"[1] AllMusic's Marcy Donelson stated that Giannascoli is "far from catering to the mainstream here, but through it all, the wistful chords and progressions that are such a trademark of his sound act as a sonic through-line.

"[10] David Sackllah of Consequence of Sound said, "As inscrutable as it can be at times, Giannascoli never betrays his purpose, making Rocket his most developed and accomplished album yet.

Club critic Josh Terry said, "Even though Rocket sometimes feels messy, only a songwriter as prolific and uninhibited as Giannascoli can make the chaos this thrilling and affecting.

"[11] Sam Shepherd of MusicOMH wrote, "Alex G's skill is in tackling difficult subjects and squeezing them into the most wonderful kernels of pop, and once again, he’s succeeded here.

"[16] DIY's Will Richards said, "Slowing down and refining his output has allowed Alex the time to make Rocket a brilliantly considered next step.