Toby and the Whole Truth – Look Out! (Vol. 2) (Album Review)

Review By Glen Parkes

When a songwriter with Toby Jepson’s pedigree releases new music, expectations naturally run high. Known as the voice of Little Angels, the driving force behind Wayward Sons, and a familiar presence on Planet Rock, Jepson has long balanced larger-than-life rock credentials with a disarmingly personal approach to storytelling. With Look Out! (Vol. 2), released October 1st via Look Out Music Ltd, Jepson doubles down on that honesty, offering a deeply introspective and unflinchingly candid set of songs that grapple with life, love, loss, and the fragile process of healing.

The record continues the thread begun with Look Out! (Vol. 1), centering on Jepson’s journey through mental health challenges and the path back toward clarity. These seven new songs wrestle with shame, regret, anger, and grief, but crucially they don’t linger in despair. Instead, they chart the slow and painful climb toward reconciliation and forgiveness. It’s a record of transformation, where scars are not hidden but illuminated, and where even the heaviest confessions give way to light.

The album opens with “Introduction,” a short prelude that sets a contemplative mood before diving into “(Don’t Wanna Be A) Rock ’n’ Roll Star.” Here, Jepson takes a wry swipe at the hollow illusions of fame, delivering it with tongue-in-cheek sharpness that belies its serious undertones.

“Some People Are Trash” pulls no punches, looking back at toxic relationships and the scars left by navigating an unforgiving industry. In contrast, “Strong Enough” is brutally vulnerable, addressing inadequacy and powerlessness in a way that resonates far beyond the personal.

The album’s emotional centerpiece, “Falling in Love is Harder (Than You Could Ever Prepare Your Heart For),” is perhaps Jepson’s finest composition to date. Both tender and devastating, it contemplates enduring love against the inevitable reality of loss. It’s a track that lingers, drawing on universal fears and affections with unflinching honesty.

“Nothing to See Here” shifts the lens outward, casting a sardonic eye on the absurdities of social media and the internet age. It’s biting without losing its sense of weary humor. Meanwhile, “Before I Break” confronts injustice and selfishness in society, channeled through a raw vocal performance that crackles with frustration. The closing track, “Creeping Up Slowly,” ends the album on a note of longing and acceptance, a reminder of time’s inevitability but also the wisdom that can come with it.

Musically, Look Out! (Vol. 2) blends rootsy rock grit with soulful textures, never overshadowing the intimacy of the lyrics. Jepson’s acoustic and electric guitar work forms the backbone, while Sam Wood’s electric leads add both bite and nuance. The rhythm section—Chris Blandon’s bass and Matt Eldridge’s drums—keeps the foundation steady but never static, giving the songs room to breathe.

Dave Kemp’s keys and sax, alongside George Hall’s Hammond organ and string arrangements, bring depth and colour, while the horn section (Kemp, Stuart Wilkinson, and Ian Chalk) adds flashes of warmth that elevate the record beyond confessional singer-songwriter territory. It’s a collaborative effort, but one that remains firmly anchored in Jepson’s vision.

What makes Look Out! (Vol. 2) compelling is its refusal to sugarcoat. Jepson doesn’t hide the messiness of mental health struggles, nor does he gloss over the contradictions of love, ageing, or human folly. Yet the record is not bleak. Its candor is its strength, and by opening himself up so fully, Jepson creates space for listeners to see their own struggles reflected back.

This isn’t an album designed to chase radio singles or chart placements—it’s a body of work designed to resonate, to comfort, and to provoke thought. In doing so, it feels far more vital than any manufactured hit.

Look Out! (Vol. 2) is a record of reckoning and renewal. It’s intense at times, tender at others, but always deeply human. By laying bare his vulnerabilities, Toby Jepson has created something that not only cements his reputation as a songwriter of substance but also invites listeners into a dialogue about survival, forgiveness, and love.