Foma (album) explained

Foma
Type:	Album
Artist:	The Nixons
Cover:	Foma (The Nixons album - cover art).jpg
Released:	May 23, 1995
Recorded:	One and One and Devonshire Studios, N. Hollywood, CA
Genre:	Alternative rock, hard rock
Label:	MCA^[1]
Producer:	Mark Dodson, The Nixons
Prev Title:	Halo
Prev Year:	1994
Next Title:	The Nixons
Next Year:	1997

Foma is the second album by the American band the Nixons, released in 1995.^{[2] [3]} Its title was inspired by the 1963 novel Cat's Cradle, by Kurt Vonnegut. "Foma" is defined in the album's liner notes as "harmless untruths intended to comfort simple souls; lies."^[4] Foma has sold more than 500,000 copies.^[5]

The Nixons supported the album by touring with Gravity Kills.^[6] "Sister" was a hit on alternative rock radio.^[7]

Production

Recorded in Hollywood, the album was produced by Mark Dodson and the band.^{[8] [9]} Seven of the tracks are rerecorded songs from the band's debut; of the remaining six, only three were written specifically for Foma.^{[10] [11]}

Critical reception

AllMusic staff writer Erik Crawford wrote "Foma opens with a scream and then delivers a hard rock romp that will delight fans of the heavy alternative genre". The St. Petersburg Times praised the "aggressively hard-rockin' yet intelligent borderline metal sound."^[12] The Dallas Morning News labeled Foma "old-fashioned big-statement rock with big-statement chords."^[13]

The Dallas Observer called the album "enervating musically and downright silly and infuriating lyrically ... Which means, in short, they ain't no damn good any way you slice it."^[14] The Santa Fe New Mexican concluded that "with the exception of 'Sister', none of the 13 cuts on Foma stand out either musically or lyrically; they are not particularly distinguishable from the general din that is modern rock radio."^[15] The Philadelphia Inquirer deemed the band "pleasantly derivative."^[16]

Track listing

All songs by The Nixons/Lyrics by Zac Maloy except where indicated.

1. "Foma" – 3:13
2. "Head" – 4:05
3. "Sweet Beyond" – 3:32
4. "Sister" – 4:28
5. "Smile" – 4:07
6. "JLM" (Jesus Loves Me) (William Batchelder Bradbury/ Anna Bartlett Warner) – 0:24
7. "Fellowship" – 4:12
8. "Wire" – 5:15
9. "Trampoline" – 4:44
10. "Drink the Fear" – 4:36
11. "Blind" – 5:56
12. "Passion" – 4:28
13. "Happy Song" – 6:18

Personnel

• Ricky Brooks – bass
• Jesse Davis – guitar
• Zac Maloy – guitar, vocals
• John Humphrey – drums

Additional personnel

• C.J. DeVillar – engineer
• Mark Dodson – engineer, producer
• Willie Dowling – string arrangements
• Eric Fischer – mixing assistant
• Kelle Musgrave – production coordination
• Eddy Schreyer – mastering
• Michele Sepe – angel's voice
• Mike Stock – engineer
• Glenn Tipton – guitar solo on "Drink the Fear"
• Toby Wright – mixing

Charts

Album - Billboard (United States)

Singles - Billboard (United States)

References

Notes and References

1. Web site: How do The Nixons hold up 20 years later?. Becky. Carman. The Oklahoman.
2. Web site: The Nixons Biography, Songs, & Albums. AllMusic.
3. Bessman . Jim . MCA nominates The Nixons for cross-format success . Billboard . Apr 8, 1995 . 107 . 14 . 14.
4. Foma. The Nixons. 1995. CD booklet. MCA.
5. News: Wolgamott . L Kent . Edgefest . Lincoln Journal Star . 13 Sep 1996 . D1.
6. News: Findlay . Prentiss . Life on the road is rough for the roadie . The Post and Courier . 13 June 1996 . E8.
7. News: Terlesky . John . IT HASN'T BEEN AN EASY CAMPAIGN FOR RECOGNITION FOR THE NIXONS . The Morning Call . 7 Apr 1996 . F3.
8. News: Nichols . Natalie . Norman's Nixons Profit From Radio Saturation . Tulsa World . June 9, 1995 . Entertainment . 4.
9. Flick . Larry . Sister . Billboard . Mar 23, 1996 . 108 . 12 . 76.
10. News: Pensinger . Matt . Road trips fuel the Nixons . Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph . 16 Feb 1996 . AA15.
11. News: Ferman . Dave . Nothing tricky about the nixons . Fort Worth Star-Telegram . June 15, 1995 . LIFE & ARTS . 3.
12. News: Boyko . Ron . The Nixons: Foma . St. Petersburg Times . 4 Aug 1995 . Weekend . 13.
13. News: Gubbins . Teresa . The Nixons Foma . The Dallas Morning News . June 11, 1995 . 6C.
14. Web site: Jesus, this is really bad. Robert. Wilonsky. Dallas Observer.
15. News: Koster . Michael . EDGEFEST 2: IT'S THE ONLY BIG GIG AROUND . The Santa Fe New Mexican . 7 June 1996 . PASATIEMPO . 33.
16. News: Sherr . Sara . THE NIXONS/IMPERIAL DRAG . The Philadelphia Inquirer . 13 Sep 1996 . FEATURES WEEKEND . 19.
17. The Billboard 200 . Billboard . Jun 8, 1996 . 108 . 23 . 118.