative is up to the listener, but I for one feel like it doesn’t justify what this band is truly capable of. And to be honest, the musicians and artists have always their influences and inspirations. In fact, Led Zeppelin did copy a lot of its music from its predecessors and contemporaries.
“Greta Van Fleet sound like they did weed exactly once, called the cops, and tried to record a Led Zeppelin album before they arrested themselves. The poor kids from Frankenmuth, Michigan don’t even realize they’re more of an algorithmic fever dream than an actual rock band,” — Jeremy D. Larson
These are the words of Jeremy D. Larson, a senior editor at Pitchfork (The Most Trusted Voice in Music, 😂). WTF !!
Thoughts after their first Album
I was a bit hesitant to label them as the revivalists of the rock even after their first two EPs, considering the hate and criticism they’ve received. I thought it’s better to wait a while for them to release their full studio album before jumping to any conclusion. And with the release of the highly anticipated debut full-length album entitled ‘Anthem of the Peaceful Army’, all my fears have vanished. I was kind of surprised by this LP. I was expecting a few good songs with distinct sounds compared to the first two EPs. However, after listening to the whole album a couple of times, I’m certain they’ve been able to maintain the bar high and be amazing at the same time. Each song has got a completely different sound and unique tone. ‘You’re the One’ and ‘The New Day’, just to name a few, from the latest album sounds nothing like Led Zeppelin or any other band, for that matter. The sound production, as well as, the music style is exceptional. They were named the “One to Watch in 2018” by Digital Journal, and they’ve undeniably proved it right. The songs are able to recapture the much cherished vibes and sounds from the Rock ‘n Roll”. In short, the album rightfully displays their sense of maturity and evolution as a band.
Conclusion
I know it’s kind of difficult for the band to hold their signature while being continuously compared to one of the greatest rock bands. I certainly hope that with time and upcoming music, the perception will change. For now, I love the fact that they are bringing back the 70’s sound and I love it. Rock n’ roll, as we all know, is in a dire need of revival, and these guys know they’re the ones — playing a distinct sound and tone that is missing from the contemporary radio waves. Music lovers have been waiting for decades for someone to revive the bygone sounds of good old Rock n Roll, and as of now, no one is doing it better than Greta Van Fleet!
And for all the haters…
There are worse things you can sound like than Led Zeppelin. — Middle 8 (Youtube)
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