Rip Rokken wrote:S2M wrote:The term 'grower' is a myth. You either like something, or you don't. 'Grower' is a euphemism for 'I have to like this album, song, movie'....etc. For instance, *I'm* not a grower....you either like me, or you don't....

Not true at all... I think it comes from having different initial expectations, then with repeated listens you learn to appreciate it for what it actually is. There is often disappointment for me at first, then after time I realize what they are trying to do. Trust me, there are albums I really want to give a good solid chance to, but after multiple listens they fail to catch on. I can't make myself like something when it just isn't there. Goes for movies too, like
Superman Returns.
"grower" depends on the type of song for me. For the typical pop-rock song with clearly defined verse, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, solo, bridge, chorus out style, first impression is usually fairly close to the final, discounting the effect lyrics can have on a track. Most of Journey's stuff falls in this category.
On other types of songs (see progressive songs), it takes a few listens to get your head around it. Magnum, for me, is a band where most of the songs take a few listens. Once you start doing timing changes and stuff, it takes time to get your head around from what you are expecting, and what is in the song. Not sure why, but almost all of their albums have been grower albums.
One other area for "grower" albums is when the style changes on the new album compared to the previous one. Take Bon Jovi from New Jersey to Keep the Faith to These Days. Both KTF and These Days (especially the 2nd) threw me for a loop when I heard them. Loved the songs eventually, but it took some time (especially on These Days) to figure out where they were coming from. Then it hit, and ended up becoming the favorite album from them. Some songs never click, but others you listen to a few times, and then all of a sudden the "filler" becomes one of the best songs of the album.
You're getting that style change on this album, and some more subtle melodies. That tends to spell grower for me. Sometimes that's good, as the immediate album is often relegated to the dust bin pretty quick once the initial sheen wears off.