GRETA VAN FLEET: From The Fires
The question is not whether Greta Van Fleet are really damn talented, because they are. Safari Song is a great jam, ditto Highway Tune, ditto Black Smoke Rising and most of the other songs on their new release From The Fires. That question was never up for debate; these guys have chops, and they know how to craft a strong rock song.
The question is whether or not they're biting off Led Zeppelin way, way, way too hard. Because the sonic resemblance is, in a word, incredible. For almost 50 years, upstart rock bands have been aping the mighty Led Zeppelin. Greta Van Fleet is, bar none, the most uncanny bunch of Led Zeppelin rip-off artists in recent memory. And is that even a bad thing? When a bunch of kids can write radio-ready hits that sound so much like the world's original hard rock band as to confuse even seasoned music fans, don't they deserve some props for that? (And yes, they're literally kids by the way- the bass player is barely 19 years old- which just makes them that much more amazing.)
Opening song Safari Song is probably their most Zeppelin song, on a whole album full of Zeppelin songs. Lead singer Josh Kiszka doesn't just do a great Robert Plant, he actually seems to have the Golden God's range, which in and of itself is a minor miracle. Guitarist Jake Kiszka (Josh's brother) counts Jimmy Page as one of his influences, to which most listeners have responded with a collective no shit. The rest of the album occasionally varies in degrees of Zeppelinesque- you might even hear a bit of Boston or Journey- but the resemblance is always, always there.
So even if you like what you're hearing, this is a band that stirs up pure consternation. It's reminiscent of the classic Stone Temple Pilots debate from the early '90s: Most rock fans wanted to love STP when they landed on the scene; their debut album Core was a front-to-back monster, loaded with instant hits. But at the time, Scott Weiland was leaning just a little too heavily on the Eddie Vedder affectations. And it's tough to love a band- even a great band- when they're always reminding you of somebody else.
Ultimately, I think there's a great band in Greta Van Fleet- and the good news is, they've only just begun. The astounding Zeppelin similarities have gotten them through the door and that's no easy feat. But just as STP evolved and outgrew all but the faintest similarities to Pearl Jam, Greta Van Fleet needs to stretch beyond the classic Zep sound if they're going to find true staying power. From The Fires is a hell of an arrival, but I'm even more excited for what they do next. Guys, if you're reading? Just don't call it Greta Van Fleet II. B+
