IN REVIEW: Greta Van Fleet - "Anthem of the Peaceful Army"

To talk about Greta Van Fleet, hailed by many as modern saviours of rock n' roll, is to talk about the fine line between homage and parody. It's often difficult for a band to fall into the "sounds just like" trap, because once it happens, you're pretty much stuck. Joshua Kiszka sounds a lot like Robert Plant, and his band sounds a lot like Led Zeppelin, ergo Greta Van Fleet "sounds just like" Led Zeppelin, and now they're stuck.

The problem with this thinking is, there's nowhere safe for Greta Van Fleet to go on their debut album; stray from what drew people to you and you risk losing their attention, play up the classic comparison and you risk being drowned out by your detractors, most of whom are offended fans of the band you've been permanently linked with.

On Anthem of the Peaceful Army, Greta Van Fleet sound just like Led Zeppelin. Which opens up that whole can of worms, the one in which Zeppelin aficionados feel insulted that a young band of upstarts would dare to sound like their beloved, and young fans of Greta Van Fleet are wondering why all these grey haired dudes are so angry.

In any event, Greta Van Fleet's debut album isn't likely to win any awards for ingenuity, and some moments border on the silly (like that laughable artwork for instance), but it's not like they're roasting Zeppelin here; hell, Anthem of the Peaceful Army is far less an offence than Train attempting to cash in by covering Led Zeppelin II note for note a few years back. The way I see it, let the kids be kids; if this is what it takes to introduce a new generation to Led Zeppelin, then said generation is in a better place than they were without it.

October 19, 2018 • Republic/UMG
Highlights Age of Man • Lover, Leaver • You're the One

Comments

Year in Rock 2025

Alright, I've got some explaining to do. By now anyone who's visited this blog is well aware of how infrequently I've used this space in recent years; aside from the occasional fertile year of content, I really haven't posted all that often over the last five years or so. There are many reasons for this, which have already been outlined in previous apology posts; but, essentially, it boils down to my own laziness and the cold reality that blogs are, like Refused (again), fucking dead. So, I wouldn't hold my breath for a triumphant return to reviews, or even semi-regular posts, but: a) I feel like Year in Rock posts have always belonged here and, even though I've experimented with different methods of presentation recently and been satisfied, the "blink and you missed it" unveiling via Facebook stories this year was perhaps ultimately a disservice to the records I lauded. After all, cramming the list into short videos isn't too far off from ju...

Year in Rock 2013 Nominee: Arctic Monkeys

ARCTIC MONKEYS Do I Wanna Know? From: AM Released: September 10 That Year in Rock 2012's Single of the Year R U Mine? ended up on this album is pleasing, and it fits the motif well enough. But R U Mine? isn't what makes Arctic Monkeys' fifth album an Album of the Year contender. Sweaty, sultry and pulsing with sexual energy, AM is the kind of record that's just as effective whether you're chilling out after a long day, staring into a mirror prepping yourself for a late night clubbing session or setting the mood for some escapades in the boudoir.

Year in Rock 2023: Album of the Year #10-1

Now we're getting somewhere; the top ten, where there are no duds or mids, only bangers. Also, no more teasing it out; let's wrap this up! What I've learned this year from my ten faves this year is that it is indeed still possible for a dude approaching his fifties to more or less stay up to date on the new school. Of course, there are some listed here that got a boost from playing tribute to the old school, but there is an undercurrent happening in rock that points to the future. But, I'm getting ahead of myself; here come the champs. 10 MILITARIE GUN Life Under the Gun June 23, 2023 • Loma Vista Highlights Very High Will Logic Never Fucked Up Once Rising from the ranks of the still-potent L.A. hardcore scene, the debut record from Militarie Gun (following a trio of EPs) bears a dash of polish that's expected with backing from a larger label; the tension and energy remain, though, resulting in one of the catchiest hardcore albums I can think of in recent years. 9 ...

SOUND BITES

Search This Blog