[6] Hard Times in the Land of Plenty was sometimes included with "heartland rock" albums of the 1980s that addressed worsening economic conditions in the United States.

[9] Unlike many blues rock players of the time, frontman Omar Dykes preferred power chords over one-note guitar solos.

[12] The Houston Chronicle praised Omar's "often fanciful and reverberating guitar chops and his always sly and dangerous vocals, which alternate between a smokey hoarseness and a Howlin' Wolf-styled lowdown growl.

"[15] The Sun-Sentinel concluded that, "despite the rather monotonous stylings of the 10 original songs, Omar's silty, root-bound rasp overcomes the flaws and makes this one of the better party albums to appear in awhile.

"[12] The Boston Globe opined that the band "are true songwriters, not just boogie merchants along the lines of Southern rock oldsters like Molly Hatchet or Wet Willie.