Starcatcher
Studio album by
Greta Van Fleet
ReleasedJuly 21, 2023
Recorded2021–2023
StudioRCA Studio A (Nashville, Tennessee) Low Country South (Savannah, Georgia)
Genre
Length42:47
Label
ProducerDave Cobb
Greta Van Fleet chronology
The Battle at Garden's Gate
(2021)		 Starcatcher
(2023)
Singles from Starcatcher
  1. "Meeting the Master"
    Released: April 7, 2023
  2. "Sacred the Thread"
    Released: May 19, 2023
  3. "Farewell for Now"
    Released: June 9, 2023
  4. "The Falling Sky"
    Released: June 27, 2023

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]

Background and recording

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]

Release and promotion

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]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic59/100[15]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[16]
Kerrang!4/5[17]
Mojo[18]
Sputnikmusic1.0/5[19]
Uncut5/10[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]

Track listing

Starcatcher track listing
No.TitleLength
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

Personnel

Greta Van Fleet

  • Joshua Kiszka – vocals, background vocals, harmonica (3)
  • Jacob Kiszka – guitar, backing vocals
  • Samuel Kiszka – bass guitar, keyboards, background vocals
  • Daniel Wagner – drums, background vocals

Technical

Charts

Chart performance for Starcatcher
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

References

  1. ↑ Sanders, Naomi (July 18, 2023). "Album Review: Starcatcher - Greta Van Fleet". Distorted Sound Magazine. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  2. ↑ BUSHeLL, GARRY (July 20, 2023). "'Reinventing Led Zeppelin for a new generation' - Greta Van Fleet's Starcatcher". Express.co.uk. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Greta Van Fleet return with 'Starcatcher,' an album they say 'represents boys becoming men'". AP News. July 19, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  4. ↑ Rutherford, Kevin (August 3, 2023). "Greta Van Fleet Scores Third Top Rock & Alternative Albums No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  5. 1 2 Richards, Will (April 8, 2023). "Greta Van Fleet announce details of third album Starcatcher". NME. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Greta Van Fleet delivers stellar performance in Sacramento on final Dreams In Gold tour". Music Junkie Press. March 30, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  7. ↑ @GretaVanFleet (April 6, 2023). "Our new album, 'Starcatcher,' will be available on July 21..." (Tweet). Retrieved May 4, 2023 – via Twitter.
  8. ↑ "Meeting The Master", YouTube, Greta Van Fleet, retrieved April 10, 2023
  9. ↑ B, Sam (April 11, 2023). "Greta Van Fleet is Back with New Single 'Meeting The Master'". Raised Rowdy. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  10. ↑ Scarlett, Liz (May 19, 2023). "Greta Van Fleet share a majestic ode to their love of wearing jumpsuits with new single Sacred The Thread". Louder Sound. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  11. ↑ Weaver, James (June 10, 2023). "Greta Van Fleet release new song 'Farewell For Now'". Distorted Sound Magazine. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Greta Van Fleet Release New Song 'The Falling Sky'". The Rock Revival. June 27, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  13. ↑ Blabbermouth Staff (April 18, 2023). "Greta Van Fleet Announces 'Starcatcher' World Tour". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  14. ↑ Hadusek, Jon (April 18, 2023). "Greta Van Fleet announce 2023 "Starcatcher" world tour". Consequence. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  15. 1 2 3 "Starcatcher by Greta Van Fleet Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  16. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Greta Van Fleet – Starcatcher Album Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  17. 1 2 Beebee, Steve (July 18, 2023). "Album review: Greta Van Fleet – Starcatcher". Kerrang!. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  18. 1 2 McNair, James (September 2023). "Greta Van Fleet: Starcatcher – Lava/Republic/EMI". Mojo. No. 358. sec. Mojo Filter, p. 88.
  19. 1 2 YoYoMancuso (July 21, 2023). "Review: Greta Van Fleet – Starcatcher". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  20. 1 2 Sharp, Johnny (September 2023). "Greta Van Fleet: Starcatcher – Lava/Republic". Uncut. No. 316. sec. New Albums, p. 27.
  21. ↑ Browne, David (July 20, 2023). "Greta Van Fleet Are Back And (Spoiler!) They Still Want to Be the New Led Zeppelin". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Greta Van Fleet – Starcatcher" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Greta Van Fleet – Starcatcher" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Greta Van Fleet – Starcatcher" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Greta Van Fleet Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Greta Van Fleet – Starcatcher" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Greta Van Fleet: Starcatcher" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Top Singles (Week 30, 2023)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  29. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Greta Van Fleet – Starcatcher" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Irish Albums Chart: 28 July 2023". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  31. ↑ "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 30 (dal 21.07.2023 al 27.07.2023)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of July 26, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  33. ↑ "OLiS - oficjalna lista sprzedaży - albumy" (in Polish). OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Note: Change the date to 21.07.2023–27.07.2023 under "zmień zakres od–do:". Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Top 100 Albums Weekly". El portal de Música. Promusicae. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Veckolista Album, vecka 30". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  37. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Greta Van Fleet – Starcatcher". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  38. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  39. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  40. ↑ "Greta Van Fleet Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
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