Rockstar Reviewer

Art Coverwork, courtesy of Naomi Randall Words by Anselm Anderson Rambling Man's Reviews has recently embraced a Blues revival, featuring rising stars. Amongst the talented guitarists and bands, RJ Archer and the Painful Memories stand out with their ability to blend old traditional blues with modern values.   This past Friday, The quartet released "The Cost of a Loving Crisis", their third studio album. These ten personal songs are packed into half an hour of modern rock, mixed with country, blues and soul. Produced by Naomi Randall at Half Tom Studios in Cambridge, England, she captures each song with a pitch-perfect ear. The vibrant vocals of RJ Archer are complemented by an explosion of tasty guitar licks and a tight rhythm section, resulting in a compelling listening experience. The band had to adjust with Marc Ritchie replacing Ben Kingsbury on drums, while Kingsbury moved to the position of second guitarist. The inclusion of guest musicians further enhances the alb...

  Words by Anselm Anderson Blues act RJ Archer and The Painful Memories return with their newest single, "Get It Together." The track is the latest from their upcoming album, "The Cost of Loving Crisis."   They continue from their previous release on this enjoyable teaser for the new album. I previously reviewed "Got to Leave," which I described as a throwback to the Delta Blues Era. "Get It Together follows on with a similar charm. The band, which features vocalist Richard Archer, bassist Richard James, guitarist Ben Kingsbury, and drummer Marc Ritchie, formed five years ago due to a shared interest in 60s and 70s rock music. The track is heavily influenced by Chicago Blues, which is evident with the continuous stop-start rhythm throughout the track. The track opens with RJ Archer's unmistakable vocals, conveying warmth and glee, while the bass and guitars combine. The rhythm builds tension, creating a sense of intrigue and mystery, before transi...