[10] The Philadelphia Inquirer noted that "the foundation for the revamped Defunkt ... is Kim Annette Clarke's spandex-style bass, which flits between rumbling bottom and twisted melody lines, and the straightforward drumming of Kenny Martin.

"[9] The Omaha World-Herald said that the "funky, horn-powered roots rock sizzles under the guidance of bandleader Joseph Bowie".

[12] The St. Petersburg Times opined that the band "sounds lean and powerful; unforgiving in its rhythmic urgency; intoxicating with its heady instrumental interplay; bold, cocksure and witty in its social commentary"; the paper later listed the album among the 10 best of 1988.

[14][15] The Times stated that "weighty slabs of extemporization feature plenty of virtuoso guitar soloing in the 'thermonuclear' tradition by Bill Bickford, broken up by pugnacious horn section interjections and underpinned by rapid-fire funk rhythms.

[17] Trouser Press called the album "a dynamic rock-funk-jazz concoction of popping bass, neck-melting guitar ... and Bowie's inventive trombone figures and up-close-and-personable vocals.