They described the track as an "expansive psych epic" that finds "Parker building up and breaking down a pule day-glo melodies before just letting the whole thing run free during the song's closing minutes."

[10] KCRW's review of the track states that "starts off like a classic Motown chugger and then turns into a stunningly woozy and inspired existential trip that recalls The Flaming Lips at their The Soft Bulletin finest."

They described the track as being deeper, darker, and having breakdowns that "never distract from singer and group architect Kevin Parker’s greatest gift: melody", having "nightmarish synths" curling around "the sun-baked scuzz", adding " new hiccups and alterations to their old school sound.

"[14] Barry Walters of Spin stated that "true to his outsider identity, Parker is clearly already rebelling against the expectations that come with winning Album of the Year honors in Australia’s Rolling Stone" by sticking "bubblegum" piano riffs into the track while "hitting notes higher than those even Spears and Minogue can achieve.

"[15] Writing for HuffPost, Andres Jauregui stated that "if Tame Impala were from Brooklyn, then one might unflinchingly say that their new song, "Apocalypse Dreams," which the band shared today, sounds like if the Beatles were from Bushwick, circa summer 2009."