"[2] Kellman felt that "one might bemoan the exclusion of Public Image Limited, Associates, the Normal, Magazine, or other bands crucial to the ideology, there's no denying that In the Beginning There Was Rhythm is a great gateway into this expansive, fruitful, trailblazing era.

and "doesn't have a single limp tune" while stating "If there's anything's wrong with the disc, it's that it's too short; the story of post-punk could take up several box sets.

"[7] Garry Mulholland of The Guardian gave the album a four-star rating, stating "to the ranting agit-prop commitment of Gang of Four and Pop Group.

[4] In Muzik, their reviewer "TM" gave the album a five out of five out of five rating, calling it "a choice selection [...] from the fertile post-punk period" when "bands thought nothing of combining politics and philosophy with imported dance rhythms and edgy industrial angst."

[6] Galloway noted that tracks like "Knife Slits Water" and "She Is Beyond Good and Evil" were "Groundbreaking stuff" but "hasn't aged particularly well" while finding "Coup", "Sluggin' Fer Jesus" and "Being Boiled" were "More natural and still fresh-sounding".