grows on you till it's a love affair
926384
The Want One-esque ep's that were released previously this summer initially stand out as the flagships of the album, mainly b/c they are familiar and carry together in a similar tone.  Thus the other songs, upon hearing them for the first few times stand out as the misfits of the family like rebellious children wanting to disown thier parents.  At some point the nuances of these new songs are the ones that really carry the 'want' tale to yet another world and I am very impressed and greatful of Rufus' authorship.  I wish the ep's weren't released earlier so that I wouldn't have this separation with the songs and would be able to experience them as a cohesive whole.  The DVD is a real treat, particularly Liberty Cabbage.
1354067
It took me some time to get to like this album. I could decribe it as having three layers: On first listen, all the songs are catchy and listenable, but don't seem to have much substance. For awhile the album seems superficial. Then, if you listen carefully, pay attention to the lyrics and listen to whole thing straight through, the power of Parklife becomes apparent. It is a full, freestanding work of art, cohesive and brilliant, and ultimately far deeper than many an assortment of gushy ballads.

Girls & Boys - Terrific, incredibly addictive tune, drawling and decadent, one of the stronger standalone songs on the album (rightfully, since it was a single).

Tracy Jacks - Upbeat, singalong chorus, inspiring tale of a man who dared to...bulldoze down his own house. Light, but fun.

End of a Century - Tied for my personal favorite. Short, but intricate and haunting. The first example of what Blur will do many times on this album - concealing a devastating lyric in the package of an almost upbeat pop song.

Parklife - The album's other big name. A hit, and a great song, but not really characteristic of the album as a whole (funny it was called that, then).

Bank Holiday - For some reason I think this song is hysterical. Very working-class.

Badhead - Continuing in the style of End of a Century. Elegant, funky music, terrifically sad song.

The Debt Collector - One of two short, offbeat instrumentals (something Albarn seems to like, given also his Closet Romantic contribution to the Trainspotting soundtrack). I like it, but not as much as the other instrumental, the last track.

Far Out - Not much to see here, but fits in the album well.

To the End - And another major song. I like the simple lyrics on this one.

London Loves - This is the money track. It ends a bit weakly, but I think it really sums up modern society better than almost anything at all. The lyric is just so brilliant - could listen to it over and over. "He loves the violence / keeps ticking over..."

Trouble in the Message Center - Yet another very eerie track, with engimatic lyrics. Pairs well with London Loves.

Clover Over Dover - A tragic sort of old-fashioned ballad, as catchy as bubblegum pop. Another very characteristic track for the album.

Magic America - Possibly _the_ most catchy track, and certainly single material. It gets a bit old once you've listened to it for the umpteenth time, but a very,very clever song.

Jubilee - Muddy lyric and not too catchy; not really fond of it. Somewhat interesting character study.

This is a Low - Fitting, darkly epic closer. I'm not sure it's one of Blur's best songs, but it certainly does give you that feeling of wrenching modern despair prefaced by End of a Century, Badhead, London Loves etc., leading perfectly into--

Lot 105 - This is what seals the album's brilliance for me. Following a sweeping ballad like This is a Low with this little minute-long snatch of catchy lounge music. I love this 'song' to pieces.

It may be more of a _grower_ than you'd expect, but Parklife rewards on many levels. A definite classic.
3696699
The music is okay. Not really my style, but I listen to it occasionally, and each time I listen to it I like it more. So it grows on me.
4822167
The lead singer has a very unique voice, but after a while you get used to it and it actually becomes quite catchy.
841049
One of my favorites-- it grows on you each time!  Ever fun to watch these stars in the early years.
2994050
This doesn't apper to be as good as Love Scenes, The Look of Love or When I Look in Your Eyes but it is sure worth a spin in your changer or mp3 player. She has been one of my favorites since I first heard When I Look in Your Eyes.
3430851
I actually hated this album the first half dozen times I listened to it, but as I continued to listen and give it a chance I've grown to love it. It's kind of off putting at first, but it will really grow on you and lately it seems like all I want to listen to.
4255738
On my first listen, I wasn't really sure. Second listen, I kinda smiled and said OK. Follow up listening, I love it. I would have liked a few more verses but there is so much going on with this album. The sound is huge and it takes a few listens to start feeling it.
3672483
It is difficult to find books in this genre that have a new flare to them. Usually the story lines are similiar as well as the characters. This had some of that, but the magical part of it, made for a new twist to the average story line.

It takes a little bit of reading to really get into the book though. The beginning catches your attention, but then it quickly jumps back in the past and you have to learn about how the characters grew up together and fought until they reached adulthood. That part of it is a bit slow. By the time they do grow up, it gets much more interesting and even touches the heart strings a bit. Not my favorite by Nora Roberts, but it was alright as a contemporary romance.
4604261
i did not like this album at first but it grew on me.i rate it 4 and a half stars.
3826067
Although this album isn't as "radio friendly" as Disarm the Descent, the songs grow on you the more you listen to it. The lyrics seem much more personal this time so give this album time if the first listen isn't what you expected.
4856451
Lily has had a two year affair with Romance, but it seems that lately, he's taking her for granted. One evening at a Girls Night Out, she runs into an impossibly sexy musician named Dick and she is immediately interested. Not wanting to blow her situation with Romance, she keeps her affair with Dick very quiet. Unfortunately, it can't go on like that forever. Lily gets a job with Hallmark cards and has to move from Atlanta to Kansas City. Almost immediately, she meets a tall, handsome realtor who banged into the back of her truck. They strike up a friendship that progresses toward a love affair, then she meets his captivating brother. How is she going to sort out all of these men? PIECES OF A MAN by Cas Sigers is the story of just how such a complicated love life turns out.

Interspersed throughout the novel are poems written by Lily; some are to her lovers and when she finally realizes she doesn't really know herself, they are to her. By this time, the very pretty Lily has met yet another man.

Cas Sigers' novel, PIECES OF A MAN is a very interesting love story which also includes several sub-plots involving Lily's girlfriends. It keeps the suspense going as all of these women reach crises with the men in their lives. The characters are all well developed so there is no guessing about motives and what drives each one. The end tends to leave you guessing, however.

Reviewed by Alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers
1362272
At first, I did not care for any of these songs. As these songs grow on you, you have started to like these songs. I really like these songs.
4315929
The first time I heard the album, I wasn't really too excited. However, after playing it a couple of times, I can definitely say that I am really enjoying it. There is a nice combination of up tempo and ballads. It seems to be very personal to him.  I think men will appreciate "It's Written all over my face" a perspective on relationships you don't often hear defended in song.  I also really like "The Truth" which is heartbreaking.  "Alright with Me" could use another verse, but I dare anyone not to tap their toe to it!  "Bring it Back" is also very moving.
Again - I would tell people to give it a chance, it really grew on me!
4692908
This is one of those albums that slowly grows on you. I didn't buy it from Amazon but through their site so I could get a limited pressing. First playthrough there were a few songs that stood out. I'm now at the point where I dig the entire lp.
3158702
It's hard to register artistic growth for someone who was as much of a sales blip as Lisa Germano was, but at the point she arrived at Excerpts From a Love Circus, fans could begin to notice an overwhelming growth in artistry.  Her first two records - On The Way Down From the Moon Palace and Happiness - were interesting enough girl-hates-herself takes on the woman-hates-herself first two records of PJ Harvey - which is to say, less challenging.  Then came Geek the Girl, a concept album of such intensity, it could be loved by only those willing to commit to it (which is recommended).  Such an accomplishment is hard to top, but Excerpts finds strange territory for Germano - something like adulthood!  In deadpan lyrics of "Coffee in the morning, and wine in the evening/ and everything else is boring boring" or "The world revolves around you, but it revolves around me too," Germano seems to wink at her wounded girl persona and stake out more interesting terrain.  That climaxes in "Singing To The Birds" a song that finds the little girl of self-loathing really meaning a line of "It's kinda funny, when the rainfalls/ you could learn to love yourself."  Such growth fits her well, without a doubt - the production and composition of each song is confident, and attended by a great revolving door of musicians, and her trademark fiddle is now a lovely accessory to her whimsical voice.  The album closes on the great "Big Big World," a song that, in its tremulousness, admits its fear of her demons but seems to walk on anyway.  Such an admission is the pinnacle of adulthood for our girl.
932252
At first I thought this would be a cliched love at first sight book. It was,  but it was also a love story that became more believable as I read. Melodramatic, but still worth the read.