The complex musical landscapes of Out of the Silent Planet, this eclectic rock trio's 1988 debut, reach dazzling new proportions on the band's second effort. If the fable that accompanies the lyrics provides a clue, Gretchen Goes to Nebraska is a concept album – a sort of musical Alice in Oz. It tells of the mind-blowing obstacles and odd characters our heroine encounters in her quest for the...

There's a tiny demon with an affinity for Muzak who sometimes visits artists while they're working on their albums and whispers grim, dangerous things into their ears. "Lower the guitars," he will say helpfully, or "Fellas, fellas, what's with all these offbeat chords and jarring rhythm changes?" If the MOR monster was around on any previous albums by King's X – Out of the Silent Planet...