Rock N Roll Fashionistas Album Of The Week for the week of January 19th, 2025
“The Cost Of Loving Crisis” by RJ Archer & The Painful Memories
On the evening of April 18, 1775, American revolutionary Paul Revere was given the task of riding to Lexington, Massachusetts, with news that British soldiers stationed in Boston were about to march into the countryside northwest of the town. “The British are coming! The British are coming!”
250 years later history is repeating with RJ Archer & The Painful Memories. Their latest album, The Cost Of Loving Crisis, is also an attack, a sonic attack harnessing the swagger of grunge with the full force of the British blues revival.
In the early 1960s, a seismic shift rippled through the British music scene, a movement that would not only redefine the landscape of rock ‘n’ roll but also give birth to some of the most iconic guitarists in music history. At the center of this revolution was John Mayall, a force of nature whose band, The Bluesbreakers, served as a crucible for talent that would go on to shape the sound of an entire generation. This was the British Blues revival, a time when young musicians soaked up the raw energy of American blues and infused it with their own unique flavor, paving the way for the likes of Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Taylor, and a host of others who would take the world by storm.
A Very British Invasion of Sound
In the bustling London scene of the early 1960s, Mayall emerged as a mentor and guiding force. His band, The Bluesbreakers, was a revolving door of talent that featured Clapton, Green, and Taylor. Each guitarist brought their own interpretation of the blues, learning from Mayall while contributing to a sound that blended traditional blues with the emerging rock aesthetic. Clapton’s fiery solos on the 1966 album The Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton remain a benchmark for blues guitarists, an electrifying call to arms that inspires to this day.
The Bluesbreakers were more than just a band; they were a launchpad for legends. Jack Bruce and John McVie, who would go on to form Cream and Fleetwood Mac, respectively, held down the bottom end, while drummers Mick Fleetwood and Aynsley Dunbar provided the pulse that made the music come alive. This was a time when British youth were hungry for something real and raw, and the blues offered a gritty authenticity that resonated deeply.
An Inherited British Legacy Reimagined
Fast forward to present day, and the British blues revival’s spirit is alive and well, most recently manifested in the form of RJ Archer & The Painful Memories. This exciting new rock band is set to release their third studio album, The Cost of Loving Crisis, on January 31, 2025. With a sound that marries the swagger of grunge with the soulful undercurrents of the British blues revival, RJ Archer & The Painful Memories are poised to make their mark on a new generation of rock n roll.
Hailing 55 miles north of London in Cambridge, England, an area steeped in rich musical history, from Pink Floyd’s mad visionary genius Syd Barrett to contemporary psychedelic wordsmith rocker poet Robyn Hitchcock, the band consists of Richard Archer (guitar/vocals), Ben Kingsbury (guitar/backing vocals), Roger James (bass/backing vocals), and Marc Ritchie (drums). Their upcoming album is a hip shaking sonic journey that echoes the raw energy of their live performances while exploring new musical ground.
“We wanted to capture the most powerful sound we’ve ever had,” says Roger James. The band underwent a recent reconfiguration, with Ritchie joining on drums and Kingsbury shifting to a second guitar role. Their chemistry is palpable, and the excitement in their voices is infectious. “Marc has brought fresh energy into the band,” James adds, “which we wanted to capture on record as quickly as possible.”
Crafting a New Sound
Recorded over two single-day sessions at Half Tom Studios in Cambridge and produced by Naomi Randall, the album reflects the band’s desire to experiment while maintaining the essence of their live performances. “Naomi has been amazing to work with in the studio,” Ben Kingsbury explains. “We wanted a combination of live band performances with overdubs, and she pushed us to go again until we got the mood just right for each song.” This meticulous approach has resulted in an album with ten tracks that seamlessly blend hard rock, blues, country, and soul influences.
For the first time, RJ Archer & The Painful Memories have also enlisted guest musicians to enhance their sound. Tom Colborn’s slide guitar graces several tracks, adding a layer of depth that harkens back to the Delta-blues influences that inspired Mayall and his contemporaries. “Tom is a genius player,” Richard Archer remarks, “and working with him really got us all thinking with spontaneity.”
A New Chapter in Rock N Roll
Since their inception in 2019, RJ Archer & The Painful Memories have established themselves as a formidable live act, earning accolades at festivals like the Cambridge Salty Dog Festival and Buckfest. Their previous albums, Hot Mess (2021) and Horseplay! (2023), have drawn comparisons to rock legends such as Detroit’s punk pioneering MC5, to Flint Michigan’s Grand Funk Railroad, and 70s British pub rockers Dr. Feelgood. Recent singles like “Get It Together” and “Out of Line” have received enthusiastic airplay on British rock radio stations Total Rock, Rock Radio UK and ERB, further solidifying their trendsetting presence on England’s burgeoning underground rock n roll scene.
As they prepare for the release of The Cost of Loving Crisis, RJ Archer & The Painful Memories are well aware of the legacy they are part of, a lineage that stretches back to John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, intertwining the past with the present. “This album is the closest we’ve come to matching the energy and raw power of our live show,” Richard Archer states.
With the British blues revival echoing through the ages and the spirit of innovation alive and kicking in bands like RJ Archer & The Painful Memories, the future of rock ‘n’ roll looks bright. Mark your calendars for January 31, 2025, when The Cost of Loving Crisis will be available to download, stream, and experience on all major platforms. The British are indeed coming, this time, wielding guitars and a fresh take on a timeless sound.