Anyone who fondly remembers the ‘90s work of country singers like Patty Loveless, Pam Tillis and Kathy Mattea ought to discover Marcia Ramirez’s Life Goes On pronto. This 2007 release recalls the grounded intelligence and empathetic heart of the artists named above. Ramirez — a veteran backup singer with two previous albums to her credit — makes up for her lack of raw vocal power with a smoky tone and aching inflections. Her songwriting is vivid and revealing — “Ticket to Tulsa,” for instance, deals with complex issues between a parent and child with honesty. Story-songs like “Black Riviera” and “Easier Not To” combine intriguing narratives with brisk country-folk tracks. “Give Up You” (a steamy kiss-off to a bad-news boyfriend with Memphis soul overtones) and the title track (a message of encouragement riding a big acoustic guitar line) convey the inspirational strength of Martina McBride’s best work. Ramirez delivers a quality effort with Life Goes On.