{{for|the play|A Larum for London}} {{Use British English|date=November 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox album| | name = A Larum | type = studio | artist = Johnny Flynn | cover = JFlynn_ALarum.jpg | alt = | released = 26 May 2008 (UK)<br />29 July 2008 (US) | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = Folk rock | length = 53:39 | label = Vertigo (UK)<br />Lost Highway Records (US) | producer = | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = Sweet William EP | next_year = 2009 }}
'''''A Larum''''' is the debut album of London-based folk rock musician Johnny Flynn, released in the UK on 26 May 2008 and in the US on 29 July 2008. On the album, Flynn is backed by his band the Sussex Wit.
== Background == The title of the album is the Middle English word for "alarm," used in Shakespeare's stage directions to signify a disturbance occurring offstage, and Flynn "quite liked the idea that the noise happening offstage was this album".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93881943|title=Johnny Flynn: Stirring Up 'A Larum'|website=NPR.org|language=en|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref>
The record was recorded at a studio called Bear Creek near Seattle.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Purcell|first=Andrew|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/dec/02/johnny-flynn|title=Johnny Flynn's special relationship|date=2010-12-02|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-04-06|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In a 2010 interview, Flynn said of the studio, "The only thing around was a coffee stand where the girls wore bikinis. It was on a main road through the woods, in the middle of nowhere. That made us feel very English."<ref name=":0" />
==Reception== {{Music ratings | rev1 =Allmusic | rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}} <ref name="AM">{{cite web |first= Katherine|last=Fullton |title= ''A Larum'' > Review |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id= mw0000792521 |pure_url=yes}} |publisher=Allmusic |access-date=19 April 2017}}</ref> |rev2=Drowned in Sound |rev2Score= (8/10) [http://drownedinsound.com/releases/13347/reviews/3523882-johnny-flynn-a-larum link] |rev3=''The Independent'' |rev3Score= (favourable) [https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-johnny-flynn-a-larum-vertigo-833858.html link] |rev4=musicOMH.com |rev4Score= {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="OMH">{{cite web |first= Peter |last=Hayward |title= ''A Larum'' > Review |date=25 May 2008 |url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/johnny-flynn-a-larum |publisher= musicOMH |access-date=19 April 2017}}</ref> |rev6=''This Is Fake DIY'' |rev6Score={{Rating|4|5}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20120213230452/http://www.thisisfakediy.co.uk/articles/9687/Johnny-Flynn-and-the-Sussex-Wit--A-Larum.html dead link] |rev7=''The Times'' |rev7Score= {{Rating|4|5}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20110615224133/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article3985939.ece dead link] }}
In her review for Allmusic, critic Katherine Fullton wrote "it quickly becomes clear that the Wit's intricate, meandering rhythms and melodies are a fitting complement to Flynn's straightforward delivery, augmenting lyrics that would also function as poetry outside of a musical setting... The tangible intimacy between Flynn and his group makes A Larum not only an introduction, but also captures the gentle, amicable nature that makes them such an inviting and satisfying listen."<ref name="AM" />
Peter Hayward of MusicOMH called the album "a marvellously accomplished and endearing debut that, while rooted in tradition and most easily described as folk, should have broader appeal beyond the beardy-weirdy set."<ref name="OMH" />
Writing for ''Rolling Stone'', David Fricke named ''A Larum'' as one of "Fricke's Picks", calling it a "dramatic entrance" for Flynn and his band, drawing allusions between Flynn and earlier folk artists such as Fairport Convention and Bert Jansch.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/frickes-picks-the-folk-rock-theatre-of-johnny-flynn-169327/|title=Fricke's Picks: The Folk-Rock Theatre of Johnny Flynn|last=Fricke|first=David|date=2008-08-18|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref>
The song "Tickle Me Pink" was featured as iTunes free single of the week. ''A Larum'' was nominated for the Xfm New Music Award (2009) and was also named as the 37th best album of 2008 by Paste Magazine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2008/11/signs-of-life-2008-best-music.html?p=2|title=Signs of Life 2008: Best Music|publisher=Paste|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113051613/http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2008/11/signs-of-life-2008-best-music.html?p=2|archivedate=13 January 2010|access-date=2009-12-22}}</ref>
Flynn re-issued ''A Larum'' in October 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://circuitsweet.co.uk/2019/10/johnny-flynn-announces-that-his-classic-albums-a-larum-and-been-listening-will-be-reissued-11th-october-2019/|title=Johnny Flynn announces that his classic albums 'A Larum' and 'Been Listening' will be reissued 11th October 2019|date=2019-10-02|website=Circuit Sweet|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref>
==Track listing== {{track listing | title1 = The Box | length1 = 3:36 | title2 = The Wrote & The Writ | length2 = 4:07 | title3 = Tickle Me Pink | length3 = 3:11 | title4 = Brown Trout Blues | length4 = 5:02 | title5 = Eyeless in Holloway | length5 = 4:05 | title6 = Shore to Shore | length6 = 4:23 | title7 = Cold Bread | length7 = 3:29 | title8 = Wayne Rooney | length8 = 4:18 | title9 = Leftovers | length9 = 4:16 | title10 = Sally | length10 = 3:35 | title11 = Hong Kong Cemetery | length11 = 4:51 | title12 = Tunnels | length12 = 3:08 | title13 = All the Dogs are Lying Down | length13 = 4:13 | title14 = Shore to Shore (Reprise) | length14 = 1:27 }} {{track listing | headline = Vinyl/iTunes Bonus Tracks | title15 = The Ghost of O'Donahue | length15 = 4:57 | title16 = Old Tricks | length16 = 3:51 }}
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Larum, A}} Category:Johnny Flynn (musician) albums Category:2008 debut albums Category:Vertigo Records albums Category:Lost Highway Records albums