American magazine Stereo Review in its August 1989 issue called Cloudland "smart music for a mass audience" and placed the album in its "Best Recordings of the Month" section.

[11] Pete Clark of Hi-Fi News & Record Review left a lot of warm words on the album.

Working within a fairly straightforward rock format, the Ubus bring more wit and panache to the business of making music than a dozen pop lamebrains.

As per him: "Because avant-garage icons Pere Ubu have never considered writing an undeniable 'pop' type of album, Cloudland sounds as fresh, vital and impulsive as a debut and quite their best since 1978's Dub Housing.

"[13] All tracks composed by Pere Ubu (Chris Cutler, Jim Jones, Scott Krauss, Tony Maimone, Allen Ravenstine and David Thomas); except where indicated