Toby Jepson - Viewfinder
Album review by; Jazmin
The last few years have been an excitingly crazy time for many as we find ourselves in unforeseen situations we’d never have dreamed of only a few years ago, whether that be for better or for worse. Curveballs appear in our periphery at every angle, sometimes leaving a limited amount of time to calculate how best to deal with these situations. One man who has learned to keep his balance and juggle the opportunities that have presented themselves in his lifetime is Lincoln-born Toby Jepson.
Having served time in multiple rock outfits, most notably the prosperous 90s band Little Angels and his current team of musical misfits Wayward Sons, Jepson returns with an ambitious 16-track catalogue of broad solo material with Viewfinder, and 4 bonus tracks. The autobiographical record is a fly-on-the-wall insight into the commentary of Jepson’s worries and musings on his personal journey. ‘Better Off Dead’ leaves no room for preparation as the opening riff immediately revs up and skirts away like the soundtrack to an exhilarating car chase above the funky clean rhythms that manoeuvre perilously in between. With a robotic effect on the backing harmonies, “We all think we're free, contained and unique.// One word from The Man, we bleat like sheep” ties in with our obsession to blindly fit in with the crowd. A prosaic guitar lick that follows the main melody consorts with Jepson’s clean and upbeat vocals that counteract the severity of the sentiment “we’re better off dead.”
Early 00’s pop punk trickles into ‘Unwind,’ the guitars following a playful and energetic melody with clean, continuous strumming patterns. The jaunty track describes the struggles of being a busy bee, as Jepson juggles his musical, personal life and radio hosting on Planet Rock, among trying to put on the brakes and take some time for himself. No wonder all he “wants is to unwind, unravel everything and find out how it feels to waste some time.// Leave this world a bit behind, turn the lights out and sit around here in the darkness for a while.” With a vocal squeal, the stress eventually becomes too overwhelming as the tether snaps in this youthful Sum-41 tune.
Showing his age, statement-turned-meme ‘Back In The Day’ falls into a bear trap of dreary musicality with vapid drums that plays straight into the hands of the boomer mentality that spills perfectly into the gospel organs of edgy alternative grunge tune ‘Dear Mama.’ The quintessential anthem to every angsty misunderstood teen’s rebellion against their parents’, Jepson declares “the Devil inside me keeps my ego running and I feel it growing out of my face// Like it or not I got a bad attitude, from disappointments that can’t be replaced.” A commentary on the all-too common school shootings in America and how it’s not always disillusioned kids’ from disadvantaged backgrounds that can turn on their parents; “Mama, don’t think you’ll understand what’s living in my head. Mama, did I turn out as you planned? Well I hate to disappoint you, but I’d do it all again.”
‘When Will We Learn’ and ‘Forgiveness’ muse over with melancholic introspection on human behaviours and flaws, with weighty emphasis on the snare and high hat. A better man than most of us can admit to being, Jepson claims “you can have my forgiveness if you want it.” The use of the wah-pedal in title track ‘Viewfinder’ and ‘Twisted Rhapsody’ reverberate with bluesy attitude that shines a light on the 80s influence on these tracks that’s emphasised with a blazing guitar solo on ‘Happy Ever After,’ snatching the spotlight in a fit of confidence. ‘Four Letter Word’ and ‘Little Bird’ exhibit a more sinister, southern blues and country twang in their swaggering guitars.
“I’m getting sick sitting down on this crucifix” presents a much bigger, thicker sound on ‘Motivated’ as it’s driven with the sheer force of punk angst with a breakdown riff that’s eerily similar to that of AC/DC’s ‘For Those About To Rock.’ The backend of Viewfinder takes a back seat to appreciate the scenery and surrounding countryside, the easy-listening of ‘Crush,’ ‘Overwhelming Me,’ and ‘Just No Way To Stop From Loving You’ breathing the same air as the ballads that made Bon Jovi wanted, (Dead Or Alive).
Closing time sees ‘Picking Up The Pieces’ re-introduce the warmth of a southern organ, the upbeat and gaiety vibes fade out and leave you with a satisfying sigh.
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Viewfinder Tracklist:
1. Better off dead
2. Unwind
2. Back in the day
4. Dear Mama
5. When will we learn
6. Viewfinder
7. Forgiveness
8. Happy ever after
9. Motivated
10. Raising my own hell
11. Four letter word
12. Twisted Rhapsody
13. Crush (original version)
14. Weight of the world
15. The Chosen one
16. Just no way to stop from loving you
Bonus tracks
1. Little Bird
2. Overwhelming me
3. Losing side
4. Picking up the pieces
The 'Viewfinder' compilation album is out now.
More information: https://www.tobyjepsonofficial.com
