Spring Session M - Missing Persons
Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 3:22 amMissing Persons are generally known only for 3 minor new-wave hits in the early 80's: "Walking In L.A.," "Destination Unknown," and "Words." The video of the latter appeared on Beavis and Butthead, with Beavis singing "Doo yoo heeya mee." Pink-haired and plexiglass bra'd singer Dale Bozzio chirped like a cross-breed of a Barbie doll and a squeak-toy, while the band (including Terry Bozzio and Warren Cucurullo, both alumni of Frank Zappa's band) played some of the fluffiest pastel-toned new-wave/synth pop imaginable. They were the aural equivalent of cotton candy; fluffy, mindless, sugary, and without any nutritional value, but on their first full-length album, 1982's Spring Session M, they actually sort of hit the spot. Many of the melodies and chord progressions are less obvious than you would expect, but still contagious.
The three aforementioned songs are the catchiest and most fun on the album. "Walking In L.A." is the best, since it actually balances the fluffy synths with some driving guitar work. Many songs that weren't singles were almost as good. "Bad Streets" is a nice piece of overadrenalized pop, while "Windows" is pretty in a peculiar way. "Tears" borrows The Police's sense of dynamics and mutates it into a Casio anthem.
The weakest songs are actually the ones that are the least fluffy. Sometimes, like on "U.S. Drag," they'll try to show off with an odd time signature, but it comes across as aimless wankery. other times, they try to toughen up their sound a bit, and conversely come off as a bad, diluted imitation of Devo. They should really stick to the poppy stuff. All in all, Spring Session M is not a bad buy if you can find it used or cheap. It lacks substance, is severely dated, and can get to be a bit too sugary in large doses, but sometimes, something this sweet and sticky is needed, and it's good for that.
The three aforementioned songs are the catchiest and most fun on the album. "Walking In L.A." is the best, since it actually balances the fluffy synths with some driving guitar work. Many songs that weren't singles were almost as good. "Bad Streets" is a nice piece of overadrenalized pop, while "Windows" is pretty in a peculiar way. "Tears" borrows The Police's sense of dynamics and mutates it into a Casio anthem.
The weakest songs are actually the ones that are the least fluffy. Sometimes, like on "U.S. Drag," they'll try to show off with an odd time signature, but it comes across as aimless wankery. other times, they try to toughen up their sound a bit, and conversely come off as a bad, diluted imitation of Devo. They should really stick to the poppy stuff. All in all, Spring Session M is not a bad buy if you can find it used or cheap. It lacks substance, is severely dated, and can get to be a bit too sugary in large doses, but sometimes, something this sweet and sticky is needed, and it's good for that.