Marc Ferreira Working Overtime
by Derric Miller
Staff Writer
You probably know singer/songwriter/musician Marc Ferriera best from his time in Goodbye Thrill and Venturia, but he’s branching out on his own with his new solo release, Working Overtime. This is all Ferreira — he wrote all of the songs, plays rhythm, lead and bass guitars, as well as keyboards, and produced the album. Oh yeah, he’s also a hell of a singer and mans the mic on each track as well. The only thing he didn’t do is design the album art, but he left that up to his talented brother Alex, a multi-faceted drummer and fledgling artist, at least CD cover artist.
It’s all about Melodic Rock with Ferriera, but the initial track is a little heavier than you’d expect, especially if you are a Goodbye Thrill fan. “Let It Die” employs a driving riff and Ferreira gets gritty on some of the verses, something you haven’t probably heard from him before. If it wasn’t for the huge melodies on the chorus, you’d think this was a minor attempt at mainstream songwriting. When you hear the two-part harmonies, it’s Ferriera accompanying himself, and you’ll have to give him props on his vocal prowess.
“Bad Girl” is almost bluesy, albeit in a Punk way. In fact, if you heard a few snippets from the first vocal line, you could compare this to Green Day at their poppiest. Ferriera has this songwriting thing down to a science, and you’ll embrace the hooks and the huge, catchy chorus. Hearing the understated guitar leads behind the vocal lines is a highlight on this track, but they probably should have been brought me to the forefront for emphasis. Still, what a cool composition.
Another one of the more driving songs is “Paper Cut.” You’ll hear some real menace in the down-tuned riff and the tempo, along with his ominous harmonies on the vocals during the pre-chorus. Although writing about a paper cut probably isn’t the most obvious subject line, it certainly works as a metaphor as he sings, “I can see but I can’t feel this paper cut that never feels!” Again, you may be expecting something more lighthearted from Ferriera, but he is branching out as a solo artist and not just covering the happier aspects of life — he’s covering it all.
Speaking of, “Nobody’s Happy” continues down that road. One of the acoustic rockers on the release, an environment Ferriera always shines in. If you want to hear what a “hit song” should sound like, and used to sound like, listen to “Nobody’s Happy.”
Another acoustically driven song is “I’m Waiting.” While Ferriera is better known for his Melodic Rock persona, you can’t help but be reminded of Butch Walker when you hear the chorus, and Butch isn’t exactly Melodic Rock. Ferreira seems to be able to take the best of the genres he listens to and weave those sounds together into his own formula, and it certainly works here.
The title track closes out the release. “Working Overtime” goes back to a straight ahead Rock formula. It’s also one of the most uplifting tracks, with some quirky lyrics like, “Money is never enough for you, that’s something that you can’t buy.” It then goes on to mention, “all we need is love,” thus the “uplifting” descriptor. Ferriera’s solo is playful, keeping in line with the song’s vibe.
Working Overtime seems to describe Marc Ferreira, and maybe that’s why he titled this release thusly. Considering his work in Venturia, Goodbye Thrill and this being his second solo effort, Ferriera keeps seeking outlets for his musical creativity. The final verdict on a release is always this: are the songs worth hearing? It will only take you until track two to realize that the answer to the question on Working Overtime is “yes.”
Online: www.myspace.com/marcferr
Track listing:
Let It Die
Bad Girl
Lazy
Paper Cut
Ordinary Life
Nobody’s Happy
Mr Bad Deal
I’m Waiting
Sleeping On The Couch
Working Overtime
HRH Rating: 7.8/10