Connor Selby - The Truth Comes Out Eventually (Album Review)

Released: August 29 2025

Publisher: Provogue

Blues / Blues Rock

If I had to summarise my first impression of this album in a single word, it would be “fresh.” Despite the blues being a timeless genre, there’s always a risk of falling into nostalgia, vintage stylings, or familiar clichés. Yet this album avoids all that—it feels vibrant and relevant, with production choices that place it firmly in the contemporary world while maintaining the soul of the blues intact.

The arrangements are excellent and very well balanced, with a strong call-and-response dynamic between the lead and the backing parts. With its finely crafted counterpoint interplay, the music feels particularly alive and dynamic throughout. The balance between leads and responses, and the way all the parts support and interact with each other, gives the album a real sense of movement and vitality.

The presence of a brass section and a Hammond organ adds warmth, depth, and character to the band’s overall sound. Despite the instrumentation following a classic blues setup, the playing itself feels modern in the phrasing, the arrangements, and the overall sound and production. This record doesn’t indulge in nostalgia for the past, but stands as a contemporary statement of what the blues is today.

The vocals don’t aim for virtuosity, but they perfectly complement the sound of an all-around musician and guitarist—a true bluesman. The voice blends naturally with the overall sound, enhancing it rather than standing apart from it. This is also because Connor’s true voice seems to be his guitar. The guitar tone is excellent—rich, expressive, and full of character, in constant ‘dialogue’ with the brass section, the Hammond and the backing vocals.

From the very beginning, the album feels upbeat and energetic, yet it also includes slower moments where different moods and emotions are explored. Whether the sound is acoustic or electric, the blend always feels organic and cohesive throughout the album. The same organic quality extends to the lyrics as well, with words that feel carefully measured—musically and rhythmically balanced: the lyrics carry the thoughts and storytelling, while the music conveys the feelings and emotions, working together in perfect harmony.

Connor Selby’s career is already incredibly impressive! A multi-award-winning musician—named Young Artist of the Year three consecutive times at the UK Blues Awards (2020–2022) and Traditional Blues Artist of the Year in 2025—Selby has earned praise across the blues world and beyond. Having shared stages with icons such as The Who, Beth Hart, and Robert Cray, and appearing on Mark Knopfler’s star-studded charity single Going Home alongside the likes of Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, and David Gilmour, he has proven himself a genuine force in contemporary blues.

Why this album matters: The Truth Comes Out Eventually confirms Connor Selby as a vital artist redefining modern blues. His sound is steeped in tradition yet unmistakably forward-looking, a testament to how fresh and timeless the blues can feel when approached with new passion, refined taste, and a young sensitivity that keeps its universal soul deeply connected to the present.

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