Getting better -- much better
925111
This is my second Nero Wolfe book, and I'm getting the message.  Wolfe's an eccentric; Archie is someone I'd love to meet; the stories carry me along.  The denouement in this book is not exactly shocking, but I'm getting into the rhythm of Stout's writing and plan to keep going with more stories until I'm hooked -- or not.
4045771
This book has improved immensely since the rough and awkward start of the first book.  That first awkward chapter of the first book is worth slogging through to get to here.  The writer improves with each chapter of this series he writes.  The last part of this book (no spoilers) has a powerful haunting scene.  The story doesn't flinch away from it at all which I very much appreciate.  Some things I had been skeptical about pays off because the characters start to question it as well.  Some of the secondary characters get a lot more depth here as well.  One of the kids sole character trait still seems to be "Elf Aficionado" though...  I will be the next book the day it comes out.
3138259
A great product with needed improvements making it better than original product
3512381
Beginning with this first book, I am realizing a happier and more fulfilling life, that just keeps improving.  Book II, III and IV just continue helping me create a more happy and vreative life.
3433745
I had heard the this series was getting better, and this book proves it.  It would be a good idea to read the book previous to this one to get the full story.
749595
A big improvement over the first.  It would be great if some more instructions were sent with it.  It was a little frustrating starting out but once you get an understanding it's easy.
3165440
I've never been a huge fan of Yung Joc, but I heard from other people that his latest album Hustlenomics is much better than his first album. I didn't hear his first album, but I listened to THIS and while there are some good moments, there are more moments that are not-so-good.

But first, the good news: Joc has really improved his style for the most part. He shines on songs like "Cut Throat" (featuring Jim Jones, who also sounds better than he usually does; and the Game, who actually DOESN'T name-check anyone), "Play Your Cards" and the necessary honey-sings-the-chorus track, "Livin' the Life". The Jazze Phizzle productizzle "Momma" is also pretty decent except that, well, I guess people still don't realize that it sounds a little weird to want a woman that's like your mother. Also good is the title track, but considering that Joc keeps saying "welcome to Hustlenomics", it would make sense if it were the opening track; instead, it's the closing track -- well, depending on what version of the album you have (more on that later).

Now, the bad news. Joc often raps alongside his alter-ego Pak Man, a habit that tends to get pretty annoying (T.I. vs. T.I.P., anyone?). This is especially evidenced on "Pak Man", but it is also shown on the overrated "Coffee Shop" as well as "Hustlemania", a pointless game show skit. Speaking of "Coffee Shop", though, Gorilla Zoe is on that song, and when he shows up elsewhere on the album with screwed and chopped choruses, he doesn't hold much weight (see "Coloso" or "Bottle Poppin'"). "BYOB" is a filler track, and "Brand New" has Joc and Rick Ross completely butchering the Stylistics' "You Make Me Feel Brand New" with their sing-along chorus -- and although Snoop Dogg kicks a nice verse on that song, his talking at the end is stupid. And the otherwise dope "I'm a G" suffers from a painfully weak chorus ("I'm the seventh letter of the alphabet/I'm a G"???).

I also wonder what version of the album I have because I don't have "Hell Yeah" or a few of the skits; instead I have "Coloso" and some different skits. Hustlenomics isn't wack, but it isn't the crash course you need to get educated in the game, so if you're not a fan of Yung Joc, leave it in the store.

Anthony Rupert
3709895
This third album from Razorlight shows a fair amount of musical growth from their first album (which I also have; I do not have nor have I heard their 2nd album).  Compared to the first album, this one is a bit more polished in both arrangements and sonics - the first one struck me as a bit raw and underproduced, with mostly fast-tempo songs; here, the songs seem a bit more fully realized and distinctive, but tending to occasionally sound like show tunes, with big choruses.  One thing that stands out here is that the vocals and the music itself (more piano than before) sounds a bit like Live and Keane - much stronger vocals than on the first LP, and there's an earnestness to the playing that is pleasant to hear.
704586
Much improved over 21. I like it a lot. The story held together better and seemed more plausible. Looking forward to the next book.
861404
I'm happy to say I liked this one. I've been a loyal reader of Terry's for fifteen years now, and to be honest over the last few years I've been a little worried. I was worried after "Law of Nines" and "The Omen Machine," which I felt were pretty bad missteps in Terry's writing, but this book was a vast improvement. Not a total improvement, but it showed a significant rise in quality from the previous two books. For example, he still suffers from repeating information or phrases too often. I could sure go without reading the phrase "occult conjuring" EVER again after this book, but the story was good, the tension was well built, the characters seemed like the characters I've come to know and love over 12 books (something I cannot say for "The Omen Machine") and the new characters (Samantha in particular) were interesting and engaging. But the repetition is nowhere NEAR as bad as it was in "Omen Machine."

It's probably still not up to par with his first three or four books (which I still feel are his strongest entries, especially "Stone of Tears" - my all time favorite), but it is certainly heading in that direction and has regained important ground.

We've got a clearer picture of the threat (which was only hinted at in the previous volume) and I now feel this thing is going somewhere. Hannis Arc and his interesting new partner (no spoilers, I promise) make an interesting team and provide a good and serious threat to Richard and Co. PLUS there is a well done moment of heartbreak that leaves some interesting implications for the next volume. I can't say what it is, but if you're a long time fan, you'll know it when you see it.

The best praise I can give for any book can probably be said for this one: I wish I didn't have to wait for the next one!
4915434
I'm a bit confused by some of the hate for this book, since I thought it was much improved from the previous book. While there are some problems, most notably Ms. Lackey's current practice of inserting pages of previous books into the current book, on the whole it moved the story along quite nicely.
I admit that I, like others, originally thought this would be a trilogy, although "Chronicles" does imply a longer series.  I've adjusted my thinking in that regard, which helped my enjoyment of the book tremendously.  In this installment, we learn Mags' real name and more about his origin, though not all.  Hints are given about Mags' true status--he's apparently important enough to send people looking for him, and for the head of state in his parents' country of origin to take a personal interest.  We also learn more about Karse, specifically how it got the way it was before Solaris and why Vkandis didn't step in sooner--and why Valdemar didn't just go in and perform regime change.  And Ms. Lackey introduces a new Suncat, which is enough for me--love the Suncats.  Secondary characters are moved along as well--the biggest development being between Bear and Lena.
To the problems in the book, besides the previously mention insertions (Ms. Lackey, if you're writing so many books you have to resort to this device, you have this avid fan's permission to slow down.).  I'm still not quite sure of how old Mags is and how long he's been at the Collegium.  Some passages seem to imply that it's been a couple of years, some that this it's been less than a year.  Mags at the start of the first book seemed to be about 11 or 12, in this book he seems to be 15 or 16.  Yes, the mine could have slowed his emotional and physical growth, but Lena seems quite young in the first book as well.  Of course I can assume that was her shyness, and I can just establish in my own mind that Mags was 14 but stunted due to conditions at the mine and that it has been about two and a half years since the first book.  But that's work that should be done by the author, not the reader.  And of course, Ms. Lackey puts in details about everyday Valdemar life, which I enjoy but others may not.
All in all, though, I thought this was a good continuation of the story, and I'm looking forward to the next book.
391265
I was skeptical as to whether it was worth buying this album again, as the previous CD sounded good enough to me.

I was wrong. Right from the first side, everything is clearer and more detailed.

The remastering becomes very apparent on "Across The Border"; the brass section break is clear and distortion-free, and the final orchestral slide is breathtaking.

I could argue with the bass levels at a few points. "Sweet Talkin' Woman" is a little bass-heavy at one point, and "Standin' in the Rain" is a little muddy until the second chorus--but to be fair, that just means it sounds like the previous release. Lacking personal access to the master tapes I'm willing to believe that's how it should have sounded.

Things get better again for "Summer and Lightning". "Mr Blue Sky" isn't amazingly improved, perhaps because it has always received careful attention in previous remasterings.

Improvements in the second half of the album are less noticeable, but still welcome.

On the down side, there are (still) a few fadeouts in the high end of the right channel of "Night in the City", but the tape dropout/fadeout at the end of "It's Over" is removed. The transient peak towards the end of "Standin' in the Rain" is still there.

Overall, well worth the upgrade, unless you're prepared to spring $25+ for the Japanese import.
521551
This 2CD shows the great improvement that Oldfield has done in his recent music. It's a developing and understanding of the new technology. From the light Cd: ANGELIQUE a great opening melody, FIRST STEPS is a long composition (10 minutes), full of flashbacks of Oldfield's early compositions, SUNSET just beatiful.
From the shade Cd: RESOLUTION a Jarre's type of music, SURFING using vocaloid he makes another hypnotic song (Like Hibernaculum, Mistake, Foreing Affair, from previews works) with a Great guitar solo, TEARS OF AN ANGEL the best in both albums.
A very refreshing music
2285676
I am impressed with the changes in the newly updated version of this book (3/29/13). The author has done a wonderful job of revising. The tale flows much smoother, and the additions make it much more fleshed out. The ending is superior to last version by far and you leave the ending with a smile. Well done!
All read
690270
OK--it's true that Tim's voice isn't as sweet and high as it once was. I too miss that one note he used to hit that was so beautiful. But many men's voices change and deepen with age (including Billy Joel's), so I guess he will just have to adapt to a new way of singing--and his fans will just have to adjust our expectation of the vocals on any new album. Vocals aside, however, the album was excellent. This is the first album in 7 years that either of the Finn brothers worked on that I truly liked. There are no dirges, no dark, nonsensical lyrics, no New Age chanting, just pure pop brilliance. Unlike other reviewers, I liked the album the minute I played it. It required no time to "grow on me." I'm also puzzled about the complaint that the songs weren't tuneful. I found Good Together and Death of a Popular Song to be candidates for the Catchy Tune Hall of Fame. Some of the others had a filler-like quality--and some like Currents and Underwater Mountain seemed to go on too long. It's also less challenging and experimental than Before and AFter, his masterpiece. But for those looking to hear some cheerul, likable love songs, I highly recommend it.
4943712
Excellent program just keeps getting better.
2430500
You have to wrap our head around the back and forth. I is now getting better.