In this FINAL episode of Led Zeppelin Fan REACTS to Greta Van Fleet we will be listening to Black Smoke Rising.
Not quite the strong finish I was hoping for, but still a solid track. I thought that the bridge was VERY cool. Totally unexpected feel change. VERY Cool!!! I really enjoyed it.
Thank you for following and supporting me on this journey. It has been amazing!! Stay tuned for the FINAL installment where we will be listening to the ENTIRE album from start to finish. I wanted to do this because my thoughts and feelings on my lesser favorite songs has changed radically since listening to the album thoroughly for the past 5 days.
Stay tuned!!!
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Wondering if you are watching any live videos of these tracks? They really are a performance driven band. Going back and listening to this EP along with you, after hearing the songs live countless times, is almost painful to hear -haha. Loving the daily reviews of them -great approach.
Appreciate your take on GVF. I think you’ll find the next two albums have more of a live feel and a bit harder hitting. The recording quality of From the Fires wasn’t as good as the next two.
They were barely out of high school when they recorded this album. It has some weak songs and some good ones like you mentioned. Their live performances are much better than the studio versions. Very much a live band. I would recommend doing their album song by song. The second album has good songs too, but the maturity shows on #3
I don’t know why but the live version of this song has a guitar solo they completely leave out of the studio version that puts it over the top for me. Definitely react to the other two albums, we’re here for it!
Hope you will react to their other album releases, Anthem of the Peaceful Army and The Battle at Garden’s Gate!
This song is 10x better live.
I rarely listen to GVF albums, i prefer their live stuff. You have to go and see them live, you wont be disappointed atall. This abum isnt their best but they were very young when it was released. Thanks for your review.
Very talented kids! 3 brothers and a friend on the drums. They have many great song!
I hope you continue to react to their music. I think the second album they discover their own sound a little more but the song structure is still fairly vintage and simple. Judging by your reactions you’ll really enjoy Battle at Garden’s Gate because of the progressive nature of the songs. It’s their more “Rush” inspired album and I think you’ll be a fan. Happy listening!
Continue next album song at a time they get pretty good you’ll enjoy and so will we
Their 3rd album has zero skips
Each new album is way better than the one before it. They were so young when From the Fires was recorded. I think you will enjoy listening to their progression. The latest one (The Battle at Gardens Gate) is so different than previous work. Their live shows are utterly amazing.
Thanks for reacting to Greta Van Fleet, really enjoying your insights! Hoping you'll do their following album Anthem of the Peaceful Army next! FYI: GVF fans call themselves the Peaceful Army. 🕊️
Hey, Shotgunn I have an idea! What if after you get thru the 2nd album (Anthem of the Peaceful Army) you react to their entire live performance from Red Rocks. I think it would be a cool bookend of their first two albums before you get to Battle at Gardens Gate and their sound changes a bit. You could even maybe go live to do it? Just a suggestion! Loving these reactions to them! ❤
This song is really the heart of this album for me. And one of the best of their early work. You can really start to see their style shine through in this one. A lot more introspective than much of the album and I think this was the shift that made people really start wanting more from them. These lyrics sound orginal and distinctly just.. them-I don’t know how to explain it. It isn’t just a basic rock song, they are showing real personality here in this song and I think that’s what really makes me come back to this song. It’s their real start. Every album of there’s has an anthem song where they slip in the album titles for a fun Easter egg. I feel like few artists actually do that these days. This song is absolutely that anthem. Love songs with a good or interesting message.
It’s so great getting to watch someone knowledgeable reacting to Greta songs for the first time that you’re familiar with because it’s like reliving the excitement all over again! You’re keeping it real, and that helps a lot, thank you!
I think YouTube deleted my comment so I’ll post again 😂
Definitely give the next album an anthem of the peaceful army a listen maybe privately hahah . From the looks of your reaction on this album, you won’t like much of it. Their song Age of man ( live version )has over a million views & is a standout on that album. The newer album : the battle at gardens gates is definitely worth reacting to. There are many tracks off that album in live version on the greta van fleet YouTube channel.
* A few of their songs really sound different live, with all of the solos and ways they play up the songs, like a few people are saying here.
This is one of those songs that is much better live. I think the best version is the one from the "Live at Red Rocks Amphitheater" playlist on the official GVF channel. Sam really fleshed out the bass line, Jake has an extended solo that isn't buried in the mix like in the studio version, and Josh has one of the longest vocal sustains i have ever heard during the bridge. It honestly makes the studio version feel like a first draft.
Also worth mentioning is the Spotify-exclusive acoustic version, which is also pretty good even if it doesn't quite reach the heights of the live version.
I don't know why, but I think of 2 things: the horrors of the Holocaust when I listen to this song. Also, the rainforest destruction.