CD REVIEW: LEE GALLAGHER & THE HALLELUJAH – Lee Gallagher & The Hallelujah

Shane | 11 February 2015 | Reply

CD REVIEW: LEE GALLAGHER & THE HALLELUJAH – Lee Gallagher & The Hallelujah
Independent
20 January, 2015
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
8/10

Taking the early ‘70s vinyl expositions of Americana by The Rolling Stones and their ilk as a touchstone, Lee Gallagher & The Hallelujah have created a truly beguiling record which carries on the good work by extrapolating rootsy rock music with hefty doses of gospel, folk and even psychedelic touches.

What they’ve ended up with is an album that never releases its hold on the listener. Each of these eleven tracks offer something diverse and different, yet all coalesce into a unified whole – like The Stones they have assimilated their many varied influences into their very DNA, and give each a decent workout as individual songs dictate.

Even the cover harkens back to the ‘good ole days’: a three panel fold out CD sleeve with all the lyrics, simple and concise credits, and a Side One and Side Two track list. Don’t come to The Hallelujah expecting nu metal or hip hop: their influences pre-date such follies by decades.

Isolating the best tracks seems churlish with an album clearly intended to be listened to as a suite of music, especially as every song stands tall individually. Gallagher sings on the opening Hallelujah Prelude, “we made it through the mountain pass/ we didn’t do it alone/ we were walking hand in hand/ hallelujah/ we can see the lights below/ we can feel the heavy glow/ so follow me,” and it’s a fitting introduction to this band, and the triumphant, uplifting music they’ve created.

The album continues their journey: starting mostly acoustically, with Gallagher’s high pitched vocals leading the way, by the last few tracks a jagged electric guitar punctuates the songs rambunctiously. As a piece of music, the album has the energy and flow of a live show. I’ll be following them from now on.

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