[2][3] Founding bassist Gardner Maxam departed the band before recordings sessions began.

[6][7] The Palm Beach Post wrote: "Mixing elements of classic REM and Guided By Voices with its own punk style, the group is in top form ...

"[10] Creative Loafing deemed the album "shot through with acoustic piano, finely drawn character studies and those brainy namechecks, all tucked slyly within the safe confines of pop-punk.

"[11] AllMusic thought that "the group tumbles through everything from straight punk anthems to atypical marching-style progressions ... Hahn's vocals on this release sound even better than usual, and whether he's pushing the limit with a scream or two or singing quietly over a subdued acoustic guitar, his sharp wit and smooth delivery make for a highly engaging listen.

"[8] PopMatters determined that the album "sounds like the band’s magnum opus: a sprawling, deeply personal masterpiece in the vein of other outsized classics like Hüsker Dü's Zen Arcade.