Starcatcher | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | July 21, 2023 | |||
Recorded | 2021–2023 | |||
Studio | RCA Studio A (Nashville, Tennessee) Low Country South (Savannah, Georgia) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 42:47 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | Dave Cobb | |||
Greta Van Fleet chronology | ||||
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Singles from Starcatcher | ||||
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Starcatcher is the third studio album by American rock band Greta Van Fleet. It was released on July 21, 2023, through Lava and Republic Records.
The album debuted at number 8 on the US Billboard 200 selling 46,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. [4]
According to drummer Danny Wagner, "We had this idea that we wanted to tell these stories to build a universe. We wanted to introduce characters and motifs and these ideas that would come about here and there throughout our careers through this world." [5]
During an interview in 2022, bassist Sam Kiszka stated that the album would go back to a more raw sound, being conceptually almost going back to their days in the garage. He also went on to say how the album will be an expansion of the band's sound. Furthermore, he stated how the band is "bringing our heads back to that garage time" and "making [the album] exciting and raw and energetic". [5]
The album was first announced on social media following the final three shows of the Dreams in Gold Tour, in which the band played the new tracks "Meeting the Master", "The Falling Sky", "Indigo Streak", "Sacred the Thread", and "Farewell for Now". [6] [7] The track "Meeting the Master" was released on April 7, 2023, as the lead single from the album. [8] [9] The track "Sacred the Thread" was released on May 19, 2023 as the second single, and the track "Farewell for Now" was released June 9, 2023 as the third single. [10] [11] The track "The Falling Sky" was released on June 27, 2023 as the fourth single. [12] The world tour in promotion of the album began in Nashville, Tennessee on July 24, 2023. [13] [14]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 59/100 [15] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Kerrang! | 4/5 [17] |
Mojo | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Sputnikmusic | 1.0/5 [19] |
Uncut | 5/10 [20] |
Starcatcher received a score of 59 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on seven critics' reviews, indicating "mixed or average" reception. [15] Both Mojo and Uncut compared select tracks on the album to Led Zeppelin's songs, with Mojo saying "Fate of the Faithful" sounds like "No Quarter" and "Meeting the Master" sounds like "Thank You", and Uncut pointing out the harmonica from "When the Levee Breaks" is imitated on "The Falling Sky", while its beat is used on "Sacred the Thread", but neither helps the songs "stick in the memory". [20] [18]
Rolling Stone 's David Browne stated that while there are a "few new" elements to the album, it is "simply impossible to listen to Starcatcher and, as with all their previous work, not think you've stumbled upon a vault of outtakes from Led Zeppelin and some of their peers". [21] A staff reviewer from Sputnikmusic dismissed the album as "a record so entrenched in referencing other music that it ceases to be artistic expression, and is entirely separated from expression as a concept, floating in its own sterility". [19]
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote that the band are "stripping away the studio gloss so they can stand on their merits as a rock & roll band" and "the lack of polish on Starcatcher does make Greta Van Fleet seem leaner, but not meaner". [16] Steve Beebee of Kerrang! described the album as "the work of a band not phased by success, but continuing to develop its art. With a nod to the classic rock that inspired them, Greta Van Fleet continue to contort those great influences in challenging and evocative new directions". [17] Classic Rock stated that it "feels like their most consistent and complete record yet". [15]
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Fate of the Faithful" | 4:47 |
2. | "Waited All Your Life" | 4:26 |
3. | "The Falling Sky" | 3:38 |
4. | "Sacred the Thread" | 5:21 |
5. | "Runway Blues" | 1:17 |
6. | "The Indigo Streak" | 4:04 |
7. | "Frozen Light" | 4:33 |
8. | "The Archer" | 5:00 |
9. | "Meeting the Master" | 5:12 |
10. | "Farewell for Now" | 4:29 |
Total length: | 42:47 |
Greta Van Fleet
Technical
Chart (2023) | Peak position |
---|---|
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [22] | 6 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [23] | 16 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [24] | 3 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [25] | 19 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [26] | 7 |
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [27] | 42 |
French Albums (SNEP) [28] | 23 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [29] | 2 |
Irish Albums (IRMA) [30] | 75 |
Italian Albums (FIMI) [31] | 18 |
Japanese Hot Albums ( Billboard Japan ) [32] | 60 |
Polish Albums (ZPAV) [33] | 11 |
Scottish Albums (OCC) [34] | 2 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [35] | 40 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [36] | 22 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [37] | 2 |
UK Albums (OCC) [38] | 8 |
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [39] | 2 |
US Billboard 200 [40] | 8 |
Greta Van Fleet is an American rock band formed in Frankenmuth, Michigan, in 2012. It consists of the Kiszka brothers: twins Josh (vocals) and Jake (guitar), Sam, and Danny Wagner (drums). They were signed to Lava Records in March 2017, and a month later they released their debut studio EP, Black Smoke Rising. Their debut single, "Highway Tune", topped the Billboard U.S. Mainstream Rock and Active Rock charts in September 2017 for four weeks in a row. Their second EP, From the Fires, containing the four songs from Black Smoke Rising and four new songs, was released on November 10, 2017, alongside a second single, "Safari Song". From the Fires went on to win the 2019 Grammy Award for Best Rock Album.
Black Smoke Rising is the debut EP by American rock band Greta Van Fleet. It was released digitally on April 21, 2017, and physically on August 7, 2017 by Republic Records. The single "Highway Tune" topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock and Active Rock Rock stations in September 2017. A second single, "Safari Song", reached number two. The EP was later packed together with four more songs to create From the Fires, a double EP released on November 10, 2017.
"Highway Tune" is a song by American rock band Greta Van Fleet. It was their first single from their debut EP Black Smoke Rising. It topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock and Active Rock charts in September 2017. The song, and the rest of its respective EP, is also part of the band's double EP From the Fires, released on November 10, 2017.
From the Fires is the second EP by American rock band Greta Van Fleet. It was released on November 10, 2017 through Lava and Republic Records. From the Fires won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album at the 61st Grammy Awards.
"Safari Song" is a song by American rock band Greta Van Fleet. It was their second single off of their EP Black Smoke Rising, and their compilation EP From the Fires. It topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in February 2018.
"When the Curtain Falls" is a song by American rock band Greta Van Fleet. It was released as the first single from their debut album, Anthem of the Peaceful Army. In November 2018, it reached number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.
Anthem of the Peaceful Army is the debut studio album by American rock band Greta Van Fleet. The album was released on October 19, 2018, and follows the band's two EP releases, Black Smoke Rising and From the Fires. The first single, "When the Curtain Falls", was released in July 2018. A second single, "You're the One" was released around the time of the album's release.
"You're the One" is a song by American rock band Greta Van Fleet. It was their second single off of their first studio album Anthem of the Peaceful Army. It reached number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in March 2019.
"Lover, Leaver" is a song by American rock band Greta Van Fleet. It was released as the third single from their debut studio album, Anthem of the Peaceful Army. It peaked at number three on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in June 2019. Two versions of the song were released: the full six-minute version called "Lover, Leaver ", and a shorter edit as a single called "Lover, Leaver".
"My Way, Soon" is a song by American rock band Greta Van Fleet, released as the lead single for the band's second studio album The Battle at Garden's Gate. The track peaked at number one on the US Mainstream Rock chart. It was released alongside a music video on October 9, 2020.
The Battle at Garden's Gate is the second studio album by American rock band Greta Van Fleet, released on April 16, 2021. The album's first single, "My Way, Soon", was released on October 9, 2020 and topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in January 2021.
"Built By Nations" is a song by American rock band Greta Van Fleet. It is the fifth and final single from their second album, The Battle at Garden's Gate. The song reached number six on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.
"The Weight of Dreams" is a song by American rock band Greta Van Fleet. It was released on their second album The Battle at Garden's Gate in 2021. While not originally released as a single, the song peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot Hard Rock Songs chart and was named by TotalGuitar as containing the greatest guitar solo of the 21st century.
"Heat Above" is a song by American rock band Greta Van Fleet. It is the third single from the album The Battle at Garden's Gate. The song reached number three on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.
"Meeting the Master" is a song by American rock band Greta Van Fleet. It was released as the first single from their third album, Starcatcher.
"Broken Bells" is a song by American rock band Greta Van Fleet. It is the fourth single from their second album, The Battle at Garden's Gate.
"Sacred the Thread" is a song by American rock band Greta Van Fleet. It was released as a promotional single from their third album, Starcatcher.
"The Falling Sky" is a song by American rock band Greta Van Fleet. It was released as the third single from their third album, Starcatcher.
"Farewell for Now" is a song by American rock band Greta Van Fleet. It was released as a promotional single from their third album, Starcatcher.
"The Indigo Streak" is a song by American rock band Greta Van Fleet. It is the sixth track from their third album, Starcatcher.