In Melody Maker, Everett True praised it as "a most ravishing record" and contrasted the dark tone of the album's lyrics with its upbeat music, which he called "some of the most gorgeous, succulent pop around".

[5] NME reviewer Victoria Segal wrote: "This is the sound of a band refusing to play the game set out for them – attractive blonde singer, chirpy attitude, ladders to the top – risking a slide down the snakes instead ... the exuberant, lip-glossed evil of 'Punka' has been replaced by the maturity shorthand of strings and synths, flamenco flamboyance kicking up alongside deadpan electro, Shangrai-La's drumbeats booming next to high-kicking pastiche.

First, it manages to incorporate a huge variety of genres, from the Motown-meets-disco of 'Stay in the Sun' to the electronically-driven groove of 'Sixties Bitch', while always retaining its essential Kenickie-ness.

Second, it features some quite gorgeous multi-layered backing vocals, over which the voice of lead singer and guitarist Lauren Laverne drifts dreamily, covering a range of emotions from sweet vulnerability to sneering defiance (although her attempt[A] at jazz crooning on the big-band finale, 'Something's Got to Give', is not terribly convincing).

Third, and most crucially, it bulges with terrific tunes; if forced to pick the best, I'd choose the glorious 'Psychic Defence', which has a plaintive chorus and an exquisite key change, but there are plenty more which are almost as good.