6 thoughts on “Greta Van Fleet, “Starcatcher” – 2 Minutes to Review | Epic Footnote Productions”
Having not had the opportunity to hear the entire album, can't really say too much; though the Zeppelin comments are getting so old. I've been critical about the album's singles for the production quality. Comparing it to TBAGG, the differences are night and day. The previous album was produced so much better, it was a real sonic experience. As Matt correctly identifies, this production seems cheap and there's so much reliance on reverb it takes away from the listening experience. It's a missed opportunity because the songs really do hit hard.
Yes, STT's intro is When the Levee Breaks. Nothing else about that song is anywhere near Zeppelin territory. Again, having not heard Runaway Blues, I can't comment. But I'd argue TBAGG and Starcatcher stray away from the Zep similarities. Josh has a Plant-esque voice; that's known. If the comments re Zep are focused around his voice, then objectively, they'll never stop sounding like Zep. But MTM and TFS are nowhere near Zep IMO.
TFS's chorus is also some of the worst mixing I've heard in a while.
All of the singles' live versions tower over the album version – and that says alot.
I’m a more recent GVF fan having only discovered them this year. So I jumped down the rabbit hole and listened to their catalog and read a lot of interviews and critiques in a rather short period of time. And I came away from that experience thinking that a lot of reviewers are either lazy or copycats by just repeating the same mantra no matter what song they were talking about. So I’ll have to give half of your duo props for avoiding that boring echo.
I also took away that there is a lot to like about this band; they are talented, they put out some great songs, they seem to be very nice guys well-liked by their fellow artists, and they make people happy…a lot of people. And the biggest thing for me, they are fantastic live. I have only seen them once and it was kick-ass guitar rock. The attitude that young people don’t understand music and shouldn’t like this band is patronizing and insulting. Music is a personal experience.
Now specifically on this album (which I have only heard the first four singles thus far), I hear classic rock and blues inspiration (with Blind Faith vibes more on “Meeting The Master” than that other band). Is that a bad thing? Hell no, we need more of that classic rock sound in this world. My point on that being GVF has learned from many masters and melded those influences into some great, unique, songs. As to the production value, I agree that some choices are muddier than I’d like. Now, after repeated listening, that has bothered me less and find myself listening to them often. I’m looking forward to the album release.
I’ll give your review 2.5 stars for the times you discussed the songs on their own merit. And I wish you mentioned the lyrics at least once. (Even though this is lengthy, I got it in under two minutes). 😊
Do you know runway blues is a late night impromptu song in the studio.? The recording on the album is the only take of the song and it is literally the moment it was improvised. Also, all guitar solos in the album are studio improvisations, they were not written
The thing I will never comprehend is how people can think that rival sons sound less like Led Zep than GVF do. To me it is quite frankly the opposite, they are very very derivative of Led Zep, to the point that they have re written out on the tiles in a song called pressure and time (that I call pressure and tiles). I don’t understand why people are in denial regarding rival sons resemblance to zeppelin. I guess if they were young and fresh people would give a hard time to them too. But they are not
The Zeppelin comparisons are boring and tired. GVF has their own sound. Josh is near the top of modern rock singers, some argue better than Plant. Obviously you hate a sound from 50 years ago. The band has some theatrical influences absolutely. The drumming riff is the only thing close to When the Levee Breaks. GVF is a great live band, the production on the album doesn't work for me either. If you hear the live versions the song are better for sure.
Aside from that drum intro, I don't think Sacred the Thread has any similarity to Zeppelin. At all. To me, it sounds more reminiscent of 90s alternative with that soaring chorus.
Having not had the opportunity to hear the entire album, can't really say too much; though the Zeppelin comments are getting so old. I've been critical about the album's singles for the production quality. Comparing it to TBAGG, the differences are night and day. The previous album was produced so much better, it was a real sonic experience. As Matt correctly identifies, this production seems cheap and there's so much reliance on reverb it takes away from the listening experience. It's a missed opportunity because the songs really do hit hard.
Yes, STT's intro is When the Levee Breaks. Nothing else about that song is anywhere near Zeppelin territory. Again, having not heard Runaway Blues, I can't comment. But I'd argue TBAGG and Starcatcher stray away from the Zep similarities. Josh has a Plant-esque voice; that's known. If the comments re Zep are focused around his voice, then objectively, they'll never stop sounding like Zep. But MTM and TFS are nowhere near Zep IMO.
TFS's chorus is also some of the worst mixing I've heard in a while.
All of the singles' live versions tower over the album version – and that says alot.
I’m a more recent GVF fan having only discovered them this year. So I jumped down the rabbit hole and listened to their catalog and read a lot of interviews and critiques in a rather short period of time. And I came away from that experience thinking that a lot of reviewers are either lazy or copycats by just repeating the same mantra no matter what song they were talking about. So I’ll have to give half of your duo props for avoiding that boring echo.
I also took away that there is a lot to like about this band; they are talented, they put out some great songs, they seem to be very nice guys well-liked by their fellow artists, and they make people happy…a lot of people. And the biggest thing for me, they are fantastic live. I have only seen them once and it was kick-ass guitar rock. The attitude that young people don’t understand music and shouldn’t like this band is patronizing and insulting. Music is a personal experience.
Now specifically on this album (which I have only heard the first four singles thus far), I hear classic rock and blues inspiration (with Blind Faith vibes more on “Meeting The Master” than that other band). Is that a bad thing? Hell no, we need more of that classic rock sound in this world. My point on that being GVF has learned from many masters and melded those influences into some great, unique, songs. As to the production value, I agree that some choices are muddier than I’d like. Now, after repeated listening, that has bothered me less and find myself listening to them often. I’m looking forward to the album release.
I’ll give your review 2.5 stars for the times you discussed the songs on their own merit. And I wish you mentioned the lyrics at least once. (Even though this is lengthy, I got it in under two minutes). 😊
Do you know runway blues is a late night impromptu song in the studio.? The recording on the album is the only take of the song and it is literally the moment it was improvised.
Also, all guitar solos in the album are studio improvisations, they were not written
The thing I will never comprehend is how people can think that rival sons sound less like Led Zep than GVF do. To me it is quite frankly the opposite, they are very very derivative of Led Zep, to the point that they have re written out on the tiles in a song called pressure and time (that I call pressure and tiles).
I don’t understand why people are in denial regarding rival sons resemblance to zeppelin. I guess if they were young and fresh people would give a hard time to them too. But they are not
The Zeppelin comparisons are boring and tired. GVF has their own sound. Josh is near the top of modern rock singers, some argue better than Plant. Obviously you hate a sound from 50 years ago. The band has some theatrical influences absolutely. The drumming riff is the only thing close to When the Levee Breaks. GVF is a great live band, the production on the album doesn't work for me either. If you hear the live versions the song are better for sure.
Aside from that drum intro, I don't think Sacred the Thread has any similarity to Zeppelin. At all. To me, it sounds more reminiscent of 90s alternative with that soaring chorus.