[11] Trouser Press wrote that "there are some good songs, and Derby does some nice things vocally—his falsetto on 'Down' would give Radiohead’s Thom Yorke a run for his money —but it’s a letdown from a band that has rarely disappointed in the past.

"[7] SF Weekly thought that "Derby's lyrics alternately capture the urge to move (down the highway, into the stratosphere) and the realization that you're often literally or figuratively stuck in one space.

"[15] The Nashville Scene deemed the album full of "bombastic would-be anthems and strained power ballads.

"[16] CMJ New Music Monthly called it "a crystal-clear confection of hooky, muscular guitar riffs and occasional flights of fiddle.

"[17] The Boston Globe opined that the band "has shifted away from dissonance (good move) while retaining the punk, punch and power.