Toby and the Whole Truth – Look Out! Vol.2
Charismatic singer-songwriter-guitarist Toby Jepson, front man of quality rockers Wayward Sons, has always been open, observational and honest within his music & lyrics.
But with his Look Out! series of releases (a three-part soundtrack to the life and once troubled times of the musician), Toby Jepson has never been more truthful, hence the name-credit as Toby and the Whole Truth (the name carried by 1995 album Ignorance Is Bliss, his first release after the split of Jepson fronted rock band Little Angels).
Vol.2, which continues Toby Jepson’s cathartic journey through mental health issues and personal demons to clarity and recovery (and a healthy dose of truth seeking) goes one track further than the six-song Vol.1 with a septet of tunes (plus a short narrated introduction from Jepson) that hit the musical and lyrical mark.
Nor does it hurt that he is joined by a strong supporting cast including Dave Kemp (keyboards), Chris Blandon (bass guitar, Sitar), Sam Wood (rhythm & lead guitars), Matt Eldridge (drums), George Hall (Hammond, string arrangements) and a brass section.
The infectious '(Don’t Wanna Be A) Rock 'n' Roll Star' might be the most rock and roll orientated song Toby Jepson has yet come up with, one that carries an extra layer by way of a lyric that shakes a disillusioned head at the 'rock star' persona.
The hard pop 'n' harmonies (touches of a heavier, later era ELO here) of 'Some People Are Trash' is a lyrical finger point at ill-advised or troublesome relationships formed in the mire that is the music business.
Inadequacies and weakness are then faced in 'Strong Enough,' which dovetails moody, guitar led verses with hi-pop rock choruses, more great harmonies and a little keyboard motif not dissimilar to The Cars in their new wave guitar & synth rock glory.
'Falling in Love is Harder (Than You Could Ever Prepare Your Heart For)' may be, as Toby Jepson believes, the best song he has yet written.
A piano based love song with keyboard atmospheres, subtle guitar accents and a great vocal from Jepson, the song’s true strength is in a lyric that contemplates growing older and having to lose that love to, inevitably, death ("looking back across our time, did we ever realise that time was slipping away").
Melancholic yet uplifting, the song is a heartfelt reminder that love conquers all, except the one thing we cannot defeat.
Providing brash and bright contrast is, first, the rockin', strings backed 'Nothing to See Here' (the divisive, darker side of social media and the Internet), followed by a punky, power-pop anthem for the vulnerable, 'Before I Break' (think Bare Naked Ladies on steroids).
Vol.2 closes out on 'Creeping Up Slowly,' an atmospheric, acoustically framed ballad that reflects upon age, loss and yearning ("that lonely river is creeping up slowly, I’m adrift on the tide, 'til I’m back by your side").
On the strength of the first two volumes Toby Jepson is, when Look Out! is completed and collated as a 20 track album, well on his way to delivering his best work to date.
What makes that all the more impressive is the fact Jepson has managed to make something so personal so universal, and affecting to us all.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Look Out! Vol.2 (and Vol.1) can be purchased exclusively via Toby Jepson's official website: https://shop.tobyjepsonofficial.com/collections/look-out-toby-and-the-whole-truth
But with his Look Out! series of releases (a three-part soundtrack to the life and once troubled times of the musician), Toby Jepson has never been more truthful, hence the name-credit as Toby and the Whole Truth (the name carried by 1995 album Ignorance Is Bliss, his first release after the split of Jepson fronted rock band Little Angels).
Vol.2, which continues Toby Jepson’s cathartic journey through mental health issues and personal demons to clarity and recovery (and a healthy dose of truth seeking) goes one track further than the six-song Vol.1 with a septet of tunes (plus a short narrated introduction from Jepson) that hit the musical and lyrical mark.
Nor does it hurt that he is joined by a strong supporting cast including Dave Kemp (keyboards), Chris Blandon (bass guitar, Sitar), Sam Wood (rhythm & lead guitars), Matt Eldridge (drums), George Hall (Hammond, string arrangements) and a brass section.
The infectious '(Don’t Wanna Be A) Rock 'n' Roll Star' might be the most rock and roll orientated song Toby Jepson has yet come up with, one that carries an extra layer by way of a lyric that shakes a disillusioned head at the 'rock star' persona.
The hard pop 'n' harmonies (touches of a heavier, later era ELO here) of 'Some People Are Trash' is a lyrical finger point at ill-advised or troublesome relationships formed in the mire that is the music business.
Inadequacies and weakness are then faced in 'Strong Enough,' which dovetails moody, guitar led verses with hi-pop rock choruses, more great harmonies and a little keyboard motif not dissimilar to The Cars in their new wave guitar & synth rock glory.
'Falling in Love is Harder (Than You Could Ever Prepare Your Heart For)' may be, as Toby Jepson believes, the best song he has yet written.
A piano based love song with keyboard atmospheres, subtle guitar accents and a great vocal from Jepson, the song’s true strength is in a lyric that contemplates growing older and having to lose that love to, inevitably, death ("looking back across our time, did we ever realise that time was slipping away").
Melancholic yet uplifting, the song is a heartfelt reminder that love conquers all, except the one thing we cannot defeat.
Providing brash and bright contrast is, first, the rockin', strings backed 'Nothing to See Here' (the divisive, darker side of social media and the Internet), followed by a punky, power-pop anthem for the vulnerable, 'Before I Break' (think Bare Naked Ladies on steroids).
Vol.2 closes out on 'Creeping Up Slowly,' an atmospheric, acoustically framed ballad that reflects upon age, loss and yearning ("that lonely river is creeping up slowly, I’m adrift on the tide, 'til I’m back by your side").
On the strength of the first two volumes Toby Jepson is, when Look Out! is completed and collated as a 20 track album, well on his way to delivering his best work to date.
What makes that all the more impressive is the fact Jepson has managed to make something so personal so universal, and affecting to us all.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Look Out! Vol.2 (and Vol.1) can be purchased exclusively via Toby Jepson's official website: https://shop.tobyjepsonofficial.com/collections/look-out-toby-and-the-whole-truth