Welcome to Heard Too Late, a short series of posts where I highlight artists and albums I didn’t spend enough time with to put on my 2023 year-end list. However, with hindsight being what it is and all, it is safe to say that if I had heard these albums sooner, they would most definitely have made the cut.
First up is “The Falcon Ate The Flower” by Lee Gallagher And The Hallelujah. As you might ascertain from the name, Gallagher’s CA (by way of Ohio) cosmic country space rock taps in to the spiritual side of life without being preachy. Maybe we’ll call it existential rock? Anyways, having recorded with Victoria Williams and others after moving to CA, Gallagher has continued to expand his sound and scope. Reviewers and biographers are quick to point to Gram Parsons, Workingman’s Dead, Humble Pie, and, surprisingly enough Rod Stewart (that last one came up a few times!) and, of course; all of these apply, but only as touch-points.
Album opener “Planes” soars in perhaps the most psychedelic country jam the album reaches, but it sets a great opening bar. Though “The Falcon Ate The Flower” doesn’t quite reach those same heights throughout the rest of the album’s songs, we take a journey through ballads, and no review would be complete without mentioning the stellar performances by violin legend Scarlet Rivera (probably best known to this crowd by her appearances in the Rolling Thunder Revue. She here appears on the tracks “Something Better,” & “Can Anyone Hear Me?”, both of which are well worth your time.
Head out on a road trip. Blare this and then let’s talk.
Watch the official video for “Baby I’m There:”
