His style and intensely personal lyrics has evoked comparisons to Townes Van Zandt, Kris Kristofferson, and Harvest-era Neil Young.

Shortly after, he began playing regular open-mic shows at local coffee houses where he developed his confessional style.

"[5] Upon its release No Depression declared "His honest stories and thoughtful poetry places Caleb among some of the best songwriters of this time and could possibly make him the 21st Century's Townes Van Zandt.

"[6] In 2011, following the release of I Wasn't Built For a Life Like This, Stine appeared in the off-Broadway production of Woody Guthrie Dreams.

The Baltimore City Paper says the album, "houses Americana-tinged songs about death, falling in love, the prison-industrial complex, institutionalized racism, wanting a dog, and the empowering voice of God...it is ultimately a gritty, tricky record that answers to nobody.