Toby Jones Talks Music

In this video, we take a deep dive into the 2023 Autumn Leaves EP from Mckenna Grace — my favourite new find of 2026 so far, a collection of songs that I can't stop playing. Released in October 2023, this 5-track EP explores themes of love, loss, and self-reflection, blending soft, gentle arrangements with personal, honest and relatable storytelling. Mckenna delivers an experience that feels r...

Kenny Rogers' 1982 album, Love Will Turn You Around, features the title track which went to #1 in the US and Canadian country charts and also featured in the film 'Six Pack'. I bought this album a few months ago from a charity shop, and had only played it once. After listening to it far more intently over the past week, I feel more invested in each of the tracks and enjoy listening to...

In today’s review, we’re diving into On A Day Like Today, the 1998 album from Bryan Adams. This album shows Adams leaning into a more polished, mature style - without completely abandoning his arena-rock roots. The album nicely blends heartfelt ballads with radio-ready rock anthems. We’ll break down the individual songs and how this record fits into Bryan Adams’ broader discography. Is this an und...

Elvis Presley in Concert: Baz Luhrmann's EPiC is a 2025 documentary film about Elvis Presley directed by Baz Luhrmann. In today's episode, I discuss my thoughts on this follow-up to the 2022 fictionalised story of the life of Elvis, starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks.

In this video, we take a critical look at Love at First Sting — the massively successful 1984 release that many fans consider a classic. But does it really live up to the hype? Coming off a great four-album run — Taken By Force, Lovedrive, Animal Magnetism and Blackout — the band started to stagnate on Love At First Sting. Safer, more commercial, and less inspired. We discuss: ⚡ Why “Rock You Lik...

Why do album reissues change names? You buy an album… only to realise it exists under two or three different titles and completely different artwork. Same album. Different name. Instant confusion. In this video, I show some records in my collection that are reissues, and why this trend is driving collectors like me slightly insane. If you’ve ever looked at two albums by an artist, wondering, “Wait...

In today’s review, we’re diving into Boss Man / The Best of (1972) by Charlie Rich — a fascinating snapshot of the early career of one of country and soul’s most underrated voices. Before the success of Behind Closed Doors, Rich was already blending country, blues, rockabilly, and soul into something uniquely his own. This compilation highlights that raw, genre-bending period .From the dated “Big...

Even after several listens, I find myself putting Nebraska back on. No big production. No arena-rock energy. Just Bruce, a guitar, and some pretty heavy stories. Today I’m talking about why this album keeps pulling me back — and why it might be Springsteen’s most powerful record.

The Seekers were an Australian folk-pop group that rose to international fame in the 1960s. Led by singer Judith Durham, they blended folk and pop with clean harmonies and became one of the first Australian acts to break big overseas. Their hits include “I’ll Never Find Another You,” “A World of Our Own,” and “Georgy Girl.” They were known for their wholesome image, strong melodies, and huge globa...

Judas Priest returned to a more intense, in-your-face sound with 1988's Ram It Down, after the synth-heavy Turbo before it. I really enjoy Turbo; however, I haven't had the same experience with Ram It Down on past listens. I decided to revisit Ram It Down in the last week, and in this video, I discuss where I think this fits into the Priest catalogue.

I look at Neil Diamond's Three Chord Opera, released in 2001, an album which has signs of positivity with songs such as 'I Haven't Played This Song In Years', but doesn't deliver an experience like his classic material.

I review Turn Back the Clock, the classic 1988 debut album from Johnny Hates Jazz. This album produced timeless hits like “Shattered Dreams,” “I Don’t Want to Be a Hero,” and the title track “Turn Back the Clock.” I tell my story of discovering this band and how the album fits into the late-80s pop landscape. Does Turn Back the Clock still hold up today, or is it purely a nostalgic listen?

Paul Young featured as the subject of the latest '...At the BBC' programme broadcast in January 2026. I watched this and had a great time; here are my thoughts on this programme and Paul's early catalogue!

In this episode, I share my thoughts on Song Sung Blue, the musical drama inspired by the music of Neil Diamond. Starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, the film tells a heartfelt story about love, ambition, and the power of music to bring people together. I break down the soundtrack and whether the film lives up to the legacy of Neil Diamond’s iconic songs.

We all have too much stuff in our lives, and that applies (certainly for me) with music. In 2026, I'm keen to appreciate the music that I already have, and particularly those albums that I've only heard once - or possibly not at all. This is the start of a series where I discuss what I am currently revisiting and what I have taken from revisiting this collection of music. This time, it&#39...

We examine Neil Diamond’s On the Way to the Sky (1981), an album released in a shifting musical landscape. The album finds Diamond pulling back from the grand, arena-filling style that defined much of his late ’70s success. We break down the album’s polished but sometimes overly cautious production, its reliance on familiar melodic formulas, and lyrics that lean more toward comfort than challenge....

I go through 16 Bruce Springsteen studio albums, ranking them based on what works, what doesn’t, and which albums I keep coming back to the most. There are obvious classics, a few underrated favourites, and definitely some choices that might spark debate. If you’re a longtime Springsteen fan or just starting to dig into his music, this is all just one fan’s take — so let me know where you agree (o...

I've been listening to some vinyl compilation albums over the last week. Two of these are from Kenny Rogers, the first from his First Edition band (Star-Collection), the latter featuring re-recorded versions of some of his best-known First Edition songs, along with newer hits (Ten Years of Gold).

Unmasked, the 1980 album from KISS, is a slight change from 1979's Dynasty, side-stepping some of the disco elements to revert back to a rock sound with elements of the new wave sound. Although fans were not keen at the time of its release, the album has seen more positive retrospective reviews. Here is my take on KISS's Unmasked.

I'm A Writer, Not a Fighter, released in 1973, was the 3rd album by Irish songwriter Gilbert O'Sullivan. Following the success of 1972's Back To Front, with its UK Number 1 single 'Clair', this also featured a Number 1 with 'Get Down', along with 9 other tracks. This, in my opinion, is Gilbert O'Sullivan's best album - from a criminally underrated songwriter! In...

Neil Diamond's Melody Road, released in 2014, was the first Neil Diamond album that I discovered, and played quite a part in my music listening journey. In this episode, I tell the story of discovering this album and my thoughts on the individual tracks, particularly some of my favourites; First Time, Nothing But A Heartache, In Better Days and The Art Of Love.