Pitchfork is too cool for Greta Van Fleet

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Pitchfork article: pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/...

[@danieldunlap4077]

I watched a video of their show at Coachella. When the lead guitarist's guitar broke, did the band just give up and say fuck it? The bassist realized what happened and went into an awesome base solo, keeping the song going while the roadie fixed the guitar. Then Josh used his voice to get the guitar and bassist back into the same measure and then finished out the song. That is musicianship.

[@julianpottermusic]

They're tight as fuck

[@zoeyrat]

Boomers: *Crack* *sip* yep, still makin tunes like they used to

[@michaelmurray8295]

I saw them December 2017 in Nashville. Absolute pros. Slick performers. They sounded like GVF.

[@julianpottermusic]

Saw them may 2019. Blew the roof off

[@marckb666]

" they did weed just once" ' u don't do weed'. WOOOOOOOSSSH

[@ThisBirdHasFlown]

Where’s the joke? The joke is ‘exactly once’. They ‘did weed’ could very easily be a legitimate misunderstanding. There’s no joke there. If it had quotations around then sure but otherwise no.

[@goody8504]

@@ThisBirdHasFlown I see it went over your head as well

[@DixonCider954]

I cringed

[@oompaville]

Just gained so much respect for you.

[@Dhendo7]

oompaville woah papa didn’t expect you to be here lol

[@steelingcable6350]

Oh it's you

[@araitasuko186]

Wat

[@jacobcorbin1]

No, this band needs to work on songcraft, not well worn cliche. If youre going criticize an easy target like Pitchfork as to why their review is wrong. Then go into detail of why you like the album. Prove the Greta haters wrong

[@paulolugo7447]

I just lost all of the respect I didn't even have for him

[@slipstreammonkey]

Ummm, the first thing they said was about the music describing the singer as "wretched and caterwauling", while the clothes were the 2nd thing. You know how you know when someone can't READ?

[@eeveeflick5871]

0:25 "I don't think you 'do' weed, I think you smoke weed or eat edibles" You just missed the joke, man

[@shannonburninhell8906]

Ok josh

[@shannonburninhell8906]

Basicly they suck

[@shannonburninhell8906]

I hate em no mater what i just bloody hate em

[@shannonburninhell8906]

Gvf suck

[@shannonburninhell8906]

💩😈😡

[@tay590]

“Did weed” was a very intentional joke. The humor was lost on you, clearly.

[@kitchenmaster43]

It’s as if this guy thinks he knows what he’s talking about.

[@MorgueOfficialMusic]

Not exactly the peak of humour though, is it?

[@FELENATOR]

@@MorgueOfficialMusic it's not a comedy piece just one subtle joke.

[@nektarpanagiotis6707]

@@FELENATOR It's a dumb ass joke.

[@kptlt.phillipthomsen5973]

How is it a joke? Some college boy talk i dont get?

[@oliverboerst3863]

Saw them live about a month ago, and the show was incredible. So much energy, and they sounded even better than their recordings. People need to get over the whole Led Zeppelin comparison, and appreciate that we have a band with this much talent in 2018.

[@timalexwar]

I forget to mention that one of their most endearing qualities is the sense of humor they seem to have while on stage. I don't think that they take themselves seriously as super rock stars. But I think they are enjoying the hell out of their time in the spotlight.

[@corab1695]

Saw them in Portland, OR. They were absolutely incredible. They sounded fantastic, you could tell they weren’t faking it, there was soul, talent, and an overall really good vibe. They seriously rocked, and this is coming from a girl who has seen Robert Plant, and has loved Led Zeppelin her whole life and has even done covers of them with her own band

[@sidharthsudheer1791]

Thank you so much for putting this out brother! Only musicians who write original music would understand the amount of hard work that goes into making one and Greta Van Fleet for one does not give out mediocre compositions. Light my love, lover leaver taker, Built by nations are only few of the many amazing songs that they have composed. These people outdo their live performances to their studio versions. Where it’s usually the other way around with most bands these days. Thank you so much for putting this out here bro. Makes me happy that i got to see this after a whole week of seeing these wannabe critics labelling GVF as a Led Zeppelin cover band.

[@redghost8500]

I'm just annoyed that people are praising Great Van Fleet as some "saviour" of rock music when there are bands that are better and much more original than them. Those are the people that should be receiving praise and attention. So many great bands that have come up over recent years are much more deserving than a band whose main draw is that they sound like someone else. Artists like King Gizzard, Mom jeans, Mac DeMarco, Remo Drive, Joyce Manor, and Jeff Rosenstock have been making awesome music and doing pretty well for years. And people who don't actually put any effort into looking for rock music just say "rock is dead" because it isnt constantly being thrown in their face by every major radio station. Just because something isnt the most popular doesnt mean it doesnt exist. This writer definitely went overboard but people gotta stop putting Greta Van Fleet on a pedestal just because they dont know how to check the rock section on spotify. Also I'm pretty sure "did weed" was on purpose to mock how boring and "uncool" he thinks they are in real life.

[@justanoptimist303]

I don't like all of the bands you've mentioned there (never been a big Remo Drive fan, but love King Gizz), but you're on the money with that point. And yes the "did weed" line was mocking how uncool this band comes across, seems a lot of people here ignore that in favour of arguing semantics.

[@SamBennett9910]

Amen

[@distrom-sc254]

@monaria Mac demarco is the shit what are you talking about

[@gogox98]

While I do get what the OP means, "rock is dead" in my eyes refers to the fact rock has gone from mainstream to pretty much indie. The bands you listed are great but they are not getting widespread recognition for one reason or another. So in that regard, I'd say GVF ARE the saviours of rock.

[@circuz4167]

I'm fairly sure that GVF hovers towards the Pop side of music. I would really not consider them the SAVIOURS of rock considering they haven't brought anything new to the table.

[@dawsoncaluger1412]

Pitchfork actually DOES touch on the music and why it is bad later in the article, with the main critique being that the lyrics are laughable. Just read the article people.

[@justanoptimist303]

Why would they read the article? They just want to whinge.

[@endocry]

Well, lyrics aren't music so...and seriously, at least half of the lyrics to all good rock songs are either ridiculous, unintelligible, or vague beyond any chance of making sense.

[@nemodollaz4120]

Carl 2222 that means it sounds like a rushed piece of shit made to sound identical to to another band and theyre STILL subpar to them. At least when zeppelin copied they knew how to cover their tracks

[@nemodollaz4120]

endocry man.. i guess your forgetting all of the great lyrics by anthony kiedis, cedric from the mars volta, and john frusciante, and outside of rock Denzel Curry, Jid, and daye jack have amazing lyrics but their music also sounds good. Lazy artists sacrifice lyrics to sound good, real ones can do both with good lyrics, instrumentation, melodys, and counterpoints as well as good transitions to different points in the song. Lyrics are as important as anything else and the writing shows the effort put into it in contrast to the rest of the music

[@endocry]

@@nemodollaz4120 I didn't forget shit, can you read? Did I say ALL lyrics? No, I didn't.

[@keaulana1]

I saw them playing live and they are awesome!! And how they improvise in the middle of songs is amazing. I hadn’t seen that since Guns N Roses in the 90s

[@BungleJoogie68]

Then you haven't seen a band since Guns n Roses.

[@mattsenseny4985]

Good music is good music. Elvis ripped off Little Richard, Led Zepplin ripped off Willie Dixon and on and on and on...

[@cyrussayah3416]

Everybody is ripping off everybody, no one makes music in a vacuum... However, when you listen to Greta Van Fleet, you do have to ask yourself why you're not just listening to Led Zeppelin - an objectively better band with no shortage of material.

[@minigungaming5915]

@@cyrussayah3416 Because maybe you just want to listen to a different song for once. It's the same reason people listen to more than just their favorite song.

[@cyrussayah3416]

@@minigungaming5915 And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. I'm not saying people shouldn't be allowed to enjoy the band, but when judging the talent and creativity of what's going on you have to take objective facts into account. I think the low score is justified, even if the band is somewhat enjoyable, because the quality of the artistry is in fact very low.

[@axelbergstrom3644]

Thing is, these artists you mentioned created their own sound from these influnences. Meanwhile, greta van fleet are just rehashing what Zepplin already did without bringing something new to the table.

[@krusher181]

Cyrus Sayah Yup, you summed it up. They’re a really good cover band. Which is probably fun stuff to get drunk to, I guess. But they bore the fuck out of me.

[@PCMESS]

I like GVF. But if I'm being honest..what do you guys think would've happened had their music come out concurrently with Zeppelin's? I'm tired of everyone pretending they are the next Aerosmith. The only reason anyone pays any attention to them all is because of the lack of other rock music coming out into the main stream. I'm not saying they arent talented, but jesus they sound like Zeppelin, and they purposely avoid the Zeppelin comparisons in interviews. "A casual listener may relate the two sounds" Tyler if you cant see the similarity there, and why people are saying this, then you arent trying dude. And the reason people criticize the way they look or act is because it comes of ass insincere and poserish. Quit playing dude..you keep talking about how good they are at their instruments, that's not the point. They just arent original.

[@runthejudes]

PCMESS If you DO think they sound identical, then you’re the one that isn’t listening. I’m a huge fan of Greta. I’m an even bigger fan of Zep. There are very few arguments to be made in similarity that aren’t superficial or ignorant.

[@phili58]

@@runthejudes nearly everything about their riff writing, tones, vocal styles and vocal melodies are directly copied from Zeppelin. The fuzzed blues rock jams that they make are their entire sound and they completely lifted that from zeppelin. The only reason these arguments are superficial is because GVF themselves are superficial. Incredibly bland, predictive, surface level band with nothing new to offer

[@criddyboy124]

Yes they have some similarities in sound, but the main difference is the meaning of the music and their motivation. Zeppelin has a lot of “Love” songs (lol), but Greta Van Fleet mainly focuses on nature and problems of today. I love both bands but I like GVF moree

[@PCMESS]

@@criddyboy124 your opinion became null and void when you said you like GVF more than Led Zeppelin. I know it's a matter of opinion, but jesus thats a fucking ignorant opinion. I'm honestly offended.

[@PCMESS]

@@criddyboy124 both bands have love songs, both bands have songs about the issues. The fact that you think GVF even COMPARES to Zeppelin is fucking ridiculous.

[@Ryan.R100]

>"It holds back progress" >He loves Greta Van Fleet

[@helio1055]

Lol literally

[@csmcclelland]

Saw them live at Floyd Fest, and it was the best show I’ve ever seen. I actually think their recorded material undersells how well they flow and jam on stage. Hopefully they start to tap into that on their albums.

[@ogverde3410]

lmao bruh they said DO WEED because theyre making fun of the band because thats what someone who smokes weed once would say. come on bro thats not super hard to get

[@UniversityVengeance]

Wow what a great joke!

[@will-i-am5374]

Age of man is such a good song

[@derkommentator1230]

Will-I- Am glad i am not the only one who recognised that. Definetly one of the best if not the best on the album

[@HunterBann]

Favorite song on the album.

[@jodifrank7453]

I like Lover Leaver

[@mihirmoharil479]

Brave New World is also pretty good

[@zac1002]

Brave New World is better though

[@WKBacon]

Sounds like an old Rush critic review.

[@gonzovlogs2505]

W.K. Bacon Rush was hated for doing something original and true to their hearts, for progressing and not being able to fit in a neat little box. This band is hated for making something most rock fans love, hate.

[@thejimmydanly]

That's exactly what I'm saying. There's even the criticisms of taking themselves too seriously, not being humorous, and even weird comparisons to Grand Funk Railroad

[@someonetough87]

Exactly what I was thinking. I’m also curious if, like Rush, they’ll break away from Zep sounds and become their own amazing thing.

[@WKBacon]

I was talking about the writing of the article.

[@thegermaniclanguagebranch1117]

Are we seriously comparing Greta Van Fleet to Rush, are you kidding me??? 🤦‍♂️

[@alphabetsoup342]

"You don't do weed. That's not the way to say that." Yeah. That was the point.

[@bautistadiaz282]

Any good sites/apps of music critic? Thanks

[@mpactdesignmedia]

The ONLY thing I don't like about GVF has nothing to do with GVF and everything to do with the (opposite of the article mentioned in this vid) hyperbolic pedestal they've been placed on BECAUSE they sound like Zeppelin. I hear and read comments like, "Real music isn't dead after all!" or "Thank God they're bringing back great music!" when bands like Rival Sons, The Black Keys and the several incarnations of Jack White (among many others) have been producing some pretty kick ass "real" R&B rock music over the past 10 years. Up until the last couple of albums, I'd add MUSE to that list, but WOW....they've kinda gone off the rails in the same way Journey, REO Speedwagon & Styx did later in their careers.

[@jaffacake8035]

mpactdesignmedia There is room for all the other bands as well.

[@klee8960]

That's right there are other bands, so why don't haters go listen to them? And leave Greta Alone if they don't like them, Anthem of the Peaceful Army is about love, peace, and unity, not people divided With love and hate.

[@klee8960]

What really? They sound like Zeppelin?

[@67tedward]

Nah muse just jacks bends/pablo honey era radiohead.

[@daytripper1023]

GVF is a band crafted for aging boomers who haven’t ventured outside of their music comfort zone. If you’ve ever heard your uncles say that “all new music sucks!”, then GVF is the band for them. It’s a sign of the decay of pop culture, where instead of new and exciting ideas, you get Fast and Furious 46 and bands like GVF who are engineered to sound as close to Led Zeppelin as possible while still maintaining denial plausibility that this is “new music”. They’re the worst thing to ever happen to rock music, and I think this will be the death of the genre.

[@viirus6785]

I really like them but thats just cause I love his voice and the bassist. My point with them is, only cause they sound like the 70s doesn't make them better but it also doesn't make them worse than they are

[@xxx_sista_jud3_xxx]

Viirus agreed

[@nemodollaz4120]

Its not about them sounding like their from the 70s its the fact they copied the whole sound and aesthetic of led zeppelin. What made that band great was that it was different. What makes this band "feel different" is because its a sound that hasnt been expanded on, and greta van fleet STILL isnt expanding it and making it orignal. They arent blending styles and crafting their own space in music history. Thats the problem

[@viirus6785]

@@nemodollaz4120 sad that you think so, I don't I'd say they close similar but not at all the same

[@nemodollaz4120]

Viirus not at all the same? Please explain. The voice, how they dress, the lyrics, the style of song writting, the solo phrasing, the bass player, and the drummer are all trying to play watered down led zeppelin b sides.

[@viirus6785]

@@nemodollaz4120 they don't dress zeppelin style, they dress classic rock style. and his voice srsly? you think he copied the voice? k send me a video of copying a voice lol but whatever I guess I can't change your oppinion and wont anymore try to. each his own

[@christiandorn4912]

Saw Greta Van Fleet live in Denver, Colorado, and I was blown away!!! They're a fantastic group of musicians.

[@shannonburninhell8906]

I feel sorry for u

[@christiandorn4912]

@@shannonburninhell8906 why? Lol

[@christiandorn4912]

@Barton Dean you're entitled to your opinion, but I personally think they're great. I'm assuming by your comment that you're some sort of music snob, but if you really are a better vocalist I'd love to hear some of your work. Got anything published? Any videos/ singles out?

[@marek9002]

@Barton Dean yeah and your never going to be as big as any of them so I don’t think anyone really cares tbh

[@VYDZER]

Lover, Leaver is such a rocking tune! 🤘

[@dave1uofm]

The writer of the article is obviously a Zepplin fan who can't let go of fact they ended 39 years ago,great music but its over. Greta has so much talent at there age is remarkable. I would give fair assessment of 8 out of 10 so much hype for these kids like no other band before first album. Felt early Rush sounds of Getty Lee.

[@BB-se9bl]

The only ones who can’t let go of the fact that LedZep ended is GVF themselves.

[@willsmath]

If you're saying these kids have had more hype than any other band for their first album, you must've missed the Strokes and the Arctic Monkeys lol, just to name a few

[@shannonburninhell8906]

The. Auther. Is. Wright. Gvf. Suck

[@Aquapaddler]

I saw GVF in Salt Lake City last month with Dorothy, Nick Perri on guitar. Their musicianship is “proficient” - give me a break. They were flawless and jaw-dropping good. This article reminds me of the few mutes who wrote scathing articles about Led Zeppelin when they hit the scene. There’s a GVF train a-comin’, better get on board....

[@gaagleboss6449]

they mocked lz cause they sounded different from many bands at the time, this time they mock gvf for sounding too much like lz.

[@Astromancy2112]

GVF will burn out fast and most rock musicians are just playing scales while pretending to be a badass. Fuck rock music lmao

[@kitchensinkrealty2682]

Saw them at Skookum fest in Vancouver, so good live!

[@airgus76]

Saw them live this week-end in Brussels. Was blown away at their on stage presence considering that they are without a rhythm guitarist. All of them are super talented and worth going see them live.

[@NeillBlokland]

I'm not going to hate on GVF but I don't get the over the top acclaim they get either. There are thousands of hard-rock bands around the world playing similar music for audiences of all sizes. For some reason these guys have been anointed the saviours. It's the narrative that irks me most. Check out a band like Tax the Heat as an example of a good new hard rock / classic rock band.

[@MuttFitness]

What other bands?

[@justinthompson1329]

This seems to be everyone's complaint about GVF. That there are other bands that are better and that should be bigger than they are. But you can't really blame GVF for that. I mean are they going to turn down the exposure. They just happened to be in the right place at the right time with the right sound. I'm sure Tax the Heat would love the jump start that Greta has gotten. It just didnt/hasn't happened for them.

[@NeillBlokland]

Tax the Heat (one of whom I know from my school days) performed at Download (a big UK festival) last year, they also supported Aerosmith. Last week I saw a band called the Family Dog in a small venue here in London. They don't have any music out yet though. They were like a mixture of early Kings of Leon and Lynyrd Skynyrd and a bit of hard-rock. Both of these bands are young('ish), look cool, are great at their instruments and at both ends of the success spectrum. One playing at big festivals the other at venues that hold 50 people. And there are plenty more. I don't know what the music scene is like in your part of the world but in the UK hard-rock isn't like the coolest most hype scene even within guitar music and yet there are still loads of good bands making this music. I imagine there are many more such bands in the US and Canada.

[@NeillBlokland]

That's why I wrote "I'm not going to hate on GVF" and "It's the narrative that irks me most". My complaint isn't about the band, I front a band and I'd love to be in their position. What turns me off is the the PR, media narrative and hype from the industry around them that is desperate to reclaim the glory days (musically, financially) by preying on the nostalgia of boomers and their children. It comes off inauthentic and as a novelty and that's not conducive to a long career IMO.

[@NeillBlokland]

Whoops I meant 'UK festival'

[@kvkyoin9651]

eh i listened to the album and i thought it was really bad tbh, they just copy and paste Led Zeppelin's sound :/

[@Machnacht]

What chair is that?

[@annieatchley9890]

Thank you Tyler for your thoughtful perspective. These young men are very talented. The first time I heard them I literally said: "WHAT"??!! I love them!!! Good music is good music.

[@lubbtv5856]

Saw them live in Calgary. Absolutely fantastic show. Great stage presence, great sound, great connection with audience. These boys can play.

[@coyotelittle]

Matthew Laliberte saw them there too, couldn’t agree more

[@jamesduffy7549]

They can't write though and surely that's important

[@figarofeegarrooooo2782]

When I first heard Greta Van Fleet it blew my mind how awesome and fresh they sounded and they took their influences and embraced that sound. Pitchfork don't know what they're talking about

[@judehoeffel8130]

Fresh?

[@MetalPope85]

Looks like you have no idea of what a few bands did 50 years ago if you use the word "fresh"

[@EricTheActor805]

Derivative and formulaic Unoriginal GVF is a cover band

[@wyattmuller1614]

IMO, anthem is a 9.5/10

[@PoisonPinball]

I just got into Greta Van Fleet about a month ago and I keep loving them more and more, WOW they are refreshing.

[@BB-se9bl]

Refreshing 😂

[@percussionjamz6704]

Yeah they went a little harsh. But gotta be honest. I'm sick of hearing about GVF. If you want bands that take their influences and certain genres and actually run with it and create something. You got queens of the stone age for classic rock. Or vulfpeck or snarkpuppy if you like funk, monobody for jazz. I cant knock their playing ability. But if I want something new it's not gonna be the band like them thats being pushed upon people heavily. People need to search a little harder and they will find bands doing what their trying to do. But with their own style, tone, and less hippie inducing clothing. I'm not gonna hate the band until I start hearing gollum and lotr references in their songs. Idk maybe they have already.

[@harryelliott4363]

i agree completely with everything apart from the comments on clothing. Seriously, who gives two fucks what they wear?! if they want to wear nothing but socks on their cocks and Santa hats... more power to them.

[@alexhamilton7090]

I like Led Zeppelin. I listen to them all the time. I’ve heard all their stuff now and would love it if they’d release some new stuff. Unfortunately they never will. So I’m happy for a new band to be doing Led Zep. The real Zep would do it better, but we know they won’t so GvF are a good compromise.

[@percussionjamz6704]

@@harryelliott4363 I'm not saying they cant wear their clothing. Like some of my friends. They wear that clothing to try and pull a certain audience or to scream "I'm different than you" like a gay guy with rainbow colored hair and all the loudest colors in the world while wearing a crop top. But if they've always dressed like that then yeah who gives a fuck. but I don't think they(mostly the drummer and singer) were genuinely looking like a flower power girl from the late 60s through put high school or middle school. It's on me to see if they've always dressed like that.

[@harryelliott4363]

@@percussionjamz6704 fair enough i understand what you mean now.

[@alabamahebrew]

I think that one of the reasons GVF is getting so much attention is yes the similarities to LZ but also because they are unique in that the band is comprised of 3 brothers, also because they look so young and that they are a USA based band. Personally I wish that all of us who claim to be fans of rock music would embrace the attention that a band like GVF is getting and promote it and them even more. By doing this you can also then throw attention on to other young rock bands and in the end we all know what will happen right? The more attention the bands and the music genre receives the more in demand they become which means eventually radio station owners will start playing more and more and who knows, we could be witnessing the rebirth of new rock based stations around the country/world.

[@maxein4890]

“Do you think smoking drugs is cool? Do you think that doing weed is cool?” - Michael Scott and now Pitchfork

[@felixknott5326]

you do realise that the error was on purpose, like kind of the entire point of the joke.

[@jimmymcnulty4304]

@@felixknott5326 No they don't, because they also have done weed only once

[@axelbergstrom3644]

Woosh

[@dallinsinger2636]

Nostalgia is a hell of a drug.

[@jedek2]

Literally discovered your channel 15 minutes ago and now you are smashing Pitchfork with one of my favorite new bands. Respect to you Sir! Oh, would forgot - you sound like Jake Peralta from Brooklyn 99 which gives even more fun vibe in your videos. Great job, loads of information and never ending fun - keep doing your content. Regards from Liverpool!

[@BB-se9bl]

The review was fucking funny, great read. I love when Pitchfork writes reviews like this. And most of the comparisons actually were about right. Terrible album.

[@ucopiedyibo1959]

You’re the only sane person in this comment section

[@hairycat6095]

i like greta van fleet

[@trockw85]

You're a class act bro, well done. If only we could all criticize eachother with humble wit and a refreshing lack of vitriol.

[@DirtyDavesDirt]

Rolling Stone magazine panned Zeppelin back in the day. Who cares about critic's.

[@rayross997]

The Pitchfork writer is proficient at creating word salads.

[@djjazzyjeff1232]

I thought their album was really good. Lover leaver is my fav. Also at, 3:43 that was actually more of a simile than a metaphor. 😇

[@jppagetoo]

The Pitchfork review of GVF sound so much like the Rolling Stone Magazine reviews of Led Zeppelin (in the day). LZ was reviled and hated by the rock press. So much so they stopped talking to mainstream rock press writers until 1973. GVF is a young band. They are making a mark in rock music that is not common these days. Give them time and support and hopefully they grow into something even better. I have tickets to see them in December, I look forward to it.

[@contrarian875]

Tyler, I think your criticism of the article is justified. I personally like GVF, but I don't expect everyone to.

[@detachreconnect7397]

All of this was very well said, man. I always enjoy your opinion pieces.

[@lunarsurfaceproductions]

No yea, “Proficient at best”, is a perfect description.

[@BoySamusMetroid]

Let's replace it with a synonym. "Competent at best." Yeah, about right.

[@ammongarrett4192]

@sallygo1234 kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIm4oox8m5mFnLM

[@MorgueOfficialMusic]

"No yea"?

[@ammongarrett4192]

"Competent" and "proficient" are not synonyms.

[@ammongarrett4192]

The guitarist has been playing guitar since he was 2 years old.

[@shawncrawford2911]

Spot on mate. It's about time some old school sound making waves. They are only in the early 20's and as I'm sure the band whould agree, they still have a lotto learn. Keen to hear more of them in time to come. Keep on ROCKING BOYS👍

[@t121977]

I saw them at ACL too! So weird that you were there

[@atlanticmermaid2739]

When the hell did it become a bad thing to sound like Zep/RUSH? I❤GVF

[@alexmurphy5289]

They only sound like Rush's first album. Those kids couldn't cover Hemispheres to save their life.

[@mortonr87]

I love how everyone is bashing them on their very first album and praising Zeppelin but everyone seems to forget that Zeppelin is known and been proven to be some of the biggest thieves in the music industry

[@pbelancsik]

KAMIKAZE RADIO Led Zeppelin had John Bonham. That’s why. GVF only sounds like Led Zeppelin, they are nowhere near as talented as them. The singer is technically as good as Robert Plant, but has ZERO stage presence

[@MarrowEternal]

Zeppelin stole from Otis Rush but they didn't sound like Otis Rush. There's a big difference. This band is bizarre because they have the means to make good music but they don't. Skilled yes. Talented? No. Would be surprising to see their popularity grow in the next 10 years. They come off as an image based band.

[@loganmaclellan7582]

I saw them live in Germany at a music festival and thought they were awesome!!

[@dannycarbona]

Wait, what's your last name?

[@Maddy29]

Pitchfork has been putting out garbage for the longest time, writing reviews that read like wannabe avant garde pretentious literature... I love the new album !!

[@will-i-am5374]

@NoiseFeedMusic uh oh we got a big brain guy here. Everyone watch out

[@luispereztasso]

@NoiseFeedMusic maybe is not the answer, I mean yeah, this kind of music is easy to listen, but not everytime that means that is bad. The problem is that, this album represent just a bad step in the evolution of music because is bringing back something that had its time. The good side is that GVF, after this, can learn to not just copy Led Zeppelin and bring us somethin new and original

[@jaffacake8035]

Luis Pérez hearing is a sense the same as taste and sight. Do people have to eat food they don’t like or have pictures on their walls they don’t like the look of just to go forward, no they don’t. Some people go to restaurants that cook new types of food others, like the food that has been around a long time, same with paintings, there is still a market for the traditional, but also one for the modern. Same with music, there is a place for all types of music, we can listen to lots of different music. Some bands can play proper rock & roll, others can move forward and invent another type of music, we can listen to it all, if we want to. What I am fed up of is being told that the music I like should stop being produced to move to the type of music they like.

[@Maddy29]

@NoiseFeedMusic I'm glad you have the requisite intelligence to understand the reviews. Someone has to. Have a good day sir /ma'am.

[@luispereztasso]

@@jaffacake8035 The issue is that the discourse of taking GVF as the "saviours of music" is what bothers me and makes me cringe. But you're right, everyone has its place.

[@protoolsfanatic7276]

love the guitar riffs on this album...anyone who writes there own songs can respect the hard work that comes with writing your own material and if that isnt hard enough try writing it with being labeled a zeppelin cover band.i have great respect for these young kids that decided to go against the grain of this decade of crappy music we have been stuck in and stick with the classic rock overtones that most of us have in heart.i cant even listen to the radio anymore thank god for sd cards lol.

[@okoenig.3424]

I'm 19 and I like them... It's cool being able to thirst over some classic rock members who play those sorts of grooves who are all my age and not 70+ or dead. I find it cool how it's a family thing and that they're passionate about their inspirations to the point of going out to thrift stores to try to give homage to the clothing style. Their entire EP was on my summer playlist because it was just some fun vibes and I hope they experiment more and find their own vibes. It's not their fault Jake somehow stole a voice Ursula style. I don't like a few of the songs on the album and wish they would have gone more towards the sound they got on Black Smoke Rising but it's still solid and the technical skill in their live shows is IMPRESSIVE.

[@Typoopie]

Going to see them on Sunday!! So psyched!

[@mathiaskjrgard5284]

There is a lot of great elements to their music, but i would not put on a GvF before other Zeppelin-esq bands of this era. Give me some Rival Sons or Jack White. I hope they improve though. They have potential.

[@mrsmirk4495]

Not sure about the jack white and zeppelin comparison (I do like him but I think he is quite different stylisticly to Led Zep imo) but yes I do like and think rival sons are a great classic rock-esque band

[@mathiaskjrgard5284]

Callum Stirk listen to "Dead Leaves and the dirty ground" it's basicly a Zeppelin song

[@mrsmirk4495]

@@mathiaskjrgard5284 I will admit that is inspired by led zep but their later stuff like on elephant is a lot more indie and garage rock featuring bluesy stuff with less experimentation like led zeps stuff. But I can see where you come from (they're just less zeppelin than GVF and rival sons etc.)

[@timalexwar]

I agree with you on your analysis of the Pitchfork guy. I am 68. I grew up in the SF Bay Area. I have been listening to Rock and Roll steadily since Dick Clark's American Bandstand when they were still in Philly in the late 50s. And I saw all those 60s bands playing in my neighborhood over the years.I even saw the Beatles three times!!!! And I really like G-Van Fleet. I think they are remarkable musicians. My only worry is that the singer is going to harm his vocal chords in a short time, unless he finds an alternative to what has become his signature scream. They are the only newcomers I have enjoyed in quite a while.

[@miguelbarahona6636]

Tim Warner: I see that GVF vocalist sings without effort (I'm not an expert). Let's see if he can keep his voice throughout time.

[@BB-se9bl]

So why does the fact that you’ve been listening to rock music all your life matter? This album is shit. So is the band.

[@timalexwar]

Well,i wanted to establish my credibility as a fair critic of good music. So that's why it matters. Now i haven't heard the album.I'm just aware of their live performances on You Tube and they are excellent,in my opinion.

[@Ifoughtpiranhas]

Don't mind B B, he's just one of those guys that's been trying to play instruments for the past decade but never ascended to any skill level beyond "Middle School beginner", and probably thinks EDM is the greatest thing since the drum machine.

[@justanoptimist303]

@@Ifoughtpiranhas Why do you think that BB thinks that? Do you have a source on that, has he said words to that effect? If not, you're just being silly.

[@FTFJohn]

BRO YOU JUST GAINED A SUB!! I LOVE GVF AND THAT'S NOT WHY IM SUBBING ITS BECAUSE OF THE WAY YOU ACTUALLY MAKE SENSE.

[@dropebk6069]

Please someone tell me he did get the "do weed" joke

[@jamesshavrnoch8665]

Dude... Totally nailed it...... WTH was that pinhead from Pitchfork talking about.... I can't stop laughing about the way you mowed him down.... Nice review. These guys are awesome.

[@Slothclawcolseslaw]

Greta van fleet is kind of like steel panther, just a collection of tropes and stereotypes that went along with a genre. The only difference is, steel panther fans are in on the joke

[@cbccnc1283]

Steel panther! Your a goose

[@raz3905]

@@cbccnc1283 Actually, not really. You're loathe to compare them, but they are actually good musicians, and Satchel is a better guitarist than Jake. And OP is right.

[@heishephaestion4178]

@@raz3905 better How?

[@rockersn_rollers8460]

Spencer Bladyka absolutely not. I am fans of both bands and they are not similar at all. You should never compare them. Greta Van Fleet is the real deal. 100% of their music is serious and they are no joke.

[@Ignore14]

@@rockersn_rollers8460 They take their music seriously but they're still a joke. Greta Van Fleet literally proves why rock is dead in 2018. It's just nostalgia bait.

[@l0sr24]

Thanks for your input Jeff.

[@cozzconM]

The critics hated Zeppelin, Rush.... keep the list going... Rock is a people's game and the people are voting...

[@socal808]

I literally just heard of these guys yesterday, I bought their album and listened to it three times, I really liked it. Then I looked up the reviews and was pretty shocked with what people are saying, seems like a lot of people just want to hate them for not having a original sound, I don’t understand why, they’re just influenced by great music

[@ankerguitar]

Saw them live this summer here in Denmark. They are great, love their music..

[@davidoglesby6771]

Saying that there's a lot of cool bands that are influenced by 70s heavy Rock but sound modern. A lot of the early Stoner Rock & Grunge is basically 70s Rock continued. The way Soundgarden took their influences and brought them into now was a touch of class I think. Same with Queens Of The Stone Age, Fu Manchu.

[@BassStevie]

Music themes go in cycles, we can’t get all uppity about how ‘everything has been done before’ and ‘it sounds just like...’. We all love familiarity, music has to sound like something else that we like else we don’t like it (in most cases). I think it’s great that young musicians are making amazing music that’s inspired by classic rock instead of mumble rap. I love that it sounds like the album that Zep would have made if they were still writing. I would love to hear someone embrace the spirit of Jimmy Hendrix and write a follow up to Are You Experienced. Wouldn’t that be great?

[@jpaul251]

Many critics, as in this pithfork review, tend to be unable to identify something that is a cut above ln depth and intensity of the typical fare offered by the record biz, i.e. Greta Van Fleet. That is at least until the deaf critic is convinced by the public that the band is legitimate.

[@alternativetentacles1760]

It took two months of listening to the album to completely fall in love with it. There IS real artistry there once you stop trying to compare them to Led Zeppelin. “Age of Man” is a beautiful exhibition of the vocal and musical artistry that GVF is capable of producing. To be honest, it’s one of the most beautiful Rock albums I’ve ever listened to. I’m getting more of a Queen 1 and Queen 2 vibe from their experimentations on the album. Critics didn’t get Queen either at first. GVF is doing their own thing now and pushing away from the expected Led Zeppelin sound alike sound. When the heck did Robert Plant sound anything like “Age of Man,” “Lover, Leaver, Taker, Believer,” or “Mountain of the Sun?” Josh is developing his own style as a vocalist. And it’s amazing. Just like Freddie, he’s making it a difficult task to cover his songs. The live improvisations are at the same level of mastery that Freddie Mercury had. And he’s only 22!

[@ryanh1013]

They’re very technically proficient at their instruments they just don’t have originality whatsoever. If their new album was a college essay they would be kicked out of school for plagiarism.

[@mrcali68]

OUTSTANDING video! Thank you for this!

[@notdave7005]

Thank you for pointing out so many of the things I thought when I read the article... twice. One of the worst reviews I've ever read, for many of the reasons you mentioned. Plus, if there's a bunch of middle aged guys with "bald spots" playing this type of music in bars and they don't have a record deal, how does that have anything to do with this band and record?!? Would the sound be more legitimate coming from those guys because of their (sigh) "bald spots"?... Anyway, I think it's a solid record overall, and I believe they have potential to be great going forward! Thanks for addressing this, because it bugged me all day after I read it. ;)

[@honeyfrost3355]

Do I hate Greta Van Fleet? No I do not have a problem with them. Am I going to go out and buy tickets for their shows? No I will not do that either.

[@jaffacake8035]

Sean King I respect your comment. I am fed up of people who are not into Greta Van Fleet nagging. Can’t understand why there are so many people going on and on about why they don’t like them. Why aren’t they listening to music they do like?

[@johnhorning2506]

Great breakdown. Appreciate your take on this, couldn’t agree with you more.

[@ivanj.conway9919]

Amen My Brother. Amen. I'm 53 and don't know who or what "Pitchfork" is but after this analysis of their review I doubt I'll even, bother to check them out. Look, proof is in the pudding, isn't it? Despite all the shit and hate these boys are getting they seem to be growing, gaining fans all over the place, and getting stronger by the day almost, let alone by the month or year. Apparently, concerts are sold out months in advance in many of the venues they play and some of these venues are quite, sizable and that could not be possible if they were not becoming hugely, popular all over the place. For example; they did a sold out concert in Toronto, Canada, this past summer, and were so, damn, popular that they had to set another date to do another concert that was not even, scheduled for that city originally. I'm sorry but that does not normally, happen unless you are insanely, popular and/or a very, well established artist or group. And even then, it's not always, guaranteed. Are these people going around, with their heads buried in the sand, not aware of what's going on in the real world or not? From what you are saying here, it certainly, seems so. Fucking "experts" what do they know? My Rock and Disco Best. Out.

[@oddball4696]

"They're like a cover band without the covers"

[@invisibilly1946]

Pitchfork is god awful in general

[@jbulletc]

I wonder if he thinks the Needledrop sucks too and will make a video on him. The articles sounds similar to what Fantano says about GVF. Makes me wonder if they're just copying his reviews. I agree with Fantano BTW. They sound like Led Zeppelin B sides.

[@BB-se9bl]

Just like Greta van Fleet then.

[@bmwf1joel]

Didn’t work lol

[@jbulletc]

@MindFull I may not be a music graduate but I know when a band is just a shallow rip off. For example, the main riff of "Highway Tune" is practically the same riff as "The Rover" by Led Zeppelin and the chorus riff is borrowed from "Communication Breakdown". And their new album is full of music cliches and immitations of other Zep tunes. I can keep giving you examples all day. And the guitarist's vibrato is still bad. There's no denying it. Their chops aren't great. My own playing is cleaner than theirs and I dont consider myself all that good.

[@josephlopez5002]

So is “Greta Van Fleet”

[@gregmcdonald8962]

Aaaaand subscribed!

[@adriennecarter7858]

I saw them live in San Francisco a few months ago....amazing show! I'm a huge fan and I'd pay double what I did next time around.

[@fantanofanfiction5451]

This Pitchfork review is almost as lazy as Greta Van Fleet's entire repertoire

[@jtcontardo712]

FantanoFanFiction ironic

[@zookytar]

It was a painful read. I don't even like GVF and was ready and eager to hate on them but the article was so badly written, it made GVF look like complete geniuses by comparison. Complete self-own. Congrats, Pitchfork.

[@tomtymon9280]

i think GVF are amazing but i was honestly disappointed by the new album. I loved every song on ‘From the Fires’ but I can only bare to listen to a couple from the new one. They have some cool grooves but the only riff that really struck me was ‘when the curtain falls’ and even then the lyrics made me cringe. I think they’re trying too hard to be like they’re in the 70s with the whole peace thing. A modern twist would be cool.

[@henrynoel3336]

I love the lyrics...I guess it's down to personal taste. Some of them are really pretty awesome. Sam's bass tone on the whole album is absolutely massive. I'd listen to the album just for the bass!

[@tomtymon9280]

Henry Noel don’t get me wrong, i love the guys. They have a great sound but i’m just not a fan of the lyrics in that one song. sounds almost cocky.

[@RBRSC]

They do seem to have leaned heavily into all the comparisons and so on in between the first EP and the album. Which isn't artistically invalid or non-requiring of talent, but its the kind of direction that usually spells short spotlights of novelty for a band (Jet, Airbourne, the Killers, et al) While the article doesn't ever make the connection, the fashion does kind of follow the music on that front.

[@Desterosso]

I think a part of it is that they released half the album as singles before the album is released. It just so happens that all of the songs they released before it are the best ones on the album, so when people listen all the way through the first time they don't pay as much attention to the half that was already released. This leaves all the mediocre songs to be heard as new rather than the entire album and I think that's where they made a mistake.

[@vlvazueira4281]

From the Fires had almost all songs influenced by Led Zeppelin, but in this new album they continued to have some 70s Rock influence but they decided to add some of their own thoughts in their music

[@ShootAUT]

"They're bringing awesome sound *back to its rightful place* among popular music."

[@xfreeworld4563]

Just have to wait and see how they develop, i think they could be great but we just don’t know yet, it’s only been an album and an ep

[@nickteach757]

age of man is such an inspirational song i can't believe those freaks at pitchfork

[@anthonysclafani3963]

The review was too low imo, but their actual commentary was spot on

[@lvadolape6192]

we've reached peak boomerposting

[@tetunoffensive]

Nice shirt. Thirsty Monk is a great spot in Asheville.

[@arrolate]

Pitchfork put Skrillex on his list of best guitarists, there's no way to take them seriously. Great video!

[@oliverharper7411]

A R R O L A T E that was SPIN I believe

[@naterou5]

Also Pitchfork isn't a person.

[@arrolate]

Nathanael de Boer my english isnt very good

[@francisjamesjupiter9376]

It's a good abulm

[@garysekinger758]

Funny you focused on the word 'proficient'. It's the same word used for Jimmy Page in the scathing Rolling Stone review of Led Zeppelin I: "Jimmy Page, around whom the Zeppelin revolves, is, admittedly, an extraordinarily proficient blues guitarist" - www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/led-zeppelin-i-187298/