I must admit that I wasn't too impressed with Bread & Jam for Frances the first time I heard it.  However, I find that it's a very subtle album.  I notice something new every time I listen to it, and it has begun to grow  on me.  The music is technically superior to Serpentine Gallery, most  likely due to the fact that they are now more accomplished musicians, and  the fact that they have added a live drummer.  The overall sound is much  cleaner and more finished-sounding.  They've also gone with a much  different sound, part of why it took me so long to like it.  However, if  you take the album on its own merit, and don't try to compare it to  Serpentine Gallery (one of my all-time favorites, and hard to beat), it  really is an excellent piece of work.  I hesitate to give it more than 3  stars simply because I DON'T feel it's as good as Serpentine (down to 4  stars there), and also due to the fact that I really am still listening to  it, and that it's taken me so long to appreciate it (down to 3).  It's  almost too subtle for its own good, since a lot of listeners will listen to  it once or twice, decide that it's Bad Trash (sorry, couldn't help it), and  never listen to it again.  All I say is give it a chance, and try not to  make any comparisons.  Judge it on its own merit, and I think you'll find  that it really is very good.  3 out of 5.
I must admit that I wasn't too impressed with Bread & Jam for Frances the first time I heard it. However, I find that it's a very subtle album. I notice something new every time I listen to it, and it has begun to grow  on me. The music is technically superior to Serpentine Gallery, most  likely due to the fact that they are now more accomplished musicians, and  the fact that they have added a live drummer. The overall sound is much  cleaner and more finished-sounding. They've also gone with a much  different sound, part of why it took me so long to like it. However, if  you take the album on its own merit, and don't try to compare it to  Serpentine Gallery (one of my all-time favorites, and hard to beat), it  really is an excellent piece of work. I hesitate to give it more than 3  stars simply because I DON'T feel it's as good as Serpentine (down to 4  stars there), and also due to the fact that I really am still listening to  it, and that it's taken me so long to appreciate it (down to 3). It's  almost too subtle for its own good, since a lot of listeners will listen to  it once or twice, decide that it's Bad Trash (sorry, couldn't help it), and  never listen to it again. All I say is give it a chance, and try not to  make any comparisons. Judge it on its own merit, and I think you'll find  that it really is very good. 3 out of 5.