David Ramirez All the Not So Gentle Reminders
David Ramirez has long occupied a distinctive corner of the Americana world—somewhere between the confessional poetry of Jason Isbell and the cinematic sprawl of Nathaniel Rateliff. On All the Not So Gentle Reminders, his sixth studio album, Ramirez steps further into that lineage, delivering a rich, emotionally resonant collection that cements his place among the genre’s most compelling voices.
Born out of heartbreak, personal burnout, and a pandemic-induced pause, this record could have easily turned into another collection of stripped-down, sad-boy ballads. But Ramirez took a different road—retreating to rural Alabama, pushing past his fears, and returning with his most musically ambitious album yet. The result? An expansive and often exhilarating journey through love, regret, reinvention, and, ultimately, release.
The album opens on a dreamlike note with “Maybe It Was All a Dream,” built around synths and orchestral textures. It’s a bold intro, more Bon Iver meets Daniel Lanois than your average Americana fare—but it sets the tone perfectly. Then Ramirez hits the gas on “Waiting on the Dust to Settle,” a mid-tempo anthem about clawing his way back from the brink: “I gave myself time to burn / time to be wild / time to avoid the healing… here comes the uninterrupted silence I’ve been missing.” It’s a line that would feel right at home on an early Drive-By Truckers record—full of grit, gravity, and grace.
“The Music Man” is a standout track, capturing the awe Ramirez felt hearing music through a Walkman for the first time. It’s a track that blends the nostalgic punch of Jackson Browne with the lush, layered arrangements of Rufus Wainwright—a sweeping autobiographical tune with heart and heft.
“Twin Sized Beds,” another highlight, is a moody and melodic meditation on intimacy, with a slow build that crests into a flurry of free-jazz chaos—think Tom Waits, but less whiskey and more weathered wisdom.
Throughout All the Not So Gentle Reminders, Ramirez uses synths, horns, and strings without ever losing the dusty soul of a Texas singer-songwriter. He hasn’t abandoned his roots; he’s expanded them.
There’s something quietly radical about this album. It refuses to wallow in heartbreak, even as it mines it for meaning. It leans into nostalgia, but keeps its eyes on the horizon. And in a genre where restraint is often mistaken for authenticity, Ramirez dares to go big—emotionally, sonically, spiritually.
All the Not So Gentle Reminders is a record about moving forward after the fall. It’s David Ramirez at his most fully realized—his voice steadier, his vision clearer, his songwriting sharper than ever.
Find his music here on BandCamp: https://davidramirez.bandcamp.com/track/the-forgiven
Enjoy our previous coverage here: Show Review: David Ramirez in Cedar Park, Texas
