Fan Reviews

Riff Music Magazine: February 2003 Issue

By Deanna Gloyd

A crystalline voice, gifted with passionate phraseology, and an adaptability to play venues both grand and intimate, Marcy Baruch is a must see (or rather hear) musician in the pop folk category. Baruch’s musical style has been compared to Emmylou Harris, Amy Grant, and Joni Mitchell. “Baruch speaks from the heart with her songs on everything from family and love to even the simple, ‘Thank you,” states Alex Teitz, President of Alex Teitz Media, a national indie music publicity company.

Among her recent major accomplishments: January she performed at the NAMM show; October of 2002 she co-billed with Atlanta Legend Caroline Aiken at the Soiled Dove; toured with and opened for Nashville artist Lynette Vantreese last summer. Currently she is working on her third CD to be released in June.

Although Baruch continues to do backup singing, her “favorite thing in the world, adding harmonic dimension to another artist’s work,” she stated about her own performances: “The best moments of any show I put together are those that become a collective, meaningful experience for every person in the room; where stories, vulnerability, and authenticity are given room to unfold as they will.” You won’t want to miss Baruch who will be headlining on February 20th at the Soiled Dove with Melanie Susuras. Additional show dates, and info are available at www.marcybaruch.com.

Marcy Baruch - Clearly
By Passion
(from DenverLocalMusicScene.com posted March 2003)

The elevation of Colorado must have an impact on voices in women. I can't understand how all these incredible voices reside in one city. I have just finished listening to "Clearly" by Marcy Baruch and yet again, a female vocalist has me in awe.

Imagine this, I go to metal concerts, dirty little punk shows and love to strap my high boots on with a short skirt and do shots all night. A country/pop artist shouldn't impress me like this!!

I listen to these songs and I hear strength, range and melody that tickle my eardrums. Even with twangy guitars I still anticipate what the next track will bring. Marcy Baruch knows how to sing and her band knows how to play. Tight, emotional and poetic I really can't compliment this creation any more. I would actually like to hear how some aggression or a little attitude would transform her style. There isn't a track I don't love but they all have a silky feel. Maybe try and get a little pissed off Marcy, don't be afraid girl! I don't think you could mess up a song if you tried.
Kisses, Passion

Hit Pick Marcy Baruch
By Catalina Soltero
(Westword, Feb. 20, 2003)

As audiogenic as she is photogenic, Marcy Baruch makes the best of country and blues influences while following her own introspective muse. Sultry, powerful and resilient, her voice shifts seamlessly from soothing and simplistic to bawdy and brash. With her 2001 release, Clearly, Baruch entered Denver's already crowded singer-songwriter pool; the release expanded her following and landed her a spot on last year's Westword Music Showcase ballot. Baruch alternates the setup of her live performances; while she sometimes appears with a full band, she also shines in pared-down acoustic settings. On Thursday, February 20, it's the former, as Baruch and band perform at the Soiled Dove with fellow noteworthy songstresses Jill Stevenson and Melanie Susuras. Clearly a show worth catching.

Marcy Baruch
Clearly (Big N' Brash)
BY LAURA BOND
(Westword, October 17, 2002)

Red-haired and musically ambidextrous, Marcy Baruch has pole-vaulted into the inner sanctum of Denver-area singer-songwriters. Her debut recording, Clearly, suggests she's paid the dues to be there.

It's easy to imagine much of the material on Clearly co-opted by aspiring Faiths and Shanias, artists who toil in the gray stylistic divide between sugarcoated country and plain old power pop. But Baruch does just fine when she tackles the stuff herself. Though she sometimes mans acoustic guitar, piano and keyboards, she is most visible as a vocalist, backed here by the five-piece Elephant Band.

Some of the sonic accoutrements Baruch chooses to adorn her songs have a slightly dated feel; wah-wahing guitars and keyboard solos add
unnecessary "flair" to otherwise solid and truly catchy material. And at
times her songwriting feels a little too familiar, recalling everyone from Kim Carnes to Stevie Nicks. Baruch's individuality is most evocatively
suggested by the spindly "Simple Is Enough," with its pitch-perfect
harmonies and understated melody, and by "Crazy," a rollicking up-tempo dare of a number that suggests she knows how to work it as well as how to wail.

Music Connection Magazine

"This Denver area performer’s second full-length CD has a buoyancy upon which her strong, melodious voice floats, reminding some of us of Dar Williams and Shawn Colvin. Whether it’s the rocked-up title track, “Clearly,” the country-inflected “Never Know” or the six-minute opus “Simple is Enough,” Baruch conveys a palpable warmth and conviction, handling each original tune’s subtle shift in style with ease. Versatility can be both a blessing and a curse, however, and this promising artist might improve her signability by distilling her strengths."
-- Music Connection Magazine, July 2002.

Songwriter's Monthly

ALBUM OF THE MONTH

"Marcy Baruch strides confidently through her kick-up-the-dirt songs with steel-toed vocals and a carefree, reckless zest for life. Marcy is more fun than spiked punch at a barn dance! Many show-stopping, breath-taking, goosebump raising moments. Baruch is a rare and versatile artist that is highly recommended." CLEARLY - BIG N'BRASH MUSIC - by Allen Foster, Songwriter's Monthly, October 2001.

GoGo Magazine

MARCY BARUCH AND THE UMBRELLA BAND "CLEARLY"

Marcy Baruch releases her second CD, Clearly, this month. Baruch takes her music-making seriously, and has carefully crafted an inviting record and a tight band that reflect her talent for songwriting, lyrical phrasing, and melody. In the world of adult-contemporary music (i.e. Michael Bolton, Celine Dion), the norm is schlock not rock. Kudos to Baruch for having the sense to actually remain contemporary.
Her voice is strong and warm. It can move easily from the up-tempo title track to an expressive ballad in "For Purnel Goode." Baruch's songwriting contains an authentic quality woven throughout the record that is, simply, nice to recognize. The stylistic range tends towards a pop country music flavor (Faith Hill) in both texture and instrumentation. Baruch enlists pedal steel and lap steel guitars, cello and violin as appropriate accents. The songs that lean toward rock or straight pop, like "Mercy Mercy" are diminished by how well the folk and country styles come through, especially on "This Road" and "Simple ls Enough."
A surprise is the blues-filled "Road to Westcliffe" to which Baruch deftly adjusts in mood and statement. This track, one of many, showcases the strength of the Umbrella Band featuring Denver musicians Dave Shapiro (banjo/guitars), Scott Surine (bass), Todd Moore (drums/percussion), Joe Green (cello) and Christopher Filley (keyboards). B+ ~ Judy B., GoGo Magazine, October 2001

FEMMUSIC.com

"Clearly is one of the best independent CD's I've heard this year. A blend of acoustic pop, country and traditional folk that brings forth comparisons to Terri Clark and Martina McBride." Alex Teitz, Editor-In-Chief, FEMMUSIC.com, September 2001

Steve Avedis
Engineer for Kenny Rogers, N' Sync and Tony Bennett

"You've got to hear this woman. Marcy Baruch is a very, very good songwriterwho writes in, roughly, a pop-folk style. She has a heart and an emotional quality that portray themselves through her lyrics, but even more so in her delivery. Her voice drew me in right up front with its silky-smooth, sultry quality; she just KILLS on the 'Purnel' song. She is like no one else I have ever heard." - Steve Avedis, September 2001

 

GoGirlsMusic.com
Review

This is the best new album I've listened to in a long while. Clearly has song with interesting parts, ineresting lyrics and is very emotional. Marcy Baruch reminds me of Natasha Henstridge from the film "Species" and has the commercialism of Shania Twain, but is more in the vein of early Sheryl Crow and a 'loving' Alanis Morrisette. Her lyric writing is similar in style to 'Passionate Kisses' by Mary Chapin Carpenter and yet this albm is very now.
In the first track "Clearly" I liked the innovative speaking behind the
catchy vocals. There are more up tempo songs such as "Mercy Mercy" during which Marcy sings "Dance With Me" and can see a long line of people lining up to say yes. "Dry bones get up and dance" are fun lyrics from "Road To Westcliffe" and remind me of fun times by the seaside. Westcliffe is a little seaside resort near Southend England, and I do not know if there is a Westcliffe in America.
"London Bridge" captures the feelings of America after the events of
September 11th 2001 and should be renamed "However It Shall Be". It features a really good piano part at the end. "Wait For Me" is a really great ballad that really captured my attention. "Up" shows that musically the entire band are ready for the big time, and "Thank You" is a great song with a great ending which leaves you wanting more. "Simple Is Enough" is a really strong tune and should be called "All I Need Is A Whisper".
The album's only flaw is "Crazy", which in itself is a catchy tune but needs more work as the vocals sound muddy, but I feel ths is due to the backing vocals. I feel that if "Crazy" had been saved for the next album, the album would flow better and be a lot stronger, and the emotion would make it a timeless classic. I feel that I want to postpone my trip back to London to stay and see Marcy Baruch and the Umbrella Band on October 5th 2001 at the Cameron Church Music Hall, 1600 South Pearl (Corner of Pearl and Iowa) Denver, though I'm sure I'll see Marcy at a bigger and better
venue in the future. Tim Noyce, GoGirlsMusic.com, September 2001