"I like sad songs," says Canadian songwriter B. Knox, whose second studio album — the tellingly titled Far From Folk — blends cosmic Americana, left-field honky tonk, rugged country-rock, and woozy roots music into its own melancholic mix. Far From Folk roots itself in the modern struggles we all endure, replete with vignettes about romance, estrangement, and the long journey toward hope. There are sad songs here, to be sure, but there's also an overarching sense of optimism, with B.