[12] Some songs touch on the band's roots in Hawaii: "Slo-Mo Kikaida" refers to the 1970s adaptation of Kikaider; "Kill Haole Day" is about the practice of hazing Caucasian students at the end of the Hawaiian school year.

[15] The Washington Post noted that the Dambuilders "don't have a groove to hold their fragmentary compositions together; the album provides gusts of appealing songcraft, but is frequently becalmed between them.

"[17] The Record said that on half the album "the jagged-edge arrangements and surprising violin flourishes come off as unsuccessful attempts to divert attention from David Derby's dry vocals and the Dambuilders' lacklustre songwriting.

"[18] Rolling Stone stated that "the quartet creates a clash of melodic bass, edgy violin, dashing guitar and shifting drums that suggests a more rustic version of the Pixies.

[20] The Daily Press included Encendedor on its list of the best albums of 1994, calling the Dambuilders "the new rock band of the year.