[11] Robert Christgau thought that "'War Baby' is a wrenching triumph and 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number' a great moment in gay liberation.

"[13] Trouser Press concluded that, "with the exception of 'Cabin Boy', a bouncy bit of gay double entendre, the best tracks are redone Sector 27 tunes.

"[1] The Wall Street Journal opined that "the record offers some first-rate material—particularly the wistful 'Atmospherics'—all delivered with Mr. Robinson's warm, throaty voice.

"[14] The Washington Post wrote that Hope and Glory "treats gay life to the sort of love songs heterosexual romance has enjoyed for centuries...

"[2] The Globe and Mail likened the sound of the album to soul music, writing that "lots of jagged edges, spluttering saxophones, and dated production techniques ... enhance the rough-and-tumble arrangements, melodramatic poetry, and a constant edge of drive and anguish in Robinson's uneven, sore-throat vocal style.