[1] The album was met with positive reviews from critics, who praised its eclectic production, mature songwriting and Glover's vocal performance, but were mixed on its lack of cohesiveness.

At the Q&A following the ceremony, Glover reiterated his intention to retire the Gambino moniker and release a final project, saying "I think endings are good because they force things to get better".

[22] On July 22, Glover released the official music video for "Lithonia", featuring appearances from Alex Wolff, Ludwig Göransson, and Suzanna Son.

[23][24] The same week Glover held a listening party event in Little Island, New York where he played and performed songs from the album ahead of release.

[17] Robin Murray of Clash called Bando Stone & the New World an "exceptional" work of "maturity and vision, out-pacing [Glover's] peers to deliver something vital, and true to himself.

"[30] The Independent's Louis Chilton believes the "overgrown opus" does little to dispel Glover's reputation as a "self-serious artiste", but its maximalist aesthetic and sublime production lives up to the hype.

NME's Kyann-Sian Williams felt the album's lack of a "clear sense" of cohesion or theme made it a "bittersweet" farewell to Childish Gambino.

[32] Alphonse Pierre of Pitchfork agreed, writing the "strained" and "familiar" record takes algorithmic swings rather than experimental.

[33] Christopher R. Weingarten, in his review for Rolling Stone, argued that some of Glover's ideas would have been better served if he had hired Weezer or Pusha T to deliver them.