[1][2][3][4] Nate Chinen of The New York Times described Lincoln as "the rare jazz singer who writes her own songs, and the rare jazz songwriter whose music conveys the lessons of her life," and called the album "a study in gravity and wisdom," one that "captures the depth of her art with majestic serenity and bittersweet clarity.

"[7] In a review for AllMusic, Matt Collar wrote: "This is a beautifully raw and intimate album full of lament and the faint perfume of romance...

These are enigmatic torch songs and playful blues, dark elegies and poignant ballads all featuring Lincoln's own devastatingly precise lyrics and melodies that hint at not just death and regret, but also a lingering passion for life.

"[6] Suzanne Lorge of All About Jazz called the album "a stunning collection of some of the singer's most memorable works," and stated: "Lincoln is a writer of some depth and the eleven original tunes... offer strong testament to her poetic talents...

Her raspy alto with its unhurried bends and shifts probes the nether reaches of the music in the manner of her artistic forebear Billie Holiday, but the album's feel is definitely contemporary.