What Are You Listening To?

[SteveO]

JOHNNY FLYNN & the SUSSEX WIT - BEEN LISTENING (2010)

Lately I have been researching English folk music and found this absolute gem ! Johnny Flynn (aka Joe Flynn - actor/playwright) and his band - The Sussex Wit have produced one of the freshest and enjoyable albums I have heard in years !

The eleven tracks on this album are all good with The River duet with his pal Laura Marling being the highlight. The true English brogue style of folk singing shines througout on most tracks. The standouts are Churlish May, Barnacled Warship and Howl...heck the whole album is a standout !

Now hopefully Mr. Flynn can successfully balance his acting career with his music....only time will tell ! A very talented lad who writes his songs and plays a National guitar ! I hope he chooses to concentrate on his music !

A refreshing approach to modern folk rock ! Flynn is rated as the least commercial of Mumford & Sons, Laura Marling and Noah and the Whale which isn't a bad thing in my humble estimation.

AllMusic rated this as 3/5 but since this album woke me up, got my complete listening attention, moved me and cheered me up I will ungrudgingly give it 5/5 although I have to get used to the sound of three tracks that feature a trumpet as a folk song accompanying instrumment.. but this minor flaw doesn't hinder my praise for Been Listening especially since I've been listening to a lot of mediocre albums lately !!!!!

Track Listing:

1."Kentucky Pill" 2."Lost and Found" 3."Churlish May" 4."Been Listening" 5."Barnacled Warship" 6."Sweet William, Pt. 2" 7."The Water (featuring Laura Marling)" 8."Howl" 9."Agnes" 10."Amazon Love" 11."The Prizefighter and the Heiress"