[11][12] The lyrics were written by singer Eric Davidson, who took care to contrast the raucous music with reflective or ironic lines.

[10][13] Entertainment Weekly wrote that "the New Bomb Turks really are special—and smart enough to know that throwing a bit of Stonesy raunch into their post-hardcore mix on Scared Straight is no crime.

"[16] The Austin Chronicle concluded that, "though all [their songs] boil with ripened punk-rock pugnaciousness, the ones that really get you going are the ones that make fists clench and pulses race.

"[2] The Cleveland Scene determined that Scared Straight "comes off like Rocket From the Crypt backing Iggy Pop—horns and organ temper the rugged guitar workouts with distorted doses of rock and roll soul.

"[9] The Austin American-Statesman noted that "the New Bomb Turks are obviously into the 1960s-biker-clamdiggers-dancing-on-tabletops-boys-with-big-greasy-hair thing, but they do it one better, with a miraculously fat guitar tone and tight arrangements.