The album "deals in fragile melodies and harmonies, soulful but low-key instrumentation, and lyrics full of subtle social commentary and humour.

[8] Featuring Paul Heaton's witty lyrics and vocals from him, Dave Hemingway and Briana Corrigan, it was a critical success too, being widely hailed for "reinserting cynicism, doubt, and biting sarcasm into pop music.

"[9] The album was a transformation for lead singer and lyricist Paul Heaton after his previous band the Housemartins; according to Robert Christgau, he turned "his talents to the interpersonal.

[9] Two singles from the album, "My Book" and "Let Love Speak Up Itself", charted outside the Top 40 of the UK Singles Chart, but the album also provided the band's only number 1 hit, a Hemingway/Corrigan duet called "A Little Time",[8] and its music video, featuring the aftermath of a domestic fight, won the 1991 BRIT Award for Best Video.

[14] This credit has caused confusion, as the studio closed in 1989 before officially reopening as "AIR Lyndhurst" in a redeveloped hall in December 1992 after a year of construction and remodeling.

Instead, the group – which includes three lead vocalists -deals in fragile melodies and harmonies, soulful but low-key instrumentation, and lyrics full of subtle social commentary and humour.

[2] According to Craig Tomashoff and David Hiltbrand of Picks and Pans, the album contains "sweet pop music with insidious lyrics.

Harmonious piano arrangements blend with songwriter Paul Heaton's soulful vocals and occasional backing horns to create 12 songs that work like aural lithium.

"[15] According to Trouser Press, the album "features even more uplifting melodies and more balanced lyrics: 'Old Red Eyes Is Back', 'We Are Each Other' and the Corrigan-sung 'Bell-Bottomed Tear' benefit immeasurably by demonstrating a bit more compassion for their subjects.

)"[16] Marie Lamie, writing in The Rough Guide to Rock, said "there are some very sombre moments here, both musically and lyrically, making something of a new direction.

"Pianos, strings and percussion are right down in the mix, the lead instruments are the gorgeous voices of Heaton, Hemingway and Briana Corrigan.

"[20] The song ends sadly, "Old Red he died, and every single landlord in the district cried/An empty bottle of whiskey lying by his side..."[20] "We Are Each Other" is "typical of the band from this period.

"[20] Robert Christgau considers the song to contain Heaton's "meanest" line, "Closer than a sister to her baby brother/Closer than a cat to the child that she'll smother.

Where in the past they had used deceptively sweet, even sentimental, musical backing, here there are slashing guitars and gruesomely bubbling bass lines to toughen the sound.

[23] Kessler said that "Hemingway and Corrigan provide us with an action replay of 'A Little Time'" on the song, but "this is Paul Heaton's show, and he doesn't let anyone steal it.

[8] However, it provided the band with their biggest hit in the United States, where it peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

Billboard magazine reported in July 1992 that "although it has not yet dented the Heatseekers chart," the album "was experiencing a sales burst" in the United States.

[34] They said it was due to the band's "well-attended" concerts in Los Angeles and New York City and their appearance on The Dennis Miller Show.

[35] A limited edition box set version released in the UK included CD and cassette copies of the album alongside the band's VHS music video compilation The Pumpkin.

Ted Kessler of Select gave the album a perfect five out of five score, saying "under a veneer of polished pop production The Beautiful South are contrary, twisted mavericks, and 0898 is the bright, acceptable face of the foul beast AOR – and their best work to date".

[44] Robert Christgau rated the album "A−", saying "even more obscure stateside since he got lusher conventions, songsmith Paul Heaton does his endangered species proud.

Peter Gabriel/Kate Bush hand Jon Kelly adds musical authenticity, and third vocalist Briana Corrigan sings lines like 'This is the woman you laid' with just the right edge of icy remorse.

"[40] Q gave the album a "Good" rating of three stars out of five, saying "The Beautiful South offers us boozers and losers, reshaping the world and overthrowing the government from the comfort of a bar stool.

"[45] Audio were favourable, saying "The Beautiful South effortlessly renders their sophisticated pop melodies and signature lyricism with silken production...wickedly clever.

"[46] People magazine, in its Picks and Pans section, were favourable, saying "minor melodramas aren't exactly the variety of glib pleasantries you'd expect such easygoing music to be delivering, but the ability to use the standard pop format to sneak in something new is the sign of a truly exceptional band.

In a retrospective review, Roch Parisien of Allmusic rated the album three stars out of five, praising the band's unusual sound and Kelly's production.

Although her decision was partly prompted by a desire to record and promote her own material (which was not getting exposure within the Beautiful South), she had also had ethical disagreements over some of Heaton's lyrics, most notably "Mini-correct", "Worthless Lie", which he had composed for the following album Miaow (1994), but also for the 0898 Beautiful South single "36D", which criticised the British glamour industry via scathing comments about glamour models, and she thought he should have targeted the media instead.