Marcia Ramirez: Press

MODERN COUNTRY Reviewed 02-26-08
Marcia Ramirez
Life Goes On

Marcia is a songwriter who was frustrated, in not being able to get anyone to listen to her songs. So from that frustration Marcia decided to record them herself trying to reach the listener directly. People started to take notice in a “big way”, so she continues to write and record her own CDs as long as people want to listen. Apparently people do want to listen. Play the first cut on Life Goes On titled Black Riviera and you will understand why. As she writes about falling in love with the bad boy with a big heart, beautiful blue eyes and that black Riviera, you are immediately caught up in the situation at hand. She’s hooked you with her words, her music and her voice.

Marcia is a versatile powerhouse of a singer who can win you over with the subtleties and the strength she shows in her incredible voice. Yet amazingly she is also one of the best lyricists to come our way in a good while. Each song lyric has a solid story content and her way of presenting them that makes you believe she is telling you about her own life or talking to you like a close friend sharing her feelings when she needs a friend standing beside her. Songs like “Easier Not To”, “Get It Right”, “Give Up You” feel like hit songs as they play, like they could be your next favorite song but then the next one plays and you fall in love again. “Ticket To Tulsa” is the true story of Marcia finding her birth parents and how it happened in those days of shame when two young lovers thought they had no other choice and Marcia just tells it like it was. I am so impressed with the fine quality of song writing that Marcia is giving us that I am sure we will hear much more from her as time goes by.


MSP

MARCIA RAMIREZ has done her ‘Nashville’ homework and with a natural gift for turning a phrase has honed her craft such that she can whip up hook driven, radio-ready country tunes at will. Her subject matter isn’t especially unique but she does such a fine job with words and melody it really doesn’t matter.

The title track ‘Life Goes On’ feels like a hit. It has the crucial mainstream country elements; an observational ‘familiar’ story, approachable lyrics that ring true and a memorable hook. ‘Ticket to Tulsa’ has a grab-your-heart-strings theme and ‘Black Riviera’ is an up-tempo tune about a girl learning a life lesson (maybe) and having a heck of a good time doing it. In all cases her ability to add an outstanding line separates a Ramirez song from even above average country tunes. In Black Riviera she writes: "I begged him don’t leave me behind - I want to run into the ocean - I want to touch that Hollywood sign". Clearly she is telling us tells us this girl has more going on than following a dangerous ‘Bad Boy’ to California. All the songs I listened to are well produced allowing Ramirez to showcase her very competent and satisfying voice. The instrumentation is solid and complimentary, leaving no ragged edges or distractions.

Marcia Ramirez has written for and played along side of well established country stars. She knows the territory and no doubt has seen what it takes to get there. An artist of this caliber can take the arduous, long odds, journey toward country stardom with her eyes wide open. Ramirez knows she has songwriting to ‘fall back’ on. But I get the sense that she is a songwriter first. And it would be interesting to see her broaden the themes and move from the safer but somewhat confining ‘country’ produced formula. Of course she just might do both! Hey, anyone who has the chutzpah to rhyme ‘Santa Clara’ and ‘Riviera’ and get away with it has a heck of shot!

"Life Goes On" - This 3rd album was released in Feb 2007 and Marcia sent me one of the first copies! It has 11 tracks, all of which were written or co-written by Marcia. In fact, one of my favorite songs, Red Paint Smile was co-written with Nashville's Curb Records songwriter Lisa Brokop, who also has some major hits to her credit! A really great team like that would be a natural for writing great music, and they certainly did with this song. It has it all, beat, melody, lyrics and Marcia's beautiful voice, a voice so good that it's backed up many major stars, including Patty Loveless, Tanya Tucker, and Rodney Crowell. Marcia is so multi-talented it's no wonder she gets so many requests to perform.
On these tracks Marcia played the keyboard and her hubby, Mike Waldron played guitar and also produced the album. Most of the recording was done in their home-built "Barefoot Jacks" studio. They brought in some pretty good musicians to make up an awesome sounding band for this album! Marcia also used co-writers for background vocals on some of the songs. If you've read many of my reviews you'll know how I feel about nobody being able to put heart 'n' soul into a piece of music like the songwriter can. Now, if you have all the vocal parts, lead & background, being sung by the same folks who wrote the song, you would just about have to end up with it sounding it's very best, and that's what these songs sound like!
Favorite tracks? Well, let's start with Red Paint Smile, of which I put 2 clips on here. The first clip really sets up the story for the rest of the song, explaining where the title comes from, then the second clip from later in the song does two things; it tells a later story and also really shows off Marcia's beautiful voice! I swear it's a wonder some major label hasn't locked that voice down under a big contract! This song is now on my Favorite Indie Song List, along with some of the other tracks from this album!!
Other favorite songs on the album include the opening track Black Riviera which has a good dance beat to it thanks to some terrific drum work by Mel Watts, great background sounds which includes some very fine orchestration work, good, catchy lyrics, and an awesome melody being sung by that wonderful voice of Marcia's. I wouldn't be at all surprised to hear more about this song when it comes time for the next CMA & Grammy awards. It's a song that could easily cross over to the pop music market!
Included on my list of favorites is a song titled Give Up You, another toe-tapper that would go over well on the dance floor. In the clip I put above, you can hear the way Marcia can bend her voice around giving parts of the song a 'blues' treatment. Hubby Mike Waldron helped write the song. I don't know who wrote which part, but I do know that the end result is another winner of a song!
Ticket To Tulsa is a song with a lot of personal history behind it. From the album credits and thank you's and her biography info, the song tells the true story of Marcia's birth parents. It also turned out to be a pretty good song! Other good tunes on the album include Easier Not To, Get It Right, Almost Me Again, and the 'social conscience' type of song titled Life Goes On, which is the title song from the album, was written by Marcia and touches on social issues such as welfare, teen runaways, and driving while intoxicated. That's a lot of territory and it's marvelous the way Marcia pulls it together.
Bottom line? This Marcia's best so far, in my opinion, even edging out last year's Barefoot Sessions album. It has music that will make fans of contemporary country very happy, and a lot of it could very easily crossover to the pop market. I think it has some songs that are pure winners, I think the whole album ought to be considered for some serious awards, and I think Marcia's fans are going to go nuts over it! I'd love to see this album being sold through some of the large chains, including the Wal-Marts like the one I work at. Marcia Ramirez is a fine musician, a prolific writer of good songs, a good stage performer, sings with the voice of an angel, she's a wife, a mother, and a good looking, warm hearted, friendly person. Who says you can't have it all!! Thanks for the music Marcia.