New folk. I’m so happy to be reviewing this album. A folk band from southern Arizona, Run Boy Run is producing warm, old-timey, acoustic music in a style that is uniquely their own. Something to Someone is their sophomore album and feels more ambitious than last year’s debut. The sound is still folk, but some of the songs are unconventional—highly methodical, repetitive music with lots of layers (see 4 and especially 11). If you’re more interested in traditional down-home stuff, and no shame in that, check out 1, 2, and 7. Two vocalists, one alto, one soprano—both excellent. A great folk album from an artist that is starting to push beyond folk into its own space.

Recommended: 1, 2, 4, 7, 11

1) “Under the Boughs” (3:51): Warm, upbeat. Long instrumental bridge.
2) “Wild Bill Jones” (3:34): Great opening with violin, cello. Lovely lyrics.
3) “A Dream in the Night” (2:49): A radically different feel here: almost European. Much slower, slinkier.
4) “Spin a Golden Thread” (4:53): Like part of a soundtrack to an indie movie. Very strict beat, repetitive lyrics. It really grows on you after a while.
5) “Heavy the Sorrow” (2:51): Straightforward, but nice, sad song.
6) “Sunday for Larks” (3:17): The violin is very prominent on this fully instrumental track. Jaunty, folky sound.
7) “Momma, Won’t You Tell Me What To Do” (3:33): We get a lot of the vocalist here on a high-energy, high-passion track. Great.
8) “Locket” (4:15): Song about settling down with someone who you love. Wonderful swirl of voices at the end.
9) “The Lord Taketh Away” (3:21): A song about loss.
10) “Something to Someone” (3:24): Superb chords at the beginning. Lyrics are a bit odd.
11) “Far From My Home/Lion and the Fawn” (6:00): Solo female voice at the beginning, gradually acquiring layers of accompaniment. Another great, highly methodical, entrancing song, which becomes much more lively and also fully instrumental at around the four minute mark.

--Mr. Tumnus