I, too, do not understand why some have panned this album. It is excellent by any standards, including Level 42's very high one. I agree that it is an "acquired taste" and takes time to grow on you. In my case, it took about 10 years for that to happen. I dug it up a few weeks ago and found myself thinking it was just a superb album. Up until that time, I saw it as a good, albeit unspectacular Level 42 album. Now I can say it is just plain good. The songs "Man," "Take a Look" and "Staring at the Sun" are among a few of the songs that need time to sink in. Highly recommended if you can find it.
