The album was recorded in Holland, with the band made up of Jeffrey Lee Pierce, Romi Mori and Nick Sanderson.

[8] Trouser Press called the album "an eerily austere record that displays the more spectral side of Pierce's voice, particularly on the dejected title track and 'Cry to Me' ... the manner in which he replaces post-adolescent rage with full-blown adult emptiness is mighty impressive.

"[8] Billboard deemed it "a haunting record that reflected Pierce's experiences in Japan and Vietnam, countries to which he traveled several times in the early '90s.

"[12] The Morning Call noted that "the tempos are slower, the song structures are more dynamic ... and there is an increased attention to melody and texture.

"[13] AllMusic wrote that Lucky Jim "didn't just signify the passage of a man, but the disappearance of the only real American rock band left in the world.