I think it is solid, and I need more listens with it to form a better opinion. I'm sure this album will grow on me more.
(Songs below are listed in the order they are on the album)
Songs I think are very good: Bird 1, Always Loved A Film, Louisiana, Simple Peal
Songs I think are good: Hamburg Hotel, Diamond Jigsaw, Moon in Water
Songs I think are decent/okay: Scribble, Grace, Between Stars
Those last three are not too good to me (those listed as 'decent/okay'), but I don't dislike them (there is hardly any song from UW I dislike). I'd say my favorite of those three is Between Stars. I read an opinion that it is over produced and I agree it does seem so. Less is more sometimes (or maybe often times, heh).
I really do think the album will grow on me more with repeated listens. I don't think it'll beat OWB for me personally. I definitely don't think that this is the best album from them since STITI or Dubnobass like some do. No disrespect to their opinions, just stating my take on such comments. I don't think this album will beat BF or OWB for me, and it may or may not rank above AHDO for me. (To note, that is just my current speculation about the album vs. other UW albums)
But such things really aren't that important.
I like this album, that is the bottom line. I like this album and it'll grow on me over more listens. I really look forward to what I call the alternate album (CD 2). I have a feeling that I'll like CD 2 of the box set more, and if this ends up being the case, that doesn't mean I'll just forget about the main album. It is exciting because CD 2 of the box set; with it, it is like we get two new albums from UW in the same month. And CD 2 isn't "the rejects" like someone said. It's the alternate album. It is unofficially another album from UW, if you ask me. Unofficially one, but I'll just chalk it up as another major release from them.
It will be like the River Run series. A major release from UW that is geared for the diehard fans.
And about the bonus track, Simple Peal is a great track. It is no different from the version that has been around, but that is okay; the song is very good as it is. When I have YDS AR Version, I'll put Barking on my iPod with the nine tracks of the regular release (because I really like Louisiana as a closing track) and then make a playlist for the playlist category that has Simple Peal and YDS AR Version. Also, I hope that Are you Rockstar? gets a release on an EP. That deserves an official release. Same thing for Toobee. Another good track that could use an official release on an EP. Maybe they should release an EP with those two songs and Louisiana.