Sunday, August 29, 2010

Loose Cannon Is Now Available

Today is the day. The record is available in all of it's blown out, tape-saturated, over-driven glory! Please download and begin enjoying at loud volumes! Over the next several weeks I plan to post the lyrics for the songs with a little back story of what each of the songs are about and how they were recorded.

Album Credits:

All Performances By: Michael Ferrari except drums on "Apple" and "Salute To The People" which were written and preformed by Drew Kramer; drums on "Loose Cannon", "Revenge Reprise", "Sweet Potato Pie And A Bullet", "Take Me To The Edge", "Watch Them Burn" and "Tell Me" written and performed by Peter Ferrari.

Cover Design: KLS Marketing

There is really no way to give credit to all who have helped me learn how to talk about music and put it out there for the world to hear, but there are a select few individuals who come to mind: Adam Hann, Ken Mueller, Matt Goss and James Byers.

It should go without saying, but It wont. My family is the biggest reason I have been able to even approach the idea of making a record. I was playing all of the rough mixes for two weeks trying to figure out what needed to change and they listened right along. Eventually I realized that their approval is the only thing that really matters to me. So much of what I have written about for these songs comes from my experiences with Susan, Cole and Cohen. There is no title for what they are, except... Love. Gift. Reason.

I am a little anxious to hear your feedback on this project, but feel confident that the choices I made during it's creation were all intentional and I stand behind them. I hope that the songs poignantly, emotionally and cleverly convey the experiences that they were born from. And I hope that somewhere in them you, the listener find something to connect with. Enjoy!!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

The Skinny, The Deal, The Info, The Scoop

Ok. I've been talking about this for over a year. I've been working on it for just as long. I feel like I would have been stringing you along if I had not been as honest as I've been with regards to my process as an artist and as a person. I am so glad that you have been patient with me as I worked on my first solo recording project. I am pleased to let you all know that I will be releasing "Michael Ferrari, Loose Cannon" on Tuesday, August 31st. The record will be available only for digital download and only on my blog site. I am pumped to be able to share the songs with you and hope that you enjoy and view them as a snapshot of the last 10 years of my life. You will be seeing updates on availability and how to download the songs as the weeks progress. Thanks again for your support and encouragement. Later. TMF

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Post-Monday

Update: My post's, similar to new music or movies, will be released on Tuesdays. I understand that many folks sit down at their desk on a Monday morning and look at all the blogs they follow in their blog reader of choice and gear up for the week. Here is the problem, mine won't update till Tuesday. So to curtail the potential issues with my posting schedule missing my target audience/demographic, I will now call my entry day Post-Monday - I'm posting on Tuesday, which is after Monday. Just an FYI (as my friends in the corporate world over-say). Have a good one. TMF

Sunday, August 1, 2010

A Life Of Contradictions

As a Christ Follower, I am always looking for a clearer, more succinct way to understand, much less communicate, what has happened to me. I'm different now. But I also am no different. What the hell is going on?!? This day I feel as though I understand grace and the depths that Jesus has saved me from. That day I feel like the depths of darkness in my heart have the power to overtake the salvation offered by any deity. I waver, flounder, wonder, believe, know, doubt, question, preach, judge, forgive, rise and fall on the promise of the words in Romans 7: 15-25(msg). Read them...

15
What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise.
16 So if I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s command is necessary.17 But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help!18 I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it.19 I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway.20 My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.21 It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up.22 I truly delight in God’s commands,23 but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.24 I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question?

25 The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.

Here is a thought that I've been rolling around in my head for a week or so. Do I live with an "arrival mindset"? I would be so quick to tell you that I don't ever think I've arrived. But do I look forward to that impossible goal in my heart? Am I so focused on the idea that I will reach some form of ultimate success here in this life that I completely overlook the process for the outcome? This is a question I have to face every day. Let's see how it goes...