[10] Upon its release, Jon Wilde of Melody Maker felt the album provided "reason enough for some kind of modest assessment" of Cole's work, commenting, "Divided between orchestral arrangements and more familiar chastened rockers, it somewhat surprisingly offers some of his sharpest, smartest-writing since Rattlesnakes."

He noted that the first side "suggests that Cole might yet venture where Iggy Pop feared to tread after the disintegration of The Stooges" and is characterised by the "lush string arrangements" of Paul Buckmaster.

"[11] Trouser Press called Don't Get Weird on Me Babe "a great record," writing that "Cole’s uncomplicated romantic angst [is] made fleshy and devastating by the surrounding lushness of woodwinds, strings, percussion, piano and female backing vocals.

Think drums with brushes, Hammond B-3 organ, a big string section; think Neil Diamond, Glen Campbell and Sinead [O'Connor]'s pal Frank.

"[16] The St. Petersburg Times called the album "a masterpiece" and "a breathtaking record full of inspired writing, smooth melodies and eloquent instrumentation.