The over-the-top howl of past recordings has been replaced by a more restrained, warmly shaded vocal style that explores a surprisingly strong lower range.

The former singer for Lone Justice has made significant changes on her new disc, Life Is Sweet, an edgier, more dramatic collection of material than her previous down-home roots have indicated....On "Absolutely Barking Stars," the first single, she’s joined by strings and a shimmering, al-most orchestral arrangement that crisscrosses with jangly percussive syncopation while McKee’s voice soars and vibrates in between, culminating in a high-drama crescendo.

"[5] AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine called the album "a bold departure from her trademark sound, taking her into new sonic territories.

Although the loud, distorted guitars are the first noticeable change, it soon becomes apparent that the thing that makes the album sound so different is its latent progressive rock influences.

"[6] Trouser Press wrote that the album "goes straight over the top in a bewildering styleless hodgepodge of bad production ideas, bizarre gimmicks (paraphrasing melodies and rhythm guitar sounds from Ziggy Stardust?