Spring Session M - Missing Persons

[lbworshiper]

Missing 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.

[WolverineSyr]

[quote][i]Originally posted by lbworshiper
Pink-haired and plexiglass bra'd singer Dale Bozzio chirped like a cross-breed of a Barbie doll

[scramjet]

I love the hard start on "Walking in LA". Possibly my favorite new wave song beginning. There was a thread a while back on quintessentially new wave sounding songs and MP's 3 minor hits certainly qualify.

[medication881]

I beg to differ about U.S. Drag being "aimless wankery". I think that is one of the 2 or 3 best tunes on that album, and it ends side one with a flourish! [:(!]

[jaybag]

Yeah, but c'mon 881, "aimless wankery" has to be one of the funniest descriptions I've ever heard! Speaking of wanking, a little Cliff Clavin-esque side note: A British guy once told me about how in the U.S. the good folks at the DMV screen vanity plate

[NuWaveRx]

I thing lb's review is spot on. Rhyme and Reason is far superior to Sping Session M--a case where the sophomore LP is more sophisticated and has superior melodies. After that, of course it was a stab at "power station" style dance-pop with (no suprise)

[bruiser]

the "devo" feel is unavoidable: "spring session m" is produced and mixed by ken scott, who did "duty now for the future," and the two albums are eq'd and and mic'd and mixed the same way.

[mozo]

Eccch, Missing Persons was an attempt to jump on the New Wave bandwagon. Put together by some practiced musicians and an annoying vocalist. Pre-packaged, insincere garbage.

[bruiser]

[quote][i]Originally posted by mozo[/i]
<br>Eccch, Missing Persons was an attempt to jump on the New Wave bandwagon. Put together by some p