[16] In its review of the double LP, Spin cited Lolita Nation as "some of the gutsiest, most distinctive rock 'n' roll heard in 1987," with "sumptuous melodic hooks ... played with startling intensity and precision," while simultaneously noting that the band "elected to shinny way out on an aesthetic limb" with "a thoroughly perplexing conglomeration of brief instrumental shards and stabs".

[17] Trouser Press called the album "ambitious and occasionally bizarre" with "crazy noises," writing that the new line-up "works wonders some of the time but falls flat in spots," and adding that Thayer sang "commendable lead on a few tunes, but isn't the strong counterpoint to Miller that would prevent the onset of listening fatigue.

"[18] Mark Deming of AllMusic noted that the album contains "more than a few flat-out brilliant tracks",[10] while William Ham, writing for Dancing About Architecture, praised its emotional impact, insularity, and melodic virtuosity.

Ham also likened Scott Miller's lyric writing to "vintage" Elvis Costello, with phrases that "careen all over the place verbally yet somehow manage to plug directly into the emotions.

"[19] Chicago Reader's Peter Margasak cited the album's "artistic ambition, with all sorts of cool fragments and sonic experiments scattered among its sophisticated pop songs.

[23] Among the bonus tracks, Deming found that the selection of cover versions delivered insight into "the many sounds that informed Miller's musical world-view", which combined with an "excellent oral history" in the liner notes to yield "the definitive presentation of an overlooked classic of '80s pop.