While the lyrics stray on the cliché side at times, Passenger’s idiosyncratic voice has enough charm and earnestness to give them validity while the arrangements gently caress the emotion out of the songs.

'Why Can’t I Change' has a slightly Bob Dylan-esque feel to it with its electronic organ and simple drum-beat while “Heart To Love” has a dash of Counting Crows in its arpeggiated guitar and up-beat rhythm which belies the longing in the lyrics.

The title track is the sum of all the album’s parts, lyrically and musically. With its Americana based sound, it could easily be a part of the soundtrack to many an indie road-trip movie while the words sum up the message of the whole album, none more so than “well my soul’s a castaway/tired of being alone.” This is an album about growing up and facing the challenges of love head-on, and 'Runaway' aptly brings everything together.

What 'Runaway' lacks in lyrical originality it makes up for with earnestness and solid musicianship. Its pop sensibilities keep it from lingering and its arrangements have enough emotion in them to strum your heart-strings ever so lightly.

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