According to AllMusic, "it gained them fans in the British music scene, including Art Brut's Eddie Argos, to whom Gonzalez (whose stepfather is musician Pete Astor) was often compared".
"They do a first-rate job blending humor, emotion, and energy on In the Court; it's a tricky routine to master but they've done it impressively right out of the gate", AllMusic's Tim Sendra wrote.
[5] To promote the new material, Gonzalez appeared the same month on Marc Riley's show on BBC 6 Music, with a backing band consisting of Rose Elinor Dougall and members of Younghusband.
[6] The band claims that their musical influences include The Beatles, Neil Young, Pavement, Nirvana, Swell Maps, Pixies, The Raincoats, The Beach Boys, Dinosaur Jr., Buddy Holly, Black Sabbath, Denim, Grandaddy, Hüsker Dü, Wire, Yo La Tengo and Phil Spector.
[10] Drowned in Sound gave their track "Song For Abba Tribute Record" an 8/10 describing it as a "downtrodden plea from a self-absorbed man with issues" by a "captivating and cutting band" of "ham-fisted gentlemen".