Top 5 Greta Van Fleet Songs
Since their debut single “Highway Tune” which topped the Billboard U.S. mainstream rock four weeks in a row in 2017, this young American rock band has been churning out hit songs leading to the release of their latest album “The Battle at Garden’s Gate” on April 16, 2021.
Fascinated by the tone and genre of music that Great Van Fleet is bringing back, I’ve taken the liberty to list down my favorite songs by this Michigan-based band for some of you folks who might be looking to explore some new music. Also, to address the questions of GVF sounding a lot like earlier classic rock references (specifically Led Zeppelin ) seems unnecessary. Their compositions are a hundred percent worthy of praise and probably are one of the most talented groups out there today making music.
1. Safari Song
Though this was their second song released in 2017, “Safari Song” was featured in their EP, From The Fires. This song gives you a glimpse of their talent and carries the curiosity to know more about the band like it did after their first single. It gives you a well-thought song structure with their crunchy guitar, fuzzy bass, echoing drums, and powerful vocals. Special mention to the solo perfectly feeding into the outro of the song.
2. Heat Above
Heat Above catches one’s attention not only because of its simplicity and purity of the lyrics but also its melody. It is the perfect feel-good song with a ton of interesting layers. Joshua’s screams blend effortlessly during the bridge section and the ending of the song. This guy has some freaking pipes! Not to forget the organ riff at the intro by Samuel Kiszka along with the percussion build-up was just too good. In closing, this is my present happy song.
3. Highway Tune
A lot of people might rank this as the number one song on this list but to be fair, it is extremely difficult to compare this song to anything else because of the guitar complexity, on-point vocals, and dominant drums.
This is the kind of song that will inspire youngsters to pick up and learn a guitar. no surprises, this is a remarkably tight song with funky lyrics.
4. Broken Bells
Lots of meat on this one. Now, where do we start? Broken Bells has a particularly well-thought-out intro with the guitar and vocals syncing into the bass and drums seamlessly. Most of GVF’s song lyrics are good but this one hits differently. Their writing cannot be compared with any other rock music writers currently. This song progresses to a more wholesome and heavier sound post the second chorus letting Jake Kiszka do what he does best with his guitar (Especially with the wah-wah pedal at the end).
5. Age of Machine
For me, this song sits comfortably as the rock ballad of the year. Once you have heard this song enough, check out their Red Rocks live version — it is mind-blowing. This band is capable of producing too much sound for a four-member group, almost like an orchestra. Josh Kiszka’s effortless singing lays a very psychedelic-like vibe to the whole song with the rest of the band bringing the heavy groove to complement the vocals. Jake’s face-melting solo FTW!
Notable Mentions ( In no specific order ) — Black Smoke Rising, Built By Nations, Anthem, When The Curtain Falls, My Way Soon