Missing Persons is a band of highly skilled musicians who clearly like to jam more than they like to write hooks. They also like to recreate the sounds of harried, pressure-filled modern life, which they do really well. Rhyme and Reason, the group's second album, is full of odd sounds: a piercing noise that resembles a smoke alarm, lush washes of foghornlike notes, nerve-racking jazz rhythms. But for all their virtuosity, the music seems detached – and so does singer Dale Bozzio.

Hers is not a warm voice that pulls you in. Instead, you stay out there on the surface, following her quirky style with curiosity. You don't, however, want to cock an ear to what she has to say, which is usually some dippy message: "After you've given all you can, give again." "Now is the time for love." "Dreams find you when you follow." And so on. "Waiting for a Million Years" is a pretty, evocative song; unfortunately, at almost five and a half minutes, it seems like you wind up waiting for a million years for it to end. (RS 422)

DEBBY MILLER