The Battle at Garden’s Gate - Greta Van Fleet

            The much anticipated second release from Greta Van Fleet is finally here. While there were some standout moments, overall as an album, it is rather disappointing and doesn’t live up to expectations. In contrast, 2018’s Anthem of the Peaceful Army was a more complete album, and it felt like a more cohesive grouping of songs.

The album begins with Heat Above, the oldest composition among the songs here, which really shines due to its catchy hook. Next is My Way, Soon, the first single off the album, this one is a rocker which is more of what was expected from a Greta Van Fleet song. The lyrics cover their experiences on tour. I’m really looking forward to hearing live performances of this song once the band gets back on the road. Broken Bells, the final single from the album, begins with a minor-sounding, acoustic intro, and slowly builds into a soaring solo with lots of Wah Wah pedal employed by Jake.

Built By Nations is derived from jam sessions during live performances of Lover, Leaver (Taker, Believer), and while it contains a catchy riff, the song doesn’t have much else and ultimately falls short. It seems like it would have been better suited to remain within the Lover, Leaver (Taker, Believer) medley and not here on this album in this form.

Age of Machine is next, and it feels like the opposite, in many senses, of the track Age of Man, from Anthem of the Peaceful Army, particularly due to its guitar riff, which seems almost like the inverse of the riff from Age of Man. Tears of Rain is the only acoustic song on the album, a haunting, minor piece, which, like most of the album, ultimately falls short. It’s a less satisfying version of Broken Bells.

Stardust Chords opens side 2 of the album. A little reminiscent of Brave New World from the last album, the song is unimaginative and ultimately doesn’t go anywhere of note, and seems bland and repetitive. Light My Love follows, which is based on a piano riff, odd for Greta Van Fleet to include piano instead of organ, but this is one of the better tracks on the album. Even so, it falls very short when compared to other Greta Van Fleet keyboard songs such as You’re the One and Flower Power.

Caravel contains what’s probably the album's most imaginative guitar riff, together with Age of Machine and My Way, Soon, however, strangely, there is no solo over that riff, instead there’s something similar to a breakdown followed by a section with some strings. The Barbarians opens with a guitar solo, but does little else to excite. It shows promise, but fails to deliver on expectations, and again brings back echoes of Brave New World. Trip the Light Fantastic, similarly to Stardust Chords, features a mediocre riff by Greta Van Fleet Standards, and even with the addition of piano near the end, it is also a disappointment.

The Weight of Dreams closes out the album, clocking in at almost 9 minutes. The riff comes from Black Flag Exposition, a fan favorite from live shows, with an updated melody and lyrics. While Black Flag Exposition features lyrics from Melanie’s Lay Down (Candles in the Rain), the lyrics here are rewritten with the melody slightly altered. The guitar solo is a note-for-note copy of the one from Black Flag Exposition, and while it is excellent, the track was better with the original lyrics and melody and the update here leaves a lot to be desired.

Overall, the Battle at Garden’s Gate is a new step forward in establishing Greta Van Fleet’s new sound, but it falls short of being the cohesive effort that Anthem of the Peaceful Army was. While some tracks, such as Heat Above, Broken Bells, and Light My Love shine, the album has many dull moments and many tracks that could be considered filler. Greta Van Fleet is a much better live band with improvisations and solos often exceeding the studio versions of songs, so it’s possible that some of this material may improve in concert performances. My Way, Soon, Broken Bells, and Age of Machine could benefit from longer solos and new arrangements. As an album though, it falls far short of the lofty expectations surrounding its release.

3 out of 5 stars. Standout Tracks: Heat Above, My Way, Soon, Broken Bells, Light My Love

Far Off Country Dream

She works hard as a substitute teacher.

At the elementary school.

She puts half and half in her coffee.

And she stirs it in with a spoon.

She dreams of a house in the country.

Complete with a wraparound porch.

Where you can look out at the stars at night.

And spend lots of time outdoors.

But she's stuck here in Illinois.

In a city that brings her no joy.

Dreaming of the mountains again.

And the ocean tides rolling in.

Let's go to Virginia or Estes Park.

Go look at the stars, before it gets dark.

Travel this country with you by my side.

We'll leave here at morning light.

And I want to give this dream to her.

I'll work hard to make it come true.

No matter how far off it seems to her.

We'll get there someday, me and you.

And though we don't have that much money.

We have each other, I know.

I'll give you my warm cozy flannel.

When the winds of change make you cold.

And I want to see you chasing your dreams.

On a bright summer morning filled with sunbeams.

The sunrise over the mountains will say.

Welcome to a brand new day.

How The West Was Won

Down Main Street of a little southern town.
The whiskey flowed, the rooster crowed.
There's trouble going down.
'Till the morning comes around (comes around).

But I am just a traveler passing by.
I've been this way, it was yesterday.
The smoke risin' in the sky.
And the whiskey bottles piled high (piling high).

I don't want to leave you lonely.
But I know exactly what I have to do.
Get out of this town and get far away from you.

Down Main Street of a little southern town.
The outlaws ride, one of them died.
There's trouble going down.
'Till the morning comes around (comes around).

But I am just a traveler passing through.
I've been this way, it was yesterday.
That the trouble did ensue.
There was nothing I could do (nothing to do).

I don't want to leave you, darling.
But you know, baby, that I must be traveling on.
I'll miss you, will you miss me when I'm gone.

The twister touches down in Arkansas.
Through farms and fields, the twister wields.
It's deadly killing claw.
Like none you've ever saw (none that you saw).

But I am just a traveler on the run.
I tried to ride, both far and wide.
But there in the Texas sun
I saw the lawman's gun (saw the gun).

Somewhere east of Oklahoma

My journey ended in the land of the rising sun.

That's the whole story, that's how the west was won.

Psalm 23

A fortress strong is
Surrounding me.
In deep darkness
I can see.

For you are with me.
Your hand to guide.
Mountain and valley.
You're by my side.

The Lord is my shepherd.
I don't want for anything.
He leads me in green pastures.
Lifts me up on eagle's wings.

In the valley of the shadow.
I don't fear the evil there.
Your rod and staff will comfort me
When I'm tempted to despair.

You prepare a table.
And a banquet feast.
All are invited.
The greatest and least.

You anoint me with oil.
My cup overflows.
I eat at the table.
In the presence of my foes.

The Lord is my shepherd.
I don't want for anything.
He leads me in green pastures.
Lifts me up on eagle's wings.

In the valley of the shadow.
I don't fear the evil there.
Your rod and staff will comfort me
When I'm tempted to despair.

Goodness and mercy.
Shall follow me.
My time on earth here.
Till eternity.

And with my shepherd.
My eternal king.
I'll spend my days.
With all creation sing.

The Lord is our shepherd.
We don't want for anything.
He leads us in green pastures.
Lifts us up on eagle's wings.

In the valley of the shadow.
We don't fear the evil there.
Your rod and staff will comfort us
When we're tempted to despair.

Third Street (Song for Rachel)

Another working week is done.

It wasn’t any fun for anyone.

Finally it’s Friday night.

We look out upon the city lights.

Sitting by the riverside.

We watch the water go rolling by.

It is true, I must confess.

You spilled the ice cream on your pretty dress.

Now let’s go get us a bite to eat.

Walking hand and hand down Third Street.

And though at first you seemed so shy.

You’ll tell me secrets when I start to pry.

Third Street, when the winter comes, we’ll keep on walking.

With our frostbitten fingers still interlocking.

I’ll explore every corner of this city with you.

Then drive out to Virginia to the ocean blue.

And so you help me sing my song.

You steer me right when I am going wrong.

I look into your hazel eyes.

And it is then I start to realize.

That it was then at summer’s end.

Something happened I can’t comprehend.

But I won’t forget where this all began.

That bench where we found the sleeping homeless man.

Where I put my arm round your shoulders.

As the winds got chilly, a little bit colder.

Update on Iglesia del Pueblo

Yo he tenido la bendición ser parte del coro navideño por los últimos dos años. Uno de las cositas que nos ensenó Pastor Sergio, Pastor de Adoración es que la alabanza no solamente pasa cuando estamos en la plataforma cantando por mucha gente. También es en nuestros ensayos y nuestras relaciones del coro.

Con esto de mente, Sergio nos dirigió en un cantico para calentar nuestras voces. Fue "Tu Fidelidad es Grande" del Pastor Marcos Witt. No tiene versos. Solamente tiene un coro que levanta de tono algunas veces.

No escucho de Dios mucho afuera de las páginas de su palabra. Una otra vez fue cuando Dios me habló y me dijo ir a la iglesia del pueblo. Puedes leer la historia completa aquí: Como Llegue al Iglesia del Pueblo. Pero en ese momento, me sentí algo que nunca me sentí en estos 25 años de vida. Algo tan profundo que la única razón es que fue del espíritu santo de Dios. En ese momento, Dios me dijo que la unidad de la iglesia es más importante.

Durante de esos meses pasados, estamos uniéndose dos iglesias; Iglesia del Pueblo y Wheaton Bible Church. Yo extraño la capilla pequeña cuando me cae en amor con esta iglesia entre otras cosas. Me hace falta unos amigos que han salido de la iglesia. Habían dificultades también, pero el mensaje de Dios fue claro. La unidad de la iglesia importa más.

The Lonesome Country Road

Walking down this lonesome country road.
They didn't pay me half what I was owed.
But I gambled the rest away.

And I left that town behind yesterday.

I've been down this same old road before.
Stretching miles along the ocean shore.
The scorching Texas sun is beating down.
The same way that it was when I left town.

I've been walking the streets of a tiny Texas town.
Don't you let the feelings get you down.
I've been drinking alone in the dusty old saloon.
And I didn't leave a moment too soon.

I think I'll hitchhike down to Mexico.
Across the border, southbound I will go.
I'll leave West Texas there with all my blues.
And shake the dust and sand out of my shoes.

The tiny Texas town will still be there.
Standing in the cool September air.
While the Eastern winds blow trouble into town.
The hurricane will tear the whole place down.

I've been walking the streets of a tiny Texas town.
Don't you let the feeling get you down.
I couldn't drown in a bottle all my deepest doubts and fears.
But the lonesome road made them all too clear.

Driving down the lonesome country road.

Where the Mississippi waters once had flowed.

I set out from Vicksburg, Texas bound.

Not to stay there but just to hang around.

I see the country path I once had walked.

Elusive freedom that I once had sought.

The weary traveler stops here for the day.

And the lonesome road will guide him on his way.

I've been walking the streets of a tiny Texas town.

Don't you let the feeling get you down.
When the lonely sparrow on the rooftop starts to fly.

It's time for him to leave and so must I.