[1][2][3][4] The album was independently produced and released on Brennan's own label, Black Market Glamour, and initially sold in small numbers online and through mail-order only.

Debutante was a surprise critical favorite, placing highly on multiple lists of the best albums of 2016, including WFMU, Popdose,[5] and the Village Voice Pazz & Jop poll.

[14] During the campaign, Brennan received social media support from Laura Jane Grace, Neil Gaiman, James Urbaniak, and John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats.

"[5] American Songwriter's Peter Gerstenzang said "Debutante depicts an artist remarkably conversant with the last forty years of Pop, who is able to blend her influences and obsessions into one glimmering musical gem after another."

"[20] Writing for Rust, Eric Peterson said "Cait Brennan's music is as powerful and individual as she is, and Debutante is an example of an artist putting everything they have into their work.

"[21] Writer Todd Alcott described the album as "hearkening to the days when pop music albums were created to get lost in, with lush harmonies and intricate multi-layered arrangements, (Debutante) has its roots in English pop, roughly the decade between Penny Lane and This Year's Model, taking in Diamond Dogs and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and stuffing in healthy chunks of Aztec Camera as well, with lyrics that are simultaneously deeply personal and broadly universal.