[7] As he emphasized to Consequence of Sound, perseverance in spite of turbulent times is a major theme on the album.

This theme is especially notable on the track "I'll Let You Down (But I Will Not Give You Up)", which uses a "wayward bus" as a metaphor for social upheaval in the United States, but features a hopeful chorus with Shelby Lynne singing harmony.

In a mostly positive review, American Songwriter wrote that "the sound is leaner, a little less rough around the edges and solidly in sync as well."

Rolling Stone's review was mixed, giving the album three out of five stars, and writing that Dylan "can evoke an Americana-tinged Warren Zevon, gruff but tender, with the best songs featuring Shelby Lynne's empathetic vocals."

"[13] Classic Rock magazine largely agreed in terms of the style of the album, describing the majority of the music as radiating a "melancholic Americana".