Greta Van Fleet – From The Fires

All these CHEAPLY made records 2020 and beyond are NOT the same as the RSD release of 2019! Someone really needs to take the time to sort this mess out! The ORIGINAL FIRST press with hype sticker sounds great! If it didn’t come with the RSD sticker it’s NOT a first press!!

My factory-sealed copy matches all the details listed here, except no hype stickers/Record Store Day promotion. Plain cellophane. Brand new, fifteen bucks from Amazon in May 2020.

My pressing sounds pretty good. No skipping or issues. Some surface noise and a little bit of pops on a few songs, but nothing that's distracting. Could be a little bit better balanced, but enjoyed my pressing. 4/5 on sound is accurate. I was a bit nervous when purchasing, but overall happy. I cleaned the album before playing, not sure if it would have skipped without it.

I ultrasonically cleaned new/sealed copy but very crackly and A4 skipped, wow. Luckily didn't pay much, and frankly the CD sounds better sonically. Not recommended pressing.

I have two of these. One I've played a few times and one is mint. Never opened, never played.
For me, SIDE 2 skips mjultiple times upon playback. Disc appears in VG condition, even NM, no visible scratches. I had read reviews, and you can read here as well, which state these pressings are a Victim of The Loudness War. I am here to attest to that fact. I believe the absolutle wall of sound results in needle jumping. I have had this phenomenon occur on three separate turntables. Granted, two of them were very cheap and of poor build quality, but my AT-LP60X also skips when this record plays. Even though it is the most basic turntable they over, Audio Techina's AT-LP60X is a very adequate amd capable machine, not usually subject to such occurances. I can only assume my mint copy behaves the same, bummer. I would rate this a 2 star album because of these flaws, but I've only experienced this occur on SIDE 2. Also, I really like GFV, enough that the album earns a whole star for being one of theirs.

Pressing - 2/5
Sadly, quality control seems to be not so great on these. Doesn’t skip on my player, but I am not surprised that it skips on other players. Mine suffers from a lot of the usual modern quality control issues - hole is too small, record is dished, and a decent amount of inner groove distortion. Could be worse, but wish it was better, because…

Mastering - 5/5
…the mastering on this is great. Cut by Joe Nino-Hernes at Sterling and when it’s great, it’s great. The first couple songs on both sides jump out of the speakers - nice wide soundstage and excellent lows/mids. The highs are a bit clipped, but not terrible, - they are present enough that it doesn’t make the mix sound muddy. Overall, an excellent mastering job.

Packaging - 3/5
Pretty bare bones, nothing special but nothing terrible.

Overall - 3/5
This could have been a 5/5 if it was pressed well, but sadly, another victim of poor quality control.

Glad this became available again as I just picked this up for a reasonable $25. Sounds comparable to the US Opaque Yellow version I own. After a good vacuum wet cleaning, only minor reminders a vinyl record is playing, very light ticks here and there, but nothing that takes away from its enjoyment. This is an excellent debut album by a group of talented individuals, making new rock music which is so desperately needed.

I have a version with the Black Smoke Rising side two label on side B.

listened to it for the first time and bought it on vinyl that same day. quickest i've ever gotten a record.

pressing is fucking garbage. sounds awful, and skips all over side 2. i have the original RSD pressing, idk why the new one doesnt have it’s own listing. music is mid too, can’t believe i used to listen to this 3 times a day in 2017💀