Why Greta Van Fleet Matter
There has recently been the opinion that rock music is dead. And why it might be true, that rock doesn’t sell as well as it used to. I think this is partially down to technology and also reality tv. Technology has made it easier for anybody to write, record, and produce music. I don’t believe this isn’t good news, but it affects what music is made and what music we consume. The rise of reality tv and talent show has also become a dominant force in music. An obsession with fame and money over quality and artistic integrity has left people obsessed with their looks and popularity. It is that old age problem of accessibility over quality.
Major Record labels will not look for talent; they will search for what is accessible, and its ability to be marketed and make a profit proves that they are no longer selling music but a product. Then there is the case of how music is discovered and consumed. So much of today’s new music is located online—this leads to flooding of content that can be ignored if not popular instantly. It comes down to taste as well, and the truth is rock music just isn’t as popular as it once was.
However, I don’t s believe it is dead, and the proof lies with Greta Van fleet. Hailing from the town of Frankenmuth, Michigan, the band is made up of the Kiszka brothers Josh (vocals), Jake (guitar ), Sam (bass) and drummer Danny Wagner. They were signed to lava records in March 2017, and success In the charts soon followed, pushing them into the limelight. Many have dismissed them as a cheap copy of led zeppelin because of the vocal style of josh and the guitar riffs of Jake. Yes, Led Zeppelin’s music has influenced them heavily. However, it is a discredit for these four guys not to acknowledge their talent.
Many of their critics forget they are not the product of reality tv or a talent show. They are all in their early 20s, writing and arranging their own music without the help of co-producers co-writers. Their music is not the product of computers or studio gadgets or samples but is created by them. Music has gone as far as it can go. The music of the 60s and 70 got it so perfectly right the first time around. Those who come after will be compared to what became before. This is a mistake. Don’t compare to the past compare to the present, and if you do so, you see that Greta Van Fleet should be embraced not as the saviour of rock but as four talented young musicians making great rock n roll. As fans of music, we should all embrace them and support them on their journey. Some will continue to slate them, and the comparison with zeppelin will continue. The band themselves must continue to ignore the critics and continue on their path. All the signs show this is what they are doing. So if we, the fans of rock music, want it to continue to inspire a younger generation, we must support those who are keeping it alive. People should embrace the Greta Van fleet and the bands they will inspire.
