[13] Newsday likened the album to Murphy's debut, writing that, "from the instrumentation to the thematic material, the two records, decades apart, draw a portrait of a troubadour who's stuck to his guns.

"[14] The Hartford Courant stated the Murphy's lyrics are "tightly wound novellas with strong images and fresh metaphors.

"[16] Stereo Review opined: "He plays acoustic guitar for texture and clear-toned leads for embellishment, while his voice—a Lou Reed by Bob Dylan urban-folk burr that shapes words with a poet's open heart and a rocker's offhand wit—is an unmistakable instrument in its own right.

"[17] The Fort Worth Star-Telegram wrote that "Murphy weaves his pithy, highly intelligent narratives and observations (mainly about America in these twisted times) into 11 mainly country-flavored songs.

"[19] AllMusic called the album "a group of folk-rock songs full of highly literate lyrics that commented on modern life from an ironic perspective.