I don’t think I’ve ever thought, “wow dude…. that’s harsh” when reading a review of an album. This time, I might’ve found that review.
Before I share the “brutal” review with you, let me just state that I like Greta Van Fleet. Their music is great – but, I’m hoping to hear original ideas from them on their next project.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that they’ve been catching a lot of heat for sounding “too much” like Led Zeppelin. That’s a compliment to most, but to me (and the author of the review I’ll introduce you to) I find myself wanting more from them. I want artists doing incredible and exciting things – not rehashing what’s been done.
A recent (harsh) review highlighted this problem in music and did it by making an example of Greta Van Fleet and their new album Anthem of the Peaceful Army.
Jeremy Larson of Pitchfork wrote of their success, “It’s proof of concept that in the streaming and algorithm economy, a band doesn’t need to really capture the past, it just needs to come close enough so that a computer can assign it to its definite article. The more unique it sounds, the less chance it has to be placed alongside what you already love. So when the Greta Van Fleet of your favorite artist finally lands on your morning playlist, spark up a bowl of nostalgia and enjoy the self-satisfied buzz of recognizing something you already know. It’s the cheapest high in music.” While I agree with this opinion of how “corporate” things in music have become, I don’t think it’s fair to pick on the band like this. They’re just doing what they love.
What do you think?
Leave a Reply