R.J. Archer & The Painful Memories - The Cost of Loving Crisis (2025)

“Get It Together” has Zeppelin touches, with a bit of Status Quo in the riff. “No more talk of the weather here”—it’s time to get down to business! So it is a boogie rocker with a heavy riff.

“Barbara” melodic, late-sixties style rock, a bit psychedelic, like something twisted from the “White Album.” There is a lengthy instrumental leading into the song, which then lyrically sweeps into that psychedelic groove.

“A Heart in Winter”—love the title, remember—”a sad tale best for Winter” (Shakespeare in ‘Winters Tale’). A ballad, whimsical, acoustic and stripped down like the trees. All is cold here; temperature drops and yet there is a floating sense to the track.

As an aside, for the first time, the band has used guest musicians on this album. Tom Colborn lends slide playing to three tracks on the album, seasoning “Got to Leave” and “Neon Safari” with creeping Delta-blues licks and bringing floaty Hawaiian feels on “A Heart in Winter.” So that is where that floating feel came from!

“Out of Line” was the single. This was a trip into some southern rock; you need a nice bourbon and coke to listen to this one properly! It’s a good bit of rock n’boogie and the drums gain a nice heartbeat for the “ooh” that takes us into the track. It’s a fun rocker and it switches mood nicely mid-section, with a good bit of light and shade in there. Post-interview, I revisited this one and checked out that solo! Yes, there is some Ace guitar playing there!

Blue Dancer – very likeable and delivering a brash live sound. It has a seventies heavy feel to it this time. I would think this would have a heavy, brash feel when played live.

“Time is No Healer” is medieval, a nod toward a folk sound with some blues in the mix. Again, a stripped-back sound. The song takes us on the road to those lonely bars where some late-late music is being played over a whiskey.

“Burning Up” is fast and rocky. The guitars break off to some fine soloing and the drums keep the power and the vibe running along with us. It was a song in a hurry!

“Neon Safari” had a different feel about it—slow and a bit funky. It has a very different tone to the rest of the album. I saw it as a decent track, but I struggled to get into it.

“See Me Fall” reminded me of Ace Frehley vocally; it was a bit spacey generally and it leads with those little drum rolls and some slow, dark grooves.

Got to Leave” returns to some boogie rock to close the album. A solid track with some southern style and a beat you sway along to.

In summary, what we have here is some solid boogie rock with some medieval troubadour touches. There was only one track that I struggled to get into; otherwise, I was carried along with a fine listening adventure.

Standout Tracks: “Out Of Line,” “A Heart in Winter,” and “See Me Fall.”

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