On 21 March 2008, James Walsh wrote: There has been an emphasis on strong melodies and simple arrangements for this album and the guitar playing of Richard Warren has definitely enhanced the sound.

However we have spent a lot longer writing and recording this one and the result is the perfect companion to Love Is Here.According to Manchester Evening News, there isn't a particular theme to All the Plans but "married life and international politics are some of the key ingredients."

In an interview with James Oldham, Walsh commented that he thought the band had perhaps become a bit too defensive to media impressions:[4][better source needed] We wanted to prove people wrong.

Kadeen Griffiths from Washington Square News wrote that: "The band's fourth studio album is both its first with Virgin Records and with Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood.

The addition of subtle, simple sounds like the tambourine on "Boy in Waiting" and the piano intro to "Change My Mind" gives the album a homey, personal feel.

"[14] On 26 February 2009, The Guardian gave the album its first rave review, praising the quality of the songs, the emotional core, and Ron Wood's guitar work, summarising "With no one expecting it but themselves Starsailor have delivered.

"[8] PopMatters called the lyrics "a rather pedestrian litany of breakup woes" but concurred that the melodies were well written and asserted that they, and most especially Walsh's vocals, more than made up for such flaws.

"[11] On 9 March 2009, Andrew Hirst from the Huddersfield Daily Examiner said that, "Now nine years into their topsy turvy career, Starsailor have reached a new peak with an album of stunning elegance and presence.

The title track, which boasts an appearance from Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood, could be Oasis at their most anthemic, while James Walsh's voice has rarely sounded better than it does on "Hurts Too Much."

"[6] Entertainment.ie's review echoed these sentiments, remarking "If you're looking for any more reasons to dislike Starsailor, you'll find them in abundance on album number four, which is a continuation of the dull pub-rock sound that they've rarely deviated from during their nine-year career.

"[7] Gillian Watson of The Skinny was yet another voice in this chorus, asserting that "The culprit here is frontman James Walsh, whose banal lyrics and achingly sincere vocals are a wearying and occasionally embarrassing listen.