Toby Jepson & The Whole Truth - Look Out! (Vol. 2)

For anyone who’s been hiding under a rock since the late 1980s, Toby Jepson is a British rock singer, songwriter, and producer. He first rose to fame as the frontman and principal songwriter of Little Angels, who racked up multiple UK hits and scored a No. 1 album with 1993’s “Jam”.

After the band’s final performance at the Royal Albert Hall in 1994, Jepson continued as a solo artist and with his project Toby and the Whole Truth. Over the years, he fronted several other bands including Fastway, Gun, and Dio’s Disciples. In the 2000s, he returned to the spotlight with his own band, Wayward Sons, earning widespread critical acclaim.

Beyond performing, Jepson became a sought-after producer, overseeing records for a wide spectrum of rock acts including The Virginmarys and Saxon. His songwriting collaborations span artists as diverse as Katie Melua and Biff Byford. He’s also dipped into film production and radio broadcasting, notably as a presenter for Planet Rock where he has been able to use his excellent musical knowledge to give extra depth and details about the songs he plays. His career reflects a relentless passion for music and storytelling; both on stage and behind the scenes.

So why begin an album review with a career retrospective? Because it’s all relevant to the latest release from Toby and the Whole Truth: a three-CD set titled “Look Out Vol. 1–3”. These discs gather brand-new songs written as Jepson surfaces from a period of therapy. While the melodies are as infectious as anything he’s penned before, the lyrics dive deep into the psyche of someone trying to stay afloat in today’s music industry. There’s pain, frustration, and anguish here; but also, a wicked sense of humour and a sharp eye for the absurdities of his profession. These records mark a reboot: musically, emotionally, and in how Jepson reconnects with the people and passions closest to his heart.

“Look Out Vol. 2” is raw, emotional, and unflinchingly honest. It takes us further into Jepson’s journey toward mental health. There’s snarling punk, tender soft rock, and his signature classic rock; all woven together to serve the emotional weight of each track. Like “Vol. 1”, which leaned into sixties pop, soul, and country, “Vol. 2” continues to explore genre with purpose. Brass flourishes and stylistic nods reveal Jepson’s influences, delivering some of the most personal songs of his career. And he’s far from finished; “Vol. 2” proves the creative well is still full.

Jepson opens the album with a spoken-word introduction, as he did with “Vol. 1”, offering a glimpse into each track’s meaning and emotional core.

From the outset, “Vol. 2” bursts with energy. “(Don't Wanna Be A) Rock 'N' Roll Star” and “Some People Are Trash” are anything but subtle. The former is a snarling punk anthem, scathing, bitter, and ironic. It dismantles the myth of rock stardom, exposing the mental toll of living under that illusion. Jepson attacks the myth that be a rock star is all glitter and gold in the chorus “Don’t wanna be a rock ‘n roll star, The pay ain’t good, and you forget who you are.” The latter is a cathartic blast of rage, aimed squarely at a toxic presence. It’s brutal, unfiltered, and unapologetically direct. Each line slams down “Some people” for something culminating in the choral conclusion of “Some people are trash.”

Yet beneath the fury lies the album’s beating heart. Tracks like “Strong Enough” turn inward, as Jepson confronts his own failures and questions whether he has the strength to persevere. “If I was strong enough, would I take control of this dilemma,” he ponders in the chorus. “Falling In Love Is Harder (Than You Could Ever Prepare Your Heart For)” shifts the lens outward, exploring the vulnerability and emotional cost of love. When denial creeps in, we get “Nothing To See Here”, a caustic tale of hiding pain behind a brittle façade.

There’s no sugar-coated resolution. “Before I Break” is the emotional climax, a fragile calm at the eye of the storm. But listen closely, and it becomes a whispered cry for help, teetering on the edge of collapse. It’s an epic track, Jepson questions his beliefs and his hope that people would behave as honestly as he does, and the pain he feels when they don’t. The chorus finds Jepson pleading that it’s “got to much” and that he’s not sure how much he can take, “Before he breaks.”

Then comes the final blow. “Creeping Up Slowly” captures the insidious nature of depression and anxiety with chilling precision. There’s no cure; only coping mechanisms. It lurks in the shadows, waiting for a moment of weakness to strike. It speaks to the loneliness he feels on the road, being away from the ones he loves. “My body’s old and tired of being lonely, how I’m aching for you,” Jepson sings towards the songs climax.

This isn’t an easy album. Like “Vol. 1”, it’s about truth. Jepson bares his soul, refusing to offer tidy answers. It’s a record about recovery, fear, and facing the darkness. An exorcism. Stripped back and tightly produced, the spotlight stays where it belongs, on the lyrics. Jepson himself describes it as going “through the chaos of bitter regret and intense feelings of shame.”

Creatively, “Vol. 2” is all Jepson. He handles vocals, guitars, percussion, programming, and production. Supporting him are Dave Kemp (keys and horn arrangements), Matthew Eldridge (drums), and Chris Blanden (bass and cello). George Hall’s string arrangements add emotional heft where needed. The result is a record that draws from punk, soul, and rock to support one of the most emotionally honest albums in recent memory.

I was lucky enough to have pleasure of meeting Toby by chance many years ago after a gig at the Glasgow Academy where he was supporting Thunder. He was lovely and spent time talking to us. I’m happy to say he was as pleasant and chatty as he come across in his media projects. Having listened to the “Look Out” project so far, I offer him nothing but best wishes for the future.

This isn’t just another Toby Jepson release; it’s an accounting. A weighing of the soul. The glitz and glamour of the rock star persona are stripped away, leaving only the man, standing in the wreckage, telling us his truth. “Look Out Vol.2” is available from Toby Jepson’s online store and come in various packages.