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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I found Johnny Flynn and the Sussex wit by accident... if only all accidents were as lucky.
This music is the Levellers of the naughties (and I mean that as the highest compliment) not in any copycat sense but in the sense of a beautifully crafted album written with humour, sensitivity, intelligence and (above all) musicality. The playing and writing are perfectly balanced.
Although there is no chance A Larum will get 1% of the airtime it deserves this is music that will survive the decades and will charm music lovers long after the commercial rubbish that dominates the contempory charts has been relegated to cheesey retro club nights.
The very best album I've heard in years.
This music is the Levellers of the naughties (and I mean that as the highest compliment) not in any copycat sense but in the sense of a beautifully crafted album written with humour, sensitivity, intelligence and (above all) musicality. The playing and writing are perfectly balanced.
Although there is no chance A Larum will get 1% of the airtime it deserves this is music that will survive the decades and will charm music lovers long after the commercial rubbish that dominates the contempory charts has been relegated to cheesey retro club nights.
The very best album I've heard in years.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It is time for the nature of music reviews - at least for popular music - to change. There's no need any longer to read a review to help you decide if you want to buy an album. All of these tracks can be heard on various places online - either in part or in full, often in different arrangements, sometimes in video - and the lyrics too are freely available. So you can listen, and read, before you decide whether to buy. The traditional reviewer role of helping you decide whether or not this music will be for you, is redundant. It's time for 'reviewers' of popular music to become critics and commentators, to promote discussion rather than offer guidance. With that in mind, here's Johnny...
Very much part of the current British Folk scene, albeit South African by birth, Flynn is a 25-year old actor, poet and songwriter. He went to Bedales, one of the most expensive independent schools in the UK, and has acted in some very prestigious Shakespeare productions. His voice is expressive rather than melodic. He may not quite hit the notes, but he feels them.
The CD insert that is devoted to Flynn (the other insert is devoted to his backing group, The Sussex Wit) rather alarmingly (or a larumingly) cites Shakespeare and Chaucer as his storytelling forebears. Flynn himself says that he has always been interested in "...storytelling as an art form. Real epic storytelling. You hear that in Chaucer, and it's mirrored in traditional folk and in the blues." Quite so, but it's not mirrored in Flynn's own songs. They are not sustained narratives, do not tell a story. They are word pictures -- fragmentary, evocative and sometimes enigmatic. Nothing wrong with that, of course. In fact, they are for the most part fine lyrics, it's just that they are not the stories he seems to think they are, and not of the tradition to which he aspires.
The versions of 'The Box' and 'Tickle Me Pink' (and I think others) are different from the single and EP versions. If you already have those versions, you might welcome the changes, as you are getting something new, some added value. Or, if you have not heard the singles versions, you might feel short-changed, as you are not getting the versions that attracted attention originally.
The musical backing is innovative and very satisfying, with wonderful use of discordant strings and prominent drum rolls, and indeed some excellent guitar work from Flynn himself, especially on 'Tunnels'. The album's coda, a brief instrumental (organ) reprise of Shore to Shore, is a nice touch, and a fine way to end the set.
I think it's a shame that The Sussex Wit doesn't get billed on the album cover. Flynn is of course the front man and songwriter, but the band is still a big part of the overall sound. They get their own separate insert, but it would have been nice if they had been given equal billing.
[PeterReeve]
Very much part of the current British Folk scene, albeit South African by birth, Flynn is a 25-year old actor, poet and songwriter. He went to Bedales, one of the most expensive independent schools in the UK, and has acted in some very prestigious Shakespeare productions. His voice is expressive rather than melodic. He may not quite hit the notes, but he feels them.
The CD insert that is devoted to Flynn (the other insert is devoted to his backing group, The Sussex Wit) rather alarmingly (or a larumingly) cites Shakespeare and Chaucer as his storytelling forebears. Flynn himself says that he has always been interested in "...storytelling as an art form. Real epic storytelling. You hear that in Chaucer, and it's mirrored in traditional folk and in the blues." Quite so, but it's not mirrored in Flynn's own songs. They are not sustained narratives, do not tell a story. They are word pictures -- fragmentary, evocative and sometimes enigmatic. Nothing wrong with that, of course. In fact, they are for the most part fine lyrics, it's just that they are not the stories he seems to think they are, and not of the tradition to which he aspires.
The versions of 'The Box' and 'Tickle Me Pink' (and I think others) are different from the single and EP versions. If you already have those versions, you might welcome the changes, as you are getting something new, some added value. Or, if you have not heard the singles versions, you might feel short-changed, as you are not getting the versions that attracted attention originally.
The musical backing is innovative and very satisfying, with wonderful use of discordant strings and prominent drum rolls, and indeed some excellent guitar work from Flynn himself, especially on 'Tunnels'. The album's coda, a brief instrumental (organ) reprise of Shore to Shore, is a nice touch, and a fine way to end the set.
I think it's a shame that The Sussex Wit doesn't get billed on the album cover. Flynn is of course the front man and songwriter, but the band is still a big part of the overall sound. They get their own separate insert, but it would have been nice if they had been given equal billing.
[PeterReeve]
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I'm not usually into folk, but this really is brilliant. I've never heard the single versions of these tracks, but I think the album versions are of the highest calibre. The lyrics are thoughtful and witty, and the musical accompaniment is tangled, catchy, and perfectly paced. Although folk-ey in style, the album avoids being twee and ponderous like so much other folk music. Probably the best album I've bought this year.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
mindblowing
I've seen Johnny Flynn & The sussex Wit live twice now.
There is not a single bad song on any of their albums/eps. Read more
There is not a single bad song on any of their albums/eps. Read more
Published 18 months ago by M. Moore
Amazing
I purchased this based on a recommendation from Amazon. Since it arrived (along with several other CDs) I have played nothing but this CD. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Loopy
damn good!
I don't do many reviews at all, however I thought I must with this album as I to found this guy(s) by accident. Which I find a complete travesty as this is a really slick album. Read more
Published 23 months ago by James R. Hand
Folk with modern twist
As I had tested this out on Spotify, I knew what to expect when purchasing. Since getting it on to my iPod though, I have hardly stopped listening to this album. Read more
Published on 23 Mar 2010 by H. Davison
Folkin' Good
Brilliant album, a couple of tracks towards the end that seem a little less accessible to anyone who isn't really into the scene but otherwise a great debut. Read more
Published on 10 Jan 2010 by M. Speakman
Folk is back
Not much to be said other than YES you should buy this album. The man is very talented ( I've seen him live and can confirm that the perfection of this album has nothing to do with... Read more
Published on 3 Jan 2010 by Mr. E. Easton
Folk without the cringe factor
I'm not into Folk. There, I said it. I find it irritating and twee and it makes me violent. I do however enjoy roots style music and music with heart and soul. Read more
Published on 17 Nov 2009 by M. Blackburne
dont say in a letter what you can't in my ear..
this really is a truly amazing album, johnny flynn & the sussex wit as a band are unsurpassable, in my opinion & his lyrics are magical. Read more
Published on 17 Feb 2009 by Ms. S. Davies
A must buy!
This is a CD on which every song is a masterpiece! The Lyrics are superb and the Vocals are brilliant! Read more
Published on 27 July 2008 by Jamie O. Kirkpatrick
Better than Nick Drake...
... never thought I'd write those words in the same sentence, but Flynn transcends all others in this genre - not least with the grim humour of his lyrics. Read more
Published on 22 July 2008 by Max
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