These are expanded liner notes written by Jim Fusco about each track on “Formula”.

The ultimate satire on the common “Formula Album.” Ten tracks. The fast beginning song. The love song. The single. Filler. Short songs. Short album. Cheap packaging. A couple of original-sounding songs. And, finally, the last track everyone waited for. However, I can’t only give the bare bones. These songs are from the heart and have a whole new guitar-based style. Not really a step up from “My Other Half,” but more of a step to the side. Also, I couldn’t leave you with only ten songs, so stick around for another very personal work.

Mold Me- The Fast Starting Song

The way to break out of your old ways is to adopt the ways of someone else. It’s written about Becky Daly and I trying to break myself out of the vices passed down from my family. It’s my first real rock/pop song and the lyrics don’t fit the style. I used the real bass guitar I got for Christmas 2002 for this song and it completely filled in the entire sound. This song is certainly not what people expect when they begin to listen to my songs. The funny part about this song is that it was written entirely on acoustic guitar.

The Second Time- The Love Song

Written as a present for my first real love, this song represents the perfect love song- just a little bit of mystique. Too bad the lyrics are out of date and really don’t say what I wanted to say. I wrote this as a present for Becky Daly and it was the first present I ever gave her (besides a little rose plant). This song has a nice chorus with both Becky and me singing from the second chorus on. This track is also the only one with 12-string acoustic guitar in it, giving the song a unique sound.

A Changed Man- The Single

The best personal song I’ve ever written. Catchy, good lyrics, has a beat, and can definitely be played in concert. I got the first line of a song from a teacher who was yelling at the class, “There’s too much talking here. I need it silent.” The tune stuck in my head and I decided that this song would combine commercial catchiness with some personality to become the perfect Jim Fusco single.

I’m Bored- Filler

Song from an old album (ala, “I Wanna Do What You Do”) that finally has turned itself into a real song. I should’ve kept this for the folk album I have planned in the future. One day, a few years ago, I was feeling bored because my brother wasn’t around and I had nothing to do. I don’t exactly know how I came up with the song because I didn’t play anything other than the drums at the time. But, I recorded it and kept it floating around until I had the tools to turn it into a respectable song. I originally had different lyrics for the last verse which are pretty cheesy looking back, “Maybe I can play Nintendo, oh, but I need a good commando. And, if I win, who will I cheer with?” I always liked the other lyrics to this song, and even though they’re pretty corny themselves, I think the song makes you want to sing along. The bass in this song is actually played on the bottom two strings of an electric guitar.

We Can Now Receive- Filler

A Christian song from Jim Fusco? I couldn’t believe it either. But, now I’ve done it and I don’t have to do it again. I hate to say it, but I’m slightly embarrassed by the corniness. I came up with the guitar riff shortly after buying my acoustic guitar and I decided to write a praise song just to see if it would work. So, there, now everyone knows my feelings on the subject. If your opinion differs, then that’s okay- I only want you to listen.

For Real- The Weird, Push-the-Envelope Song

The “An Ear Into My Soul” of Formula. Written about my daydream of hoping to find the perfect person for real (and I did: RD). I came up with the semi-riff and decided that I could sing to it. I wanted it to be relaxing and peaceful. For some reason, I wanted to write a song that people could rest peacefully to. Unfortunately, I think I over did it just a little bit. The percussion in the song was played on a thick, hardcover dictionary because I always loved the sound of tapping on the semi-hollow surface and because I didn’t want to exactly reproduce “An Ear Into My Soul” by using bongo drums.

I’ll Show You the Way- Filler

Another old song- had to use it sometime. Written in middle school when I stayed home sick one day about my mother’s hopes for me. At the time, she said she really liked it, and that compliment stuck. I had to add a verse to this song because it’s short enough as it is! I decided to add the electric guitar at the last minute. I really expected this song to be a nice acoustic song, but I think it gives more attitude with the distortion guitar. The song, really, has a bit of an edge to the lyrics. Take another listen and see if you can spot the spite in the words.

Break It To Me Slow- “Flip-side” Song

The perfect blend of Chris Hillman/Gene Clark in one song. Not fast enough to be the single, but I want people to know this song. It’s about waiting to hear the worst from someone and asking them to be gentle. I wrote the song on electric guitar and decided that it sounded better on acoustic. However, I couldn’t get the chorus right because the acoustic guitar sounds very “dead” when it’s played on the higher frets. So, I had to add electric anyways. This song is faster than I wanted it originally (it’s the fastest it can be now), but I think it works and is really catchy.

The Eye of the Storm- Filler

The first part of this song, the piano riff, was stuck in my head during an orientation at my college where I had no access to a piano. I had it playing for seven hours in my head before I forgot it. However, it kept coming back to me and finally stuck when I got to a keyboard. I also had “The eye of the storm” section in my head that came to me on vacation in Florida. Somehow, I changed the key and melded it with the piano riff to make this song. The lyrics don’t seem to make much sense, and I don’t even know what they mean. But, I did when I wrote them. The first part is about my horrible habit of waking from dreams and thinking that they’re still happening, and I think the part about “while he rearranges” is about Chris Moore. I guess I’ll never be sure.

Becky’s Song- The “Save the Best for Last” Gem

The best ballad I’ve ever written. My favorite chorus and meaningful words about none other than the person in the title. Most of all, it even has a beat- a rare feat in a ballad. I decided that it was about time I wrote another song for Becky. So, I got this tune in my head while I was at that college orientation and even left myself a voicemail with me singing in my temporary dorm room! The song means that I wanted change before, and all of a sudden, things did change. Now that they did, things are the way I want them to be, so I don’t want things to change anymore! The chorus didn’t have that choppiness at first (I think that makes the song) but I decided to add it to make the song unique.