Starbucks Makeover: Win or Fail?

So yet another large company has decided to throw their hat in the ring of brand "redos".  When first reviewing this logo in my office, it seemed most people wrinkled their nose at it.  And while I too wrinkled my nose at the logo initially, it wasn't because I thought it was horrid; it was because I've never really liked the darn thing to start - and even with it's new simplified design - I still don't. However, putting my prejudice aside and looking at it from a design perspective, I believe the update to be perfectly executed.

Starbucks is a major brand recognized around the world. At this point it is useless and inadvisable to change drastically. People don't like change: if they had come out with a new logo that maybe was just a typeface with no "siren" or mark people would be screaming FAIL and Starbucks would probably have to tuck tail and revert, similar to the way GAP had to earlier in 2010 when they attempted to refresh their look.  In fact if you look at the progression of 4 decades worth of Starbucks logos, the evolution seems perfectly natural.  Maybe someday we'll get to simplify even more and the logo will be only the crown and star, but only if its done right and people have had enough time to grow tired of the last incarnation.  For now I say Bravo, good job.